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Parenting

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Original poster

Toy guns <head in hands emoticon>

59 replies

FrannyandZooey · 08/09/2006 12:29

Oh god. Where to begin? I am probably just going to light the blue touch paper and retire on this one. But I really, really, really cannot bear them and I don't understand why anyone in their right mind, would ever buy one, ever.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Jimjams2 · 08/09/2006 16:57

smeel of wet dog- that is so true!

pmsl pablopatio

Californifrau · 08/09/2006 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zoeuk1 · 08/09/2006 19:11

both of my ds.s have guns/swords etc etc. they love playing in the woods pretending to be in the army, they love pretending to be knights, they love pretending to be cowboys i think there is absolutely nothing wrong with kids playing with these sort of toys. we have a photo of my dh when he was about 10yrs old in a balaclava and toy gun. he used to love playing with toy guns when he was small too. i dont see the problem. they make guns out of lego too etc.

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Saturn74 · 08/09/2006 19:24

When my children were very small, I vowed not to have toy guns, swords etc for my two boys to play with. They improvised with sticks, bananas, rulers etc,whatever came to hand. That was fine with me as they were being imaginative. I was convinced that replica toys would make them violent and aggressive. Then my DS2 started school, and spent two years being bullied - both verbally and physically, and sometimes the bullying came from the school staff. (There is one classroom assistant who is due a HUGE dose of karma! )It taught me a very important lesson. I now strongly believe that physical play is really important, and that having replica weapons does not make a child violent and aggressive. Children become violent and aggressive when they don't have boundaries, when there are no sanctions if they are unkind or if they hurt someone, or if they aren't taught to respect themselves and those around them. So, my children now have replica weapons - James Bond playsets, bows and arrows, pirate swords, light sabres. They don't hurt other people with them, and they know they are just toys. They are not violent or aggressive; they are happy, friendly, loud, boisterous and imaginative boys.

marthamoo · 08/09/2006 19:26

I'm absolutely with Blu on this one. My boys have space guns (not realistic looking guns, I do baulk at that), lightsabers, plastic swords, foam swords and...not mentioned so far...battallions of little plastic soldiers, tanks, blown-up buildings, warplanes - and even a gigantic 'war scene' made out of papier-mache on a big wooden board. All the soldier stuff materialised out of ILs loft when we went to visit one time - it was dh's and his brother's. And I did have more than a moment's pause when it appeared - and not just because of the amount of space it was going to take up at home. I came round to the idea mainly because, of all their toys, the little soldiers are the one thing they will play with together for a long time without falling out - they both lie on their tummies and set up hugely complicated battles with the soldiers - games involving a lot of communication and co-operation. It's kind of ironic that mock battles are one of the few things that don't cause real-life battles...

Btw, dh and his brother, despite such war mongering toys, are both peace-loving scientists so I'm not too worried that playing with these toys will turn my children into trigger happy lunatics

SoupDragon · 08/09/2006 19:30

Californifrau, I'm interested why you don't let them have gund "beacuse they are used by nasty people to hurt others" but swords are Ok? Blades & stabbings are a major problem too, perhaps moreso given that knives are more easily come by (every kitchen has one!)

Only picking on you because I'm reading the thread back to front

FillyjonktheFluffy · 08/09/2006 20:11

well, just back from a children's party

with a nice elderly gentleman who made things out of balloons.

My kids have just spent the past hour hitting each other with fecking balloon swords.

I swear to god, i give up.

the portenteousness is there though.

NotAnOtter · 08/09/2006 20:12

franny i am totally with you on this infact was reading an archived thread on the matter only last night

3andnomore · 08/09/2006 20:41

Hi there...hm...not sayong I would let mine ever get agressive with guns or weapons of any kind and if they do they will get punished....but I think it's just a boys thing...saying that, as a girl I went through the Doll and then Barbie stage, but I also loved playing Indians and Cowboys...but it has not let to me ever using a weapon of any kond!
Dh is in the army and he is a true believer that even youngsters should learn how to shoot but also should learn the responsability of shooting....je just taught es (10) SHOOTING AT THE LAST FAIRGROUND, AND THE NEXT ONE, IN GERMAN, o TOOK HIM, THE LAD BEHIND THE STALL COULD NOT BELIEVE IT...HE GOT 6 OUT OF 6...but they were still targets...scary, but also am proud of his concentration, as he is one of those Kids that need more help!
Love
Kerstin
P.s. Sorry about capslock inbetween...hit it by accident! and sorry for spelling trying to be quick, lol

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