Any Toy Can Be Used as a Gun :(

[QualiTcare]

The columbine kids played violent shooting video games..what do you think they did before that? Played with toys guns I bet!

Shooting animals & hunting is not anymore acceptable to me..lets kill!!

Why does anybody have to kill anything? animals, people even if they are in a game??

Ask anyone of those parents who lost a child in that incident and see what their feelings are on playing with guns/videogames, etc....

i must admit, i've stepped on a few turtles and smacked some rodents with my mario tail in my day ::

my uncle is a hunter and the first time the kids saw his gun cabinet and were asking about the dead animals i told them how stupid and pointless it was for him to kill animals when he buys his meat from the grocery store - in front of him. hunting is necessary for SOME people, but doing it as a sport is just stupid.

[Unregistered]

Seriously?

Would you have a problem with your daughter pretending she is hooker? The point is there is NO GOOD that can come from it weather its pretending to be a cop, a pole dancer or a hooker! Maybe people need to take the time to teach their kids GOOD morals. How about teaching your kid to play being a minister? a teacher? a doctor?

And you dont REALLY know how these kids have turned out now have you? Honestly? There is more childhood/teen depression, suicide, drugs, child abuse, teen pregnancy, etc etc now in this country than ever before!

I'm 50 yrs old and and we didnt have these problems 40 yrs ago! I grew up with the Leave It To Beaver shows....now the only thing that is on TV is sex, reality TV flith, crime & murder drama! I dont even have cable because their is nothing on there wholesome and with good values on anymore! Its' obvious to me why the world is now so messed up! Kids dont even have a chance these days and wow has parenting changed.. they are no better than the kids..

I see where you're coming from and I can agree with some of your post, to a point, but I think that a child's moral compass isn't going to be broken by the programming on TV. I also think that whether or not a person has good morals isn't always directly related to the career that they choose or if they are involved in church. Sometimes kids who grow up to be adults who are ministers, doctors and the like have moral compasses that point in the southern direction and the kids who never went to church grow up to be adults who are good people. This doesn't mean that what you said isn't true, it just means that it's possible for people to be good without church and a professional career.

[Gurdy]

"In the larger picture, kids have been playing these games for years and years and I would say the vast majority of these kids have turned out just fine with no ill effects from playing this type of role play."

i agree, and i was one of those kids, BUT i also was allowed to do it on the playground at school and make gun or shooting references without being taken seriously. i don't think playing with them has ill effects (not that it has positive ones) but i do know the actions and conversations that take place as a result can get kids in trouble. i can't think of any reason i would stand in the toy aisle and think "hmm, i think a GUN is a good idea" out of all the toys out there. why get it started?

i used to hug my teachers and sit on their laps and nobody got accused of being a child molester or being molested, but kids can't do that anymore either.

and my dad walked five miles to school, in the snow, up hill both ways....times have changed since we played with guns harmlessly. trust me, i wish i could let my son play cops and robbers with a dart gun or the cool little cap guns like i had without having to worry that he'd be punished for it later. it's just a risk i choose to avoid because it's 100% avoidable. they don't miss what they don't know.

This is what I do not understand! If you would love to let him play with one of those guns, then let him!!
You can still explain to him that he may not play like that at school. He will understand!! You are the parent-- you can teach your son when and where he can do certain things.
It is not 100% avoidable-- how old is your son? Has he never gone to a friends house that has toy guns?

[Blackcat31]

I'm 50 yrs old and and we didnt have these problems 40 yrs ago! I grew up with the Leave It To Beaver shows....now the only thing that is on TV is sex, reality TV flith, crime & murder drama! I dont even have cable because their is nothing on there wholesome and with good values on anymore! Its' obvious to me why the world is now so messed up! Kids dont even have a chance these days and wow has parenting changed.. they are no better than the kids..

