Children playing war...

[LittleRobinRed]

So I've two boys (3&5) and they often want to engage in boisterous play, rough and tumbling etc, we encourage and support this within appropriate boundaries.If they are play fighting with things etc they usually play with dragons, knights, goblins etc but it is all fantasy play. Friends children 2, 4, & 7 play very 'real' war - children have armies that represent turkey, russia, germany, syria etc. they blow up terrorists and terrorists blow them up (in the play way!). I have a real problem with my children playing in this way with so many conflicts going on in the world and I have a real problem with turning this into a game for sport and fun. It just sits really uncomfortably with me and makes me question what we are teaching our children about the wider world and almost mocks these horrendous issues. I want to talk to friend to say I don't want my children being encouraged to play in this way and when together can we focus on other games, but need to do it in such a way that does not cause offence?

[expatinscotland]

'And war has existed since time began are you seeing the connection between allowing your children to show violence during play and then they go on to think that's acceptable as a career choice or as a way of thinking hmm'

It's existed since resources among humans were scarce or groups of humans saw something other groups had that they found desirable or needed. Chimps have even been known to engage in group and even tribal warfare.

[wanderings]

Perhaps mumsnet might have prevented little Tony Blair from being a warmongerer, had it existed in his childhood.

[lovelearning]

Both DCs play wars and have little soldiers, tanks and planes, both spend hours at a time engaging in little battles

Winston Churchill used to do this

Childhood games became reality

[lovelearning]

Tony Blair
warmonger

wanderings
oracle

[expatinscotland]

'Childhood games became reality'

Aw, FUCK! I'm not an astronaut or a princess and I don't own a speakeasy. Shit, where'd I go wrong? My uncle used to play with baby dolls. He never had any kids. My aunt used to play like she was a nun after some show on telly - she's been married 5 times.

[titchy]

Yes both Churchill and Blair had outstanding combat skills. Oh wait, they were politicians not soldiers.

Personally I'm far happier mine played guns and war than prime minister and Cobra cabinet meeting...

[Christinayangstwistedsista]

Am I the only one old enough to remember playing Charlie's Angels, manage to shot loads of baddies andflick my hair a la "Kelly"

[beanfilledfish]

ooh christina we also played charlie's angels!

[Christinayangstwistedsista]

It was a shame for the one that was Bosley

[Krampus]

We should all stop our children from playing at politicians

[lovelearning]

titchy

Churchill was a highly decorated soldier

and war correspondent

[Krampus]

Beanfilled do you find yourself striking poses in silhouette sometimes?

[titchy]

Are you a soldier lovelearnng? I can guarantee you played at being one when you were a child. Maybe you're harbouring secret warmongering tendencies? As apparentlybthe entire rest of the world must do.

[Valentine2]

Perhaps mumsnet might have prevented little Tony Blair from being a warmongerer, had it existed in his childhood.
That's very insensitive. His name must come and DOES come with fucking trigger warning, you get it? But may be it's easy to laugh when kids make the so called war on terror a play and their parents don't raise an eye brow. I wonder what these kids are watching and what their parents talk about in front of them. How did they know about these countries and how much the parents themselves know about these countries. It's a very complicated thing.
I have nothing against any army so long as they don't go invading other countries which in turn get destroyed to their core just because we had the weapons to be able to make the judgment that they had the weapons of mass destruction.
Get over it. Raising chvildren around war themes is not a trigger for people who have never been on the receiving end of a proper war themselves.
Thank god we don't have guns in the street like USA.

[Valentine2]

Personally I'm far happier mine played guns and war than prime minister and Cobra cabinet meeting...

Sorry titchy but why do your children have to choose between these two?

[Valentine2]

I raise my DCs on the belief that if there is an attack on uK, they would be on the front line. And if UK goes to attack some other country, give it no backing and never ever get behind the politicians/army/military complex etc because they are highly likely to be lying. I am the generation traumatised by Iraq and the refugee crisis. (And before someone comes along talking blah blah about World Wars, I must say that there was no social media then so back the hell off kindly).

[Crowdblundering]

Military personnel are not politicians and do not make political decisions.

[That1950sMum]

LittleRobinRed, I really wouldn't worry about it. It is fantasy and probably means no more to them than knights or pirates. I'd certainly be impressed if the 2 year old has a proper grasp on what's going on in Syria.

[1horatio]

We used to do that.

sure, there is a realism to it that isn't when it's dragons and goblins.in your opinion.

But to a 3 year old? Or even a 7 year old?

To us playing robbers and bandits was just as 'real' as America vs Russia play.

[Valentine2]

They are not. But their job is to defend UK. NOT invade and act like politicians' robots. Instead of normalising highly sensitive/dangerous life Changing situations/wars into plays, we need to sensitise this nation enough to make sure it never ever happens again.

[expatinscotland]

'His name must come and DOES come with fucking trigger warning, you get it? '

If it's in a title, but otherwise, people are free to use it on MN how they wish. I

[1horatio]

We also played election btw.

And court.
And Winnetou and Shatterhand (was that the name? I honestly can't remember)

All very unrealistic now that I look back. But still.

We involved real countries, fairytales etc and real countries.


Syria is most likely just as fantastic to a young child as Atlantis.

[Valentine2]

Sorry expat but if that's all you have to say in response to my long post, pls don't say much. But thanks for the attempt

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I played cowboys and Indians, I also played an ice cream seller and also played war games.

I must have gone really wrong I am a dairy intolerant peace loving vegetarian

[lovelearning]

we need to sensitise this nation enough to make sure it never ever happens again

Not the nation

The whole world