To ask at what age (if ever) do you think guns are appropriate toys for children?

[RunRunRun123]

My 3yr old has been playing with some other boys today and has come home obsessed with guns and war games. I had visited a friends house and her ds same age had lots of these pretend machine guns and gave my ds one. there was a group of children so it got quite raucous with the children running round killing each other and shouting 'die, die, die' and I ended up making an excuse and leaving (we'd have had to leave shortly after that anyway). I was just really uncomfortable with DS playing war games at 3 yrs old and running around playing guns. My DH shoots (purely for our food) so we have a gun and wonder if this is partly why I am uncomfortable with the concept of this dangerous machine being viewed as a toy. Also I don't want DS ever really associating violence, war and guns etc with fun and play but know as he grows up I can't protect him from this, just thought 3 is still too early. Not sure if I'm valid in my concerns or being pfb?

I was just about to post about that programme sashh, I thought it was terrifying.

I was raised in a Quaker family, so very much anti-gun. We were not allowed toy guns and violent play was strongly discouraged.

My best friend had two younger brothers who were gun obsessed. They were forever beating each other up, shooting each other in the head etc etc.

Now as adults they are lovely - both of them are actors, they are very polite and nice people.

I don't think there's necessarily a link between playing with guns and being a violent person any more than playing with dolls will make you want to have kids as soon as you can.

Always wanted and had guns in my childhood so DC have them. Its normal and children had been playing with toy weapons for centuries. They just PLAY. If children want to hurt/bully each other intentionally, they manage that without any pretend weapons.

I don't think guns are appropriate toys for DCs.

Why would anyone think they were?

My youngest son has been playing with guns since he was old enough to grasp the one his older brother made out of Lego into his hand. I've never encouraged it but haven't tried to stop them either. I'll confess that I do occasionally make the odd really cool looking lazer out of Meccano and try to shoot my youngest. He always has some ultra invisible force sheld that protects him

They don't spend every waking moment trying to shoot people, they don't get into trouble at school for violence, they have empathy and try to help friends, they have plenty of time to read, talk etc

I loved playing fighting games with my brothers, any role playing games ended up being about aliens and war. From a young age I could distinguish between real war and pretend games.

My 7 year old has lots. I tried algorithms but it didn't work. This morning he was using his leg as a gun.

As a result my 2 year old picks up and plays with guns but I would not specifically buy him one.

Not a gun, but my daughter likes to pretend she is Merida shooting her bow and arrow while I pretend to be Mordu.

She alos like to pretend she is a knight with a shield and sword/balloon/toothbrush.

Id just go and go toy gun shopping asap.

When I had my first I'd have said 'never'. I've had 3 and I now shrug and say "whenever".