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Original poster

Should I let my children play with toy guns?

48 replies

mumzylou · 07/04/2018 13:13

Hi everyone, my husband and I recently discussed buying a toy gun (nerf) for our 4 year old boy. My husband thinks that it is a bad idea and toy guns give children the wrong impression about guns and violence, I wanted to get other peoples opinions on this, are toy guns bad for children? Did you notice any changes in your child when or after playing with toy guns?

Thanks everyone, Louise

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CannaeBeErsed · 07/04/2018 13:17

My DS (6)has a lot of Nerf guns. They're great fun. He isn't allowed to point them at people or animals but it's a great laugh to hit targets. There's not a single violent or aggressive bone in DS's body. He's the sweetest kid ever. Doesn't even hit back when dealing with his violent bully (though there are times I almost wish he would deck him once and for all...)

If your child is kind and non-violent I can't see any issue with nerf guns.

Oly5 · 07/04/2018 13:20

No, I just don’t see the need for a child to have a gun. Why would you? Nerf do brilliant water pistols.. maybe a compromise?
But the ones with bullets? I just don’t allow them. There are enough toys around not to need a toy gun

Steeley113 · 07/04/2018 13:28

Mine have had nerf guns since they were small. And toy guns like plastic ones that click when you pull the trigger. No different to a water pistol

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4 year olds Behaviour & development General parenting Toys

Hellywelly10 · 07/04/2018 13:33

I dont like what they represent. Never bought one.

YerAuntFanny · 07/04/2018 13:36

If they want to, yes.

I believe in giving kids variety and tbh they will make guns out of anything if they want too. In work I see them using pens, pencils, fingers, sticks, Lego and all sorts.

It's not something I encourage at home as I have a phobia of guns after being shot as a teen but overtime I've realised that there's a big difference in how a child views them and how an adult views them.

boomboom1234 · 07/04/2018 13:52

In a word no. I think it's horrible and would never allow it.

Thistlebelle · 07/04/2018 13:56

No. I draw a firm line on toy guns.

My kids understand my views on this, even though one of them would really like a nerf gun.

Other people draw their lines differently and that’s fine but there won’t ever be toy guns in my house.

Lovesagin · 07/04/2018 14:00

This is a personal preference thing. I didn't like toy guns so didn't have them in the house but DC would use their hands, bananas, empty toilet roll tubes, coat hangers etc. My efforts were futile so started relaxing about it and after about a month of having a full on arsenal of weaponry they got bored and moved on to Skylanders

mamalovebird · 07/04/2018 14:03

My DS went through a phase of playing with guns, cop & robbers etc at around 5years old. Lasted about 12 months.... hasn't shown any interest since. I didn't make anything of it either way.

ZenNudist · 07/04/2018 14:03

Definitely not a nerf gun for 4yo. The manufacturer's advice is 8 up. But then enforce use of eye protection. Problem is it only takes one friend to visit who doesnt know your rule and you are looking at serious eye injury.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-41307816

Anyway very unkeen on children playing with guns. Mine have recently been making them out of lego and i cant police that but i wont have replica type guns. The only ones we have are ones that came on the front of magazines and are green or silly looking broke easily but dc love them.

Original poster

mumzylou · 07/04/2018 14:07

@YerAuntFanny thats really interesting, why do you think children are making these thing? Where are they picking it up from? Also about how children see guns differently don't you think its a problem that children don't understand the reality of shooting someone with a gun?

OP posts:

anxious2017 · 07/04/2018 14:07

Playing with guns does not result in gun violence. Children have played with toy guns for decades. It's definitely not a problem for me and I've never come across a parent in real life that has those sort of issues. If they did, I'd imagine them to be the same ones that believe video games cause violence 🙄

Those who are against it - do you not let your children play with NERF guns? Go to Laser Tag parties? What about light sabers and swords? Bows and arrows?

DS has an arsenal of weapons but is a delightful child. He uses them for imaginative play. My classroom also has an arsenal, particularly for when I have a pirate or castle theme going on. Would you forbid your children from imaginative play at school?

Rodanical93 · 07/04/2018 14:11

My little girl is 2 & loves the nerf guns and bows. I dont see a problem with her playing with them, i dont think she is going to turn in to a mass murderer. Her dad used to go hunting (has stopped now due to my excessive moaning) & her auntie also has a gun for hunting... guns arent just used by bad people :)

OlennasWimple · 07/04/2018 14:13

I am the killjoy in our family and don't allow the DC to have toy guns. They can play with them at others' houses, but we don't and have never had any at home.