Notice the dates...they were from 40 years ago

October 10, 1902/Altona School, Manitoba, Canada/ 2 dead
August 1, 1966 /University of Texas /16 dead
February 8, 1968/ SC State/ 3 dead
May 4, 1970/Kent State/ 4 dead
May 14, 1970/Jackson State/ 2 dead
December 30, 1974/Olean H.S./ 3 dead
July 12, 1972/Calif. State University/ 7 dead
May 28, 1975/Centennial Secondary School, Ontario, Canada/ 2 dead
October 27, 1975/St.Pius X H.S. Ottawa, Canada/ 1 dead


I do agree though...parenting has changed. NOT the games kids play.

[Gurdy]

Would you have a problem with your daughter pretending she is hooker? The point is there is NO GOOD that can come from it weather its pretending to be a cop, a pole dancer or a hooker! Maybe people need to take the time to teach their kids GOOD morals. How about teaching your kid to play being a minister? a teacher? a doctor?

And you dont REALLY know how these kids have turned out now have you? Honestly? There is more childhood/teen depression, suicide, drugs, child abuse, teen pregnancy, etc etc now in this country than ever before!

I'm 50 yrs old and and we didnt have these problems 40 yrs ago! I grew up with the Leave It To Beaver shows....now the only thing that is on TV is sex, reality TV flith, crime & murder drama! I dont even have cable because their is nothing on there wholesome and with good values on anymore! Its' obvious to me why the world is now so messed up! Kids dont even have a chance these days and wow has parenting changed.. they are no better than the kids..

Maybe you misunderstood- I said I would NOT allow a child to play pretend pole dancer.

I think it is disgusting that you would compare hookers and pole dancers to police officers.

Children have been playing cops and robbers or cowboys and indians for centuries not just the last 40 years.

[QualiTcare]

This is what I do not understand! If you would love to let him play with one of those guns, then let him!!
You can still explain to him that he may not play like that at school. He will understand!! You are the parent-- you can teach your son when and where he can do certain things.
It is not 100% avoidable-- how old is your son? Has he never gone to a friends house that has toy guns?

when i say i would love for him to be able to without having to worry about being punished - i really mean i wish there was no reason to be concerned...not really that he's missing out by not having guns.

he's almost 5. he hasn't been to a friend's house where there were toy guns, but he also hasn't stayed at a friend's house without me. he's stayed with family members who have no kids. but if i was at a friend's house and there were toy guns, he wouldn't play with them. i'd also have no problem at all telling him NO that he's not allowed in front of the parent of the child with the guns. i don't think people are BAD for letting kids do it. i just think IF there were any consequences at all, they could ONLY be negative so there's no point. he's asked for a gun before at the toy store when he was younger (of course he's asked for every toy) and i told him NO and he wasn't allowed to play with guns. that's about as big of a part guns have been in his life. he doesn't even glance twice at them or talk about them. it's simple.

Luna - as far as the research about guns, i've been saying i don't think gun play causes kids to kill. BUT i wonder what the facts say about kids who get ahold of guns and have accidental shootings. do they think they are toys? i know that has happened bc i've seen it in the news.

that's another reason i don't allow guns. it's easier to say DONT TOUCH A GUN EVER than to try to talk about "gun safety" and how you know if it's real and what to do if you see a gun, etc. kind of like lighters or matches - it's not, "you can only pick up a lighter if you find it on the ground so you can bring it to me." it's - dont EVER touch lighters. there's just not one positive thing that can come from playing with fire, or guns.

[SilverSabre25]

Preventing gun play will not prevent school shootings.

Several of you have already said it on this thread--"the school shootings were committed by kids who had been teased and ridiculed and bullied" Yes, I'm paraphrasing, but that's the gist of it.

