To not want toy guns

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

I know I will get a lot of 'boys will use sticks as guns, it's just what they do' responses but I wondered if there were any other parents here who have successfully managed to at least keep toy guns out of their houses?

My DS (almost 4) has already started making shooting actions, talking about 'good shot' and mentioned 'killing monsters with guns' which I know he has picked up from nursery and my DHs tendency to let him watch slightly unsuitable cartoons (scooby doo, super ted).

I have tried explaining that guns are just not nice things to have but clearly it's all just a game to DS.

Was quite aghast at his similar aged cousin threatening to shoot my DS this week.

Anyone been able to successfully keep guns away from their kids (boys I suppose) even after they have started school?

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

No he hasn't had water pistols.

Like I said, I knew I would get these replies. Would be nice to hear from people who feel the same (thanks to those who already have posted) and if it was successful rather than those who just welcomed toy guns from the start.

Also interested to know if your little girls were into guns and shooting too, I am not sure that I think it's a natural thing for anyone to be 'into guns' and definitely feel like boys are unfairly socialised to be this way, by their care-givers and their peers.

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

And I am aghast at a three year old child threatening to shoot my son dead, it's a bit weird don't you think.. Aghast perfectly sums up how I felt at the moment he said it. I mean, what do you say to a three year old who is pointing a toy gun at your child's head and saying he will kill them?


Maybe that's normal for some?

[KrevlornswathoftheDeathwokClan]

My mum banned guns successfully. We were allowed brightly coloured water pistols but nothing that looked like an actual gun. I will do the same with my children.

[scottishmummy]

Youre unfairly imposing your socialisation by restricting toy gun,and tsk about cousin
The very thing your bemoaning,imposition of norm,is what you're doing.
Its all about you.nothing to do with kid.all you,and your ability to exert control

[pictish]

My two little ones..a boy and a girl 6 and 5, like sword fighting with foam swords. They also pretend to have magic and zap one another. Not to mention when they are zombies and eat each other!
Is that any better or worse than a shoot out?

[scottishmummy]

Your imposing adult sinister interpretation onto child free and spontaneous play
Yiuve taken cousin,simple play and put adult interpretation and changed the motive and interaction.you've sullied and made it sinister
I think you fundamentally dont seem to grasp children are different to adults. Child engaged in free play with gun isnt sinister

[pictish]

And we have light sabres...what about those?

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

"Add message | Report | Message poster scottishmummy Sun 24-Aug-14 23:09:15
I think its awful to inhibit and restrict access to toy gun,on your misplaced pc-ness
Really,do yiu think helll grow up to be a shooter if he had a toy gun?well do you
Why are you aghast at children active play,imagination,and scenario enactment"



Oh fuck me! Yes, I totally believe that my son will be straight out there shooting people up in corner shops as a hobby. Because, I am that kind of idiot. Doh.

I just don't like guns, I don't like the ease with which we normalise weapons that can instantly kill a person. I do 't actually think 'being politically correct' is a thing to be ashamed of unless you are using it in the same way in which people use 'do-gooder' which I also find odd, like there's something wrong with 'doing good'.

I am, by the way, not accusing any one else of turning their children into murderers. I just choose not to buy my child or anyone else's child a toy gun. I would be pretty miffed if anyone bought one formm son and I would put it away somewhere where he can't have it at the very least until he understands exactly what guns do.

You are talking as if I am going to damage my child(ren) by NOT allowing them to have a toy gun, which is a pretty odd way of looking at it IMO.

[trixymalixy]

My DN used to bite his toast into the shape of a gun.

DD has her own nerf guns.

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

Fucking hell Scottishmummy, did something particularly bad happen to you today? I mean I am used to your rants about various things, some of which I have agreed with in throats but are you on glue?

[scottishmummy]

Guns arent normalised in uk culture at all.most folk never seen or handled real gun
Unless you're police/military/agricultural you've probably never see gun.its not normalised
A child playing with toy gun,is simply that.you restricting an innocuous toy based on an abstract notion it normalises guns,is daft

[WorraLiberty]

Exposed to Scooby Doo and Superted at the tender age of 4yrs?

I don't mean to sound negative but there is no hope for your child now

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

*in the past (not in throats).

This apparently middle class, pc nutcase is disengaging now. Have a good sleep, hope the glue wears off soon!

[HeySoulSister]

How do you feel about bows and arrows? Swords? Daggers?

Soldiers/pirates/knights.... Kids, boys and girls all enjoy these imaginative games

[HeySoulSister]

The 'glue' comment is known on mumsnet as a very lame, outdated response op

[scottishmummy]

So,you get challenged.cant summon a coherent response,so resort to i must be on glue
Oh very dear.youre not presenting yourself in a favourable light
At all

[thereturnofshoesy]

SM talks sense

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

Whoops, sorry.

I am outdated too. An outdated middle class, pc old fuddy duddy. Woe is me.


Sigh.

Fuckity fuck fuck sticks.

Maybe it's crack then. Who knows.

[HeySoulSister]

Op... What does the children's other parent think about guns?

[HeySoulSister]

Op... Not glue or crack. Ever thought it might be you?

[scottishmummy]

So lets be clear here,in absence of coherent response you'll accuse me if glue/crack use?
Are you planning to list all substances that are mind and mood altering
Will this take long?

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

It a poor attempt at mumsnet humour,

I am not entirely sure why anyone would want to 'challenge' me over this.

I am only being as arsery as the arsery that is being directed towards me, we could go on like this all night, I could be arsery to you, you could be arsery to me, you can throw insults back and we can all go to bed declaring 'I won the internets'. Or not.

It was a question, stupidly posted in AIBU, stupidly thinking I might get some replies to the question, stupidly I got just what I should have known I would get Yada yada. Some new stupid question will be posted tomorrow. I know the drill. I apologise.

Goodnight.

Sigh.

[thereturnofshoesy]

dear op
a lot of us have now grown up children who played with toy guns
they have turned out ok, and have never shot anyone.
so
SM is right
she is not on glue or crack.
just right

ok