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AIBU?

3 yr old playing with Nerf gun

15 replies

Quaggers · 08/08/2011 19:25

Does anyone think that 3 is too young for boys to be playing with a Neft gun (age guideline 8 upwards)? It makes me feel uncomfortable to see my son at his friend's house with a flat jacket and protective goggles and this gun - I don't think they have the sense to not use it at close range or the skill to not accidentally harm. My friend thinks I am over-reacting. Any other opinions would be appreciated :)

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caughtinanet · 08/08/2011 19:29

I'm not a big fan of guns for children but I'm fairly relaxed about a foam dart gun like this. Are you worried it's dangerous or do you object to guns per se?

Choufleur · 08/08/2011 19:31

DS is 5 and has a nerf gun - DH is 37 and also has one. DS is only allowed to play with his with supervision and never shooting at other people.

chelen · 08/08/2011 19:32

YANBU, I wouldn't let my kid play with that and would not let him round if that is what they did. No need to tell others what to do with their children but at that age its still up to you to set rules.

itisnearlysummer · 08/08/2011 19:48

My DS was hit in the eye by a dart from a nerf gun being 'wielded' by his 5 year old cousin.

I wouldn't like it. Your child, your rules.

doublechocchip · 08/08/2011 19:57

I actually bought my 3 year old one for his birthday yesterday and I had a heart attack when I read the title thinking it was about me ha!

Completely up to you, to be honest I bought it as a last min purchase and was surprised with the force the foam darts have but he has been great with it so far as has dd and only shoot it at objects e.g. balloons, buzz lightyear etc. however it will be getting hid when he has a few friends round, a pack of boys (and girls) can turn quite wild enough without adding a nerf gun to the mix!

changer22 · 08/08/2011 20:00

The difficulty comes with siblings. My 8 year old got one for Christmas - the first gun he has had and we deliberated about it then. Of course, his 1.5 year old brother loves walking around with it. Same with the knight suit and the swords...

TheArmadillo · 08/08/2011 20:08

We have a rule that you never shoot anything at someone else or in their vicinity (i.e. to the side of them/over their head etc). If you do then it gets taken away immediately. If they want to play fight then they can use light sabers/wooden and foam swords/toy axes/wooden pole arms but not guns/crossbows - they are for target shooting only. Water pistols can be used to shoot others but only outside. Metal swords are not for play, and are only for adults wearing body armour/helmet.

We enforce these rules in adults (incl visitors) as well as children

noyouhavehadawee · 08/08/2011 20:18

My 4 yr old cant pull the trigger and reload it but i love it .

Quaggers · 09/08/2011 12:53

Thanks for your thoughts, I have never posted on mumsnet before but will definitely again. I really like your rules Armadillo and when he is a couple of years older, I think we'll go down this track - used sensibly with supervision. Until then, as itisnearlysummer says, 'my child my rules'.

OP posts:

4madboys · 09/08/2011 13:04

what armadillo said :)

my ds2 who is 9 has one and his younger brothers who are 6 and 3 LOVE to play with it, its for outside only and NOT to be shot at people or animals.

rogersmellyonthetelly · 09/08/2011 13:09

We have them for ds (7) and dd (5) they are allowed to shoot at people, but only peoples bottoms. Their favourite game is lying in ambush where they think I can't see them and watching me jump theatrically and say ow when I get hit on the bum. Hours of giggling to be had. They aren't proper nerf guns though, ours are the cheap £1 shop version and the darts only travel about 3ft so they aren't exactly a lethal weapon. Ds could inflict far more damage with his foam pirate sword before it got thrown in the bin when he wasn't looking lost.

jowa123 · 07/10/2011 17:51

I let my boys aged 6 and 7 play with NERF gun products but I always keep an good eye on them to make sure they are using the guns correctly. (not aiming close in the face which could potentially cause a small 'hurty'. This UK website where I bought the foam dart guns from, states that children should preferable aged 6 and over (www.nerf-gun.co.uk) but I'm sure that age could be lowered IF you keep an eye on your children.

valiumredhead · 07/10/2011 18:23

Yeah we do the same as TheArmadillo

There's no way I am admitting to how many Nerf guns ds has

seeker · 07/10/2011 18:28

I don't like children playing with guns, but I really really don't think anyone could come to harm from a Nerf gun pellet!

ZeldaUpNorth · 07/10/2011 19:24

Ooo i'm thinking of getting my 2 dd's one each for christmas (7 and 3) I think i saw one that doesn't look quite like a gun so going to try get that one. I dont really like the gun/sword thing for kids but they look fun

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