Guns aren't toys

Vitalogy · 07/04/2018 14:18

They make them out of Lego and sticks.

DairyisClosed · 07/04/2018 14:25

I would be happy buying historically themed pistols/swords/bayonets/cannons etc. Warfare and weaponry are a big part of human history and I don't mind my children learning about these things through play. But I wouldn't buy modern style weapon toys. As far as I am concerned guns are something used by the military or during the brutal past. They have no role in our civilised life and u don't want my children to think that they do. If they want to pretend to be pirates or highwaymen with their pistols that's fine. But if they want to play at being contemporary criminals it's elaborate laser beam jumping jewelry theft or corruption politians. Civilised people don't use guns, even the bad ones.

Paleblue · 07/04/2018 14:25

My ds used to spend ours outside with his friends playing with light savers, toy swords and light up toy guns. He didn't have any toy guns until he was school age because I had thought I didn't want him to have any. But I saw how much fun he had with them at a friend's party so decided to buy him some.

Has not done him any harm. He is a very gentle boy.

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 07/04/2018 14:29

IME, you can really go out of the way to avoid toy guns but boys will find a way: I have seen children whose parents refuse to buy them, building them up from Lego, meccano or branches. I have even seen them running around with DS’ asthma inhaler and aerochamber if there are no guns for everyone on the day.

I do have to say however that nerf guns are a pain... it is years since DS stopped playing with them and I’m still finding darts all around the house...

Original poster

mumzylou · 07/04/2018 14:34

@anxious2017 hi thanks for your message, do you think having guns as toys creates an unrealistic attitude towards them and therefor a misunderstanding of the use of weapons and violence across the globe, including war.

What type of video game are you talking about, do you think a young child playing a violent game could have negative effects?

Also would there be any regulations regarding the subject of the toys allowed in your classroom? How do you decide whats suitable? What age children do you teach?

OP posts:

PixelLady42 · 07/04/2018 14:35

My DH and siblings weren't allowed any guns whatsoever by parents all through their childhood. When he had his own money from a part time job as a teenager he bought every lightsaber and toy gun that caught his eye, in his words to 'make up' for not being allowed any as a child.
When we've occasionally discussed the different ways our parents brought us up, this rule has been mentioned by DH as making guns more interesting and fascinating due to not being allowed them at home.

eddiemairswife · 07/04/2018 14:44

I remember my brother having cap guns. Do they still make them or are caps considered dangerous nowadays?

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 07/04/2018 14:48

It is not necessarily video games, this fascination with weapons exists since the dawn of times. This book can give you a clue and makes interesting reading: “Why women can’t read maps and men can’t ask questions”.

It is not all nurture, nature plays a big role.

Parky04 · 07/04/2018 14:51

I played war alot with toy machine guns when I was a child. It was only a game and I haven't turned out to be a violent person!

InDubiousBattle · 07/04/2018 14:57

eddie were they metal guns that you fed strips of paper containing little 'caps' in that made a pretty loud bang?? I vaguely remember them I think. I can't imagine for a minute they're still around.

I don't buy my dc guns but they're still only little (2 and 4). They both have light sabers though.

anxious2017 · 07/04/2018 15:01

I've done a lot of research into the effects of video games on children as part of my Masters in Education. My results were that as long as age suitable, they actually have a very positive effect. There are conflicting reports, obviously, but there are in everything. Child killers tend to have massive issues anyway, it's just that people like to use video games as an excuse.

I use toys for my themes, so swords, pistols and cannons are part of a pirate theme. Swords, catapults and bows and arrows are part of my castle theme. I've never had an issue with parents and I have an open door policy, so they can see what's in my classroom. They've made swords for homework. I teach Primary, but those themes have mainly been Year 2.

Children are aware that guns and swords etc can kill people. I also don't think that they can emotionally connect the two at a young age as its just not their experience. As they get older and start understanding death in a more in depth and emotional way, they tend to have stopped with the imaginative gun/sword play. Although they still love NERF 😁 Hell, I love NERF! When DS, DH and I run round the garden shooting each other, I can guarantee that none of us are imagining ploughing real bullets into the most loved members of our family.

Oh, and they still make cap guns! DS has some. They're fab.

Guns aren't toys....

The toy ones are

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