Do you/will you allow your kids to play with "play guns" or "play Knives"?

[Ryoko!]

Just curious. Why or why not?

[angeles]

nope, and he still manages to know how to use other objects as toy guns... I don't even allow him to watch much violent programming... So who knows...

-angeles

[grumpydawn]

My son isn't really interested in guns- and knives are out of the question! Funny enough, he picks his little fists up and says "I'm boxing!" And neither my husband, nor myself have allowed him to watch fisticuffs!!:t

[ej]

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Sure I will. It's up to my wife and I as parents to encourage his imagination ... at the same time, we'll be sure to make it clear that the things he has are toys, and we'll make sure that he maintains a healthy respect for guns and knives. We won't have guns in the house ... we live in Canada anyway, where the laws are less liberal than in the States. Knives he sees every day at the dinner table, and he knows that you can hurt yourself pretty badly with one. You can never be too careful with kids ... on the other hand, there IS such a thing as being overprotective. *shrug* Where you draw that line is up to you.
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[syvvie]

i agree with Nueromancer. i don't think it's big deal, as long as you make them understand that it's just fantasy, and the play doesn't get violent in any way. i mean, my little brother was convinced he was a freaking Ninja Turtle when he was little, a while i did get clocked in the head with some foam rubber nunchucks a few times, he never actually got violent or too agressive about it. and my daughter loves the Powerpuff Girls, which has a fair amount of fighting in it. she'll run around the house yelling "i'm Buttercup! Pow! take that!", but she's never tried to actually fight with anyone--she knows it's just make-believe.

oh, and Nuero-- love the Sly quote in your sig ;)

[ej]

Originally posted by syvvie
oh, and Nuero-- love the Sly quote in your sig ;)
:e

[Dita]

I'm afraid I will not let Carson play with toy guns or knifes. He actually gets "scolded" when he pretends already. I just don't like the idea of my son shooting me with a stick he thinks is a gun and then telling me that I'm dead. It's just creepy to me. Maybe when he's older it won't be so bad, because then he'll really have a good understanding between right and wrong play. I dunno, I just don't particularly like playing dead with my 2 1/2 year old. :(

[LavenderSession]

Dita, I totally see where you're coming from. And because I worked in a day care for 3 years, it became second nature to me to tell the kids "we don't play guns" throughout the day. I think I would prefer my 2 year old making farting noises and saying "I pooted!!" and laughing hysterically than playing guns. My nephew does this and it's hilarious.

As for my boyfriend, I am almost positive he will disagree with me on this and probably play guns with the kid. But we'll see.

[Vik]

I let my son. I mean, if he doesnt have a toy, he's going to use a stick, or his fingers, or tinkertoys, or something. It's just how it is. And I played "guns" when I was a kid. Had a capgun and all that. But it didn't make me want to shoot anyone *for real*. I was taught respect for weapons. And I don't think playing guns is going to make my son more likely to want to shoot someone. Why? Because of how he's being raised.

And if by some wierd thing he DOES grow up to shoot someone, I do NOT think it'll be because he was allowed to play with pretend guns/knives when he was a kid.

Now, all that being said, I also have had the gut-reaction of not wanting him playing guns. But logically, I realize it's not a big deal by itself.

[YouCrazyDiamond]

I don't let Daniel play with guns or swords but he has turned sticks into weapons which doesn't bother me much. It's kindof a natural instinct. I don't think the use of guns is natural and don't see how anyone could possibly encourage that behavior with a child by allowing them to explore them as toys. Daniel went to a birthday party for another 3 year old and when the boy gave him his toy gun Daniel couldn't figure out what it was for and dropped it for something more amusing. I know I'll get bashed for this, but I honestly can not think of one way in which toy guns are an acceptable tool for creativity or entertainment. I think that if parents took more responsibility for discouraging the violent behavior associated with guns and other weapons, our world just may become a more peaceful place.

Sorry if I offended anyone - I just feel strongly about this subject. I am somewhat of a pacifist.

[ej]

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Toy guns and knives aren't ok, but it's ok to beat someone with a stick? Kids should be taught the difference between what's real and what's not. So long as that line's clear, I won't have a problem with toys. I'd much rather have my kids play with their toy guns than whack someone with a branch. Really, I think that the toys with which a child plays have very little to do with how they react to violence later on. Violent behaviour isn't JUST associated with toy guns and their ilk. Let's face it ... if your child is annoyed, (s)he's more likely to pummel the neighbour child with a Tonka truck or another toy as to grab for the toy gun. I think that the issue you have to face is teaching the child that there are better ways to deal with anger than to lash out. The toys with which (s)he plays are the least of your worries.
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[1500]

My girls don't play guns and I don't allow it in my house. I tell "Why would you play a game with a toy that in real life hurts people?" My daughters don't like to hurt anyone and so they don't play games like that.

I don't let them watch violence. I am very selective about what they watch. I just find that it's not neccessary for them....and they aren't unhappy or anything they have creative minds and play other games!

[Vik]

Originally posted by Neuromancer
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Kids should be taught the difference between what's real and what's not.</FONT> Exactly.

And I bet lotus moon's kids won't get to play any video games. I mean, Mario shoots those turtles with fire. You shouldn't do that in real life, right?

[1500]

My daughters play video games. Not the kind that has shoot em up games or violent games, but they aren't sheltered in any way. I don't feel that they have a problem distinguishing right from wrong when it comes to things like guns and swords. My girls know that guns arent' toys and they respect that.

Just because I don't allow my girls to play with stupid toys like that doesn't mena they don't know about real life. That's just stupid to say!


My girls don't watfch alot of movies or tv anyways... they play outside or play with their toys.... too many kids don't know how to do anything else but play video games and watch tv.... Play with your kids for crying out loud!

[ej]

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You don't let your kids watch violence, and yet they're not sheltered? That's a prima facie contradiction. What happens if when your kids are out playing they see some kid hit another, or if they see a group of kids playing with THEIR toy guns? Do you cover their eyes? ;K

Anyway.
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[1500]

No they aren't sheltered. They are around other peole and they see things in evey day life. My kids no that violence exsists and they know the difference between right and wrong. It's a sad world we live in when people choose to let young children view the entertainment that is supposedly suitable for children. It's inappropraite and kids of a certain age don't need to see that.

So if I am a bad mother in your eyes for not letting my child play video games or watch certain movies....well so be it, but atleast my child will not be desensitized by this so called entertainment you guys deliver.

If my children are with others that are playing and a fight breaks out no, I don't "cover their eyes". But how stupid to say that that kind of behavior is along the same lines as the violence we are discussing. Kids fight and shove and push eachother....it's what kids do.

There is a difference between sitting my kid in front of the tv and letting them a graphically violent movie and or play a graphically violent game, and letting them go play with their friends.

[ej]

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*chkl* No defensiveness required. I'm no more calling you a bad mother than you are calling me a bad father. "I don't let [my kids] watch violence" is a very broad statement, isn't it?

Addendum: Your methods work for you and your kids. My methods work for me and mine. So be it. East is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet.
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[1500]

Well, your right about one thing...to each their own.

I am just defending my opinion. My way of raising my girls works great! They are very respectful of others and try to do what's right, and they know what they should and shouldn't do. They behave like a 4 year old and a 3 year old should behave. And yes they occasionally push others or hit, but they get punished for it and always tell me that they felt bad for hurting another child.

If your methods of parenting work for you then Great! If your children don't seem bothered by the violence in games and in movies and toys, then more power to ya. If you are ok with letting them watch things and play with certain toys then as a parent it's your right.