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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

DS and Guns...

7 replies

FanellaFudge · 03/02/2011 18:28

DS1 is about to turn 5 and started school in September.

The game of the moment seems to be guns...which continues at home, lots of shooting gestures and noises. It makes me feel uncomfortable, more so because DS2 (2yo) is copying.

I know it's unlikely to mean that they will grow up to be gun weilding maniacs, but I really wish I could contain it, even just slightly.

Or should I just leave them to it and get over my uncomfortable-ness?!

OP posts:

Flojo1979 · 03/02/2011 19:13

I've always had a gun thing (refusing to buy toy ones etc) and luckily my DS is still oblivious, though recently (hes 5) he has taken to pretending he has a sword and goes round weilding this invisible sword saying he's going to cut my head off or other limbs that just happen to be in the way. I've so far just been ignoring him as i know hes got it from school somewhere and i'm just glad my gentle (if not a little too soft!) boy is acting like a boy!

minipie · 03/02/2011 19:22

I feel the same... but I sort of think that making a big deal of it is likely to make it even more attractive to them, IYSWIM.

Original poster

FanellaFudge · 03/02/2011 19:24

We've had the sword thing too. In fact, I just had to take a toy knife (from toy kitchen) from him as he was 'fighting' with it . It's easier to intervene when there is an actual object though, and a knife, becuase he knows real ones are dangerous... he just needs reminding from time to time! All the more difficult with a pretend gun (we don't have toy guns either) though, especially as I doubt he even knows what a real one looks like, let alone why they are dangerous.

OP posts:

Original poster

FanellaFudge · 03/02/2011 19:27

I guess so minipie. I have just ignored so far (removed myself from the room as I can't bear it!!). Worried about DS2 showing off his new tricks at toddler group though...

OP posts:

Roo83 · 03/02/2011 19:31

I don't think you need to worry too much-even when I was younger I remember boys running around playing cowboys with pretend guns,or knights with pretend swords. None of them grew up to be mass murderers! I think as others have said,just don't make too much of it-maybe explain that guns can hurt people but I wouldn't go much further than that. Hopefully by next week he'll be into something else

Original poster

FanellaFudge · 03/02/2011 19:47

Hope so Roo. I don't think I would be as bothered by it if DS2 wasn't copying. I know I'm going to get a few raised eyebrows!

OP posts:

toeragsnotriches · 03/02/2011 20:00

DS1's school does not allow them to play shooting games in the playground as it's in an area riddled with gun crime (and, unfortunately, many of the children who attend the school will have been affected by it ).

When I first found this out I was pretty shocked as it's all I remember the boys at my primary school doing. But then, I'm lucky enough that my kids probably won't have the same issues to cope with as some of their peers.

I think they'll take their lead from you. I agree with Roo - just explain they could hurt someone and he'll probably get into something else soon!

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