super hero toys - do they just encourage aggressive play?

[deaconblue]

Ds (2.10) loves looking at the ELC Planet protector super hero toys. He loves imaginative play, but I wonder if this type of toy would just lead to lots of shooting/bashing type play. What do you reckon?
superheroes

looks ok to me.

It seems that it's probably a phase they go through anyway and has a purpose to it, if you see what I mean. "Playful Parenting" by Lawrence Cohen is quite enlightening and has generally helped me to lighten up, so avoiding a few toddler meltdowns. It has good suggestions about how to play with them to help them work through aggression etc. Superheroes toys might work well with that, I would think...

I tried not giving my boys guns etc. They developed a skill of seeing a gun shape in any stick lying around. Boys seem to have this in them, but mostly grow out of it, it seems (I hope! DS1 is 7 now and still a bit obsessed). I set rules: no shooting at grown ups, no toys like this at the table etc, if someone isn't enjoying it, it stops. I'm immune to the noise now!

I always try to emphasise that there are heroes in everyday life, the doctor, the fireman/woman, the policeman/lady, the person that brings their neighbour groceries rather then a plastic figure or something on the TV. IMO, boys will eventually use whatever is at hand to use as a blaster, I don't have guns etc in my house but ds will use a stick or a fishing rod instead. They always find something and adapt it. Sad but most of them do this.

scrooged do you ban super heroe toys or just violent toys like guns and swords?

Just guns and swords, however, he does use whatever he can find as a replacement though. I've never let him watch violent things but his friends at school are nuts so he follows. We tend to not have superhero stuff either though, it's not something I planned, it's just worked out this way. I don't think star wars classes as a superhero though. I think I'd rather he saw people for the good they do rather then some people who could never exist doing this instead. When we look at the superman films they never acknowledge the goodness in people other then superman. It's unrealistic. Everyone has the potential to be a superhero by the things they do. No one has the right to tell our children that they have to be really special or come from another planet to make someones life better, hence the doctor/nurse/police etc.

Hmm what about things like bows and arrows (you know the ones you can get with the suckers on), light sabres and water pistols?

No, we do have sabres for the Wii though. No water pistols, use old washing up liquid bottles, they squirt further.

He is bonkers though and will use anything and everything as a pretend gun so this has really backfired. Ah well, good intentions and all that. In hindesight, I would have let him have some, he'd be less wanting of the forbiden 'stuff' maybe.

I think boys are programmed to work out stories of 'good' and 'bad' and superheroes is one way of doing it. I think it can be quite useful.

interesting, thanks for views. He's already started making "kerpow, kerchow" noises using his arm as a laser (Buzz Lightyear inspired) and using the empty shower gel bottle in the bath, so am inclined to agree that it's probably a phase he will go through whether I like it or not. I like the planet protectors as I think they can go off on adventures without necessarily having to beat up the "baddy". Indeed he shows no interest in Doc Tox when he looks at the catalogue.
I don't intend to let him have guns, swords, water pistols etc though. Will be good for his imagination to use alternatives if that's what he really wants to do.

My ds has planet protectors, spiderman, action man etc and plays nicely with them. He doesnt tend to pretend they are fighting .. more saving the day etc or locking baddies up in prison. He hasn't seen them on the tv etc (spiderman) so doesnt really understand the concept. We dont have any guns in the house but I am sure come summer we will have water pistols as I am not convinced they breed violence! Even if you forbid them at home as soon as they are at nursery or school they start role playing with their friends! I am not sure there is any way of stopping them .. just minimising the exposure!

Ban every fucking thing, I do cos at the end of the day kids copy.

takeachair have you had a drink ?

No its true though insnt it thats why they cant watch violent films and play of scary arse games.

to answer the op, it is more likely to encourage 'fighting' style play but that isnt always a bad thing.

Gives them a chance to play through scenerios and channel their aggression.

Violent programmes are far more likely to normalise violence than the figures on their own.

If you play with him, and get him to used to them doing superhero style rescuing instead of just mindless bloodbaths

Ultimately they will all fight and die but ime they do this anyway.