To stop school shootings, we need to STOP bullying and teasing, LISTEN to the kids who are being bullied and teased and not brush them off with a "grow up and learn to deal with it" (which is what I heard so, so often when I was the bullied/teased kid), DEAL WITH the kids who are doing the bullying and teasing, and do a better job of teaching TOLERANCE and RESPECT. We need to teach tolerance and problem-solving skills. We need teachers who are going to not tell the bullied child "just ignore it" or "stop tattling"--and instead address the child doing the bullying and take care of the problem. My DH and I were both teased so cruelly as kids, telling teachers who did NOTHING to stop it until WE were so fed up that WE retaliated in SELF-DEFENSE, and WE got in trouble--not the kids that teased until we couldn't take it anymore--and when we were asked "but why did you do that?" and we explained "because so-and-so was teasing me", we were told "you should have told a teacher"...all while we're screaming inside our heads, but I tried and you wouldn't listen.

Gun play doesn't have anything to do with tolerance. With respect. With bullying and teasing and adults who don't listen to children.

[Crystal]

BULLIES. THEY are the reason for MOST of the school shootings and violence in recent years.

Gun play IS inevitable......YOU may not think YOUR child has ever done it, but bet you 10 to one when your child has visited a male playmate, he has participated in gun play. Does your child not partake in Superhero play? Where did he learn about superheroes if not on tv? He just DID.....I can almost guarantee that pretend gunplay takes place on every single elementary campus in the world on a daily basis....YES, there is a "zero tolerance" policy, but I can guarantee you that only one in fifty ADULTS would report a preschooler or kindergarter picking up a toy and saying "bang, you're dead" It's the ONE ADULT that is overreacting to child's play.....the other 49 adults shrug it off as normal, and may choose to observe the child's play a little more closely to ensure that it doesn't get out of hand. I tell ya, if every single child was doled out consequences for playing cops and robbers at school, we'd have less than half of the prek and kindy student body that we do now, AND a whole lot of burdens to society, because if they can't be in school, then where will they be?

I think ADULTS are the ones who have turned gun play into more than it is.....if you look at the violent felons out there, they didn't partake in simple gunplay....they generally were raised in a violent environment that led them to be criminals.

[Crystal]

Would you have a problem with your daughter pretending she is hooker? The point is there is NO GOOD that can come from it weather its pretending to be a cop, a pole dancer or a hooker! Maybe people need to take the time to teach their kids GOOD morals. How about teaching your kid to play being a minister? a teacher? a doctor?

Wow, what an utterly ridiculous statement. Honestly, do you really see any comparison between pretending to be a COP or a HOOKER? Do your children not participate in dramatic play and pretend to be police officers, firefighters, etc.?

Of course I suppose if a child's daddy is taking her around hookers she might see them as a good thing and pretend to be one, but, hmmmm.....what EXACTLY would she pretend? I hope and pray no one would expose their child to a hooker so much (read: not at all) that they know WHAT they do. On the other hand, I have taken preschoolers to meet police officers and firefighters and have taught them about all of the GOOD things they do....maybe they'll be inspired and become one themselves someday. A hooker, well I would certainly hope not.

Oh, and a minister? hahahaha! They are not all good either...........

[daysofelijah]

Originally Posted by legomom922 View Post
Would you have a problem with your daughter pretending she is hooker? The point is there is NO GOOD that can come from it weather its pretending to be a cop, a pole dancer or a hooker! Maybe people need to take the time to teach their kids GOOD morals. How about teaching your kid to play being a minister? a teacher? a doctor?

I am sure my police officer brother would appreciate you comparing his job to that of a pole dancer or hooker. Wth is wrong with you? Glad to hear how much respect you have for those who serve your community daily. I'm sure your dcparents would really appreciate hearing about that.

eta: Oh and my husband takes my boys to wrestling practice and tournaments 2-3 days a week. Crazy! Crazy the horrible way we are parenting these kids these days!

[QualiTcare]

BULLIES. THEY are the reason for MOST of the school shootings and violence in recent years.

Gun play IS inevitable......YOU may not think YOUR child has ever done it, but bet you 10 to one when your child has visited a male playmate, he has participated in gun play. Does your child not partake in Superhero play? Where did he learn about superheroes if not on tv? He just DID.....I can almost guarantee that pretend gunplay takes place on every single elementary campus in the world on a daily basis....YES, there is a "zero tolerance" policy, but I can guarantee you that only one in fifty ADULTS would report a preschooler or kindergarter picking up a toy and saying "bang, you're dead" It's the ONE ADULT that is overreacting to child's play.....the other 49 adults shrug it off as normal, and may choose to observe the child's play a little more closely to ensure that it doesn't get out of hand. I tell ya, if every single child was doled out consequences for playing cops and robbers at school, we'd have less than half of the prek and kindy student body that we do now, AND a whole lot of burdens to society, because if they can't be in school, then where will they be?

I think ADULTS are the ones who have turned gun play into more than it is.....if you look at the violent felons out there, they didn't partake in simple gunplay....they generally were raised in a violent environment that led them to be criminals.

my son doesn't go to friend's houses without me. he hasn't had a toy gun here. when he went to daycare they didn't allow gun play. how would it be inevitable? boys aren't born with a desire to play with guns. i'm sure if my son were given the opportunity to play pretend with other boys then he would join in - i'm not that naive. but why would anyone buy toy guns or encourage gun play? there is NOTHING positive that can come from it - nothing. he does pretend to be a spy and a ninja. half of the household in america don't have ninja weapons that kids can get ahold of.

i guarantee that i was lucky enough to encounter one of those fifty crazy people who would make a big deal about a kid talking about guns. a 4 year old GIRL - my girl repeated what a boy told her to say about "shooting" people and the daycare director made a huge deal about it. i've mentioned it here before and that has zero to do with what i think bc i've never allowed gun play. the words gun and play do not go together. people have been killed when their toy guns were mistaken for real guns. kids have been killed mistaking real guns for toy guns. a woman in my town was arrested and charged with assault for "playing guns" with kids in her child's kindergarten class. i don't think gun play causes people to kill or anything like that, but i think there are only negative things that can come from kids associating with guns. what is one GOOD thing that can happen? if there's no good, what's the point?

it's funny - people worry more about boys playing with baby dolls than they worry about guns. people here always say "oh yeah, it's okay for boys to play with dolls" but i bet more have bought toy guns for their boys than dolls. i wonder how many people buy guns for their girls? it's twisted.

[Live and Learn]

I agree with quality care here. No good will come of playing with guns in daycare. Period. Not appropriate play in my house. I have to say though...it NEVER COMES UP HERE.......EVER!!!

[Crystal]

QualiTcare...I didn't mean "you" when I posted....it was a general "you"

But, let's talk about ninja play. Sure, half the homes don't have ninja weapons, and I imagine close to half don't have toy guns. But the children still "pretend" to have them, don't they? I have kids who use paper towel tubes as swords....same to me as calling it a gun. Just as deadly, in the wrong hands, if it were a real sword or gun.

Now, FTR, I don't do gun play in my home either. BUT, I also DON'T make a big deal of it if the kids pick up a paper towel tube, or put some legos together and call it a gun. I actually make no comment at all....if I ever saw a child using it to "kill" a friend, then I would step in. I do have three families with dad's who hunt....and those are the children I generally see it with....and they never point their "guns" at their freinds, they are always hunting, and their friends do it too. We have in the past discussed this play because there are children who have never heard of hunting and don't know anything about it, so when they heard it from a peer, it became a topic for discussion. I, of course, expressed my disdain for killing animals for sport, BUT my dck dad's don't hunt for sport, they actually eat their game.

Anyhow....like I said, I think the adults are the ones with the over-exaggerated issue. Just as anything else in life, teach them what is and is not appropriate and when it is and is not appropriate, and they'll turn out just fine.

[Gurdy]

my son doesn't go to friend's houses without me. he hasn't had a toy gun here. when he went to daycare they didn't allow gun play. how would it be inevitable? boys aren't born with a desire to play with guns. i'm sure if my son were given the opportunity to play pretend with other boys then he would join in - i'm not that naive. but why would anyone buy toy guns or encourage gun play? there is NOTHING positive that can come from it - nothing. he does pretend to be a spy and a