My four year old son has a new obsession: toy guns. Every time we go to Target, he asks if he can have a "blaster" or a water gun. I grew up playing with toy guns as a kid, but have been very adamant that Lucas not have toy guns - I'm a firm believer that we as a culture have become too desensitized to violence, and that much of that has to do with what our kids are exposed to at an early age. We've been responding to Lucas' toy gun fix by redirecting it towards other toys (cars, sports stuff, art stuff, etc.) I'm curious to know what everyone's thoughts are on toy guns. Do you let your kids play with them?
If a child is reared with common sense, decency and respect, what threat does a toy gun offer? Anything in the hands of the wrong person can be dangerous. These are toys, not the real thing. Discussing this topic with a child is not a bad idea, but how far do you take it? Let's try to remember that it needs to stay age appropriate. Discussing how we feel about the war so we oppose toy guns would be an interesting discussion to witness between an adult and a 3 year old. Gun safty is an adult issue, until you are ready to take Jr on his first hunting trip. Then it's time for a hunter safty course. Until then, hopefully the adults have made all "real" guns inoperable, safe and inexcessible. When gun play becomes a real issue for children is when there is no adult input and supervision. A responsible gun owning parent will rear their child to have respect for a gun and the damage it can do. That child also will not have the facination with a gun that a child with no experience will have. I seem to remember alot of little boys played cops and robbers or cowboys and indians too. How many of them do you think were influenced by that to become viiolent adults? My kids grew up with the rubber dart guns and water pistols, heck, I even broke down and bought one a BB gun. He made good grades and was a responsible kid and he never made me sorry I got him that BB gun either. I really do believe it comes down to personal responsiblity and teaching proper gun safty. But that's all about real guns, not toys. They are discussed like they are the same thing but they aren't.
Boys will make guns from their thumb and first finger, legos, paper, or anything else they can create. I believe that each of us has an obligation to teach our children our own values and morals, which for many of us includes gun use/safety. I have a friend that thinks hunting is barbaric. Her little boy makes guns out of everything though he does not own one. Another friend's husband wouldn't miss the first day of hunting season for anything. Honestly their morals/values are very similar but their positions on things like guns and hunting are not. It is important that your kids know how you feel and why. Remember that if we generalize all guns as "bad" then what are we telling them about police officers and the men and women that defend our country? Kids are very literal. Make sure what you meant is what they hear. I tried the no gun thing many years ago. I have been a parent for 29 years. My youngest is now 5. (We have adopted and foster.) I gave up a long time ago. There is not a show on TV....cartoon to Vegie Tales that does not have some sort of "gun". My one rule is no pointing it at anyone or it becomes trash. Most any toy can be used as a teaching tool from Barbie to guns to Dragon Tales. Think about it and go with your gut.
I'm a grandmother and when my kids were going up. This was not an issue. I don't like my grandsons to play with toy guns now either. I think what u are doing is the best way, u can handle it. Maybe get him interested in other projects maybe coloring, paints, and just like u said trucks and cars. I'm also a certified Preschool teacher. He should grow out this in time. Wishing u the best.
itsmarlene in IL.
www.itsmarlene.com
I personally don't let my kids play with guns, but they have one cousin who's obsessed with them who likes to come over and play a lot. His mom and grandparents respect my wishes when it comes to this and this relative is not allowed to bring his guns when he comes over.
We didn't let our first son play with or have toy guns, but he never really cared so it wasn't an issue. When our second son was younger his uncle was serving in Iraq and had become his hero, so he was "into" all things military. After a couple of months of him using his fingers and sticks as guns we gave up and got him a cap gun. Then we spent a lot of time talking about guns and teaching about the dangers of real guns. We also grew up playing with guns, but also were taught to respect them. So I'm torn... I think it's all in what you teach them about the guns, and depends on the individual child. Our second son is a very compassionate, caring child and wants to go into the military, but not in a fighting capacity...he'd rather be on the medical end of things. So gun play hasn't seemed to hurt him or make him violent... It's a tough call, and an individual decision...
We let out kids play with guns. We do not let them ever pretend that they are pointing them at a person though. Our family has hunting property and we teach them to pretend that they are hunting animals to eat. We dont ever buy them toy hand guns though, only rifles and things like that. My husband said that as long as they learn to respect a gun that its ok to teach them about them.
Here is the thing, I have a 3 yr old boy. We had started out not letting him play with guns so we brought water guns that looked like animals or ships. As he got older he wanted to play with guns and we let him know that he is not to point, shoot, or hurt anyone with a gun, play or water gun. Plus it was very hard for us to tell him no when boh my husband and I have arosoft guns that we shoot targets with.
My children and 2 and 1. I decided while pregnant with them, that they will not be allowed to play with toy guns. I do understand that they are just children as some people have mentioned. But on the other hand, all of the criminals we have today were at one point just children. Not saying that all kids who grow up playing with them become criminals. But if I can lessen the possibility in any way, I am going to try. It is hard enough to raise children in this world without the added influence of toys like that.
Children learn a great deal in their earlier years by visualzation or observance there is such a great influential attachment that kids are soaking in if i may say alot of things that will ultimately become part of them and you will see this manifest itself within your kids. There is so much neg influence in the world that it is extremely hard to keep our children safe.
A child needs to be modeled in a positive way and not in a neg way Modeling in the world of Child
Psychology shows how many kids are influenced by their own parents and that they see us model in many different areas in our lives.
The gun issue when I was a child I played cowboys and indians we had shoot outs and someone was hit and even died we use to speak out loud I shot you and you are dead your out. well most well all of this came from watching television shows that had a strong hold on us at the time and we thought it was facinating in doing a re- inactment of the content we seen and heard on TV.
My wife and I explain to our children why we should not obtain any guns for the kids and explain to them that guns may be used in protection and the police uses them but that kids should not have a toy gun because one day you will see him start acting out certain movies and shows and they could possibly become what the watch and hear in music as well as television. be cautious to what your kid is watching nd listening to.
Yes, my husband and I do allow our sons to play with toy guns. They are 13 and 8. Water guns are their fav. I agree that their just kids and that they just wanna have some fun. My cousin used to be obsessed with guns and knives and that really worried his parents. But, today he is a US Marine and has been on 2 tours in Iraq. We're all very proud of him.
hi there as parents me and my husband have both decided that we will not let our daughter play with a toy gun there is to much war going on and dont want this war to reflect in childrens behaviour. we may let her have a water gun as long as it is coloured in bright colour but no guns because they reflect in killing and war and i dont want my child brought up like this.
I don't let either one of my boys play with guns. They know not even to ask for toys guns or water guns...because the answer is a definite NO!!! There is too much termoil in the world today...guns, war and fighting. Kids don't need to know about this stuff yet. Jason, keep doing what you're doing...redirecting towards other more pleasant and happy toys.
We don't allow toy guns, but like you I also played with them as a kid and turned out fine, relatively.
Luckily, the boys haven't expressed much interest in them.
I have not approved of them as well, so I had convinced my husband (who is in the army) that they should not have then. But they are boys who learn from other boys, and have turned their other toys into guys (legos, etc). All I can do now is teach them what they really do and how to use them properly.
Mother of 3 boys... 5, 3 and 4 mths
Hi Jason! For me as a parent, I won't encourage kids to play guns for a lot of reasons. It would create a bad imagination even pretending its a toy but its not healthy for them. I would rather buy toys for my kids that are more useful to them..that would help them mentally and physically healthy.
Our guidance is a must whatever our kids do. We parents must be more observant to our kids. Its fun to be close to our kids by starting bonding with them, knowing them, loving them, guiding them and be their best friend. Communication to our kids is very very important. Building each others trust, depends between you and your kids...communication is the key.
Give them love..show them love...and feel them that they are special. I'll tell you Jason, its so wonderful to be loved by your kids.
Good luck!
My daughter has always wanted to play with toy guns since she started day care when she was 4. I refuse to let her have one, and I have always explained to her why - "Guns are bad things - they can hurt people, and I don't want you thinking you can even pretend to shoot someone." Just be up front with him why you don't want him to play with guns. Of course, then you have the argument:"But mom/dad, Billy plays with them." To which I respond, "Well, Billy isn't MY child, YOU are, and I don't want you thinking guns are all right to play with." That may seem ugly towards Billy's parents, but so be it. I don't understand why ANYONE would want their kids to have toy guns with the violence that exists in our world today. I think we need to teach them the art of diplomacy and talking thru problems instead of solving them through violence or intimidation. Hope that helped some. :) Blessed be, Jason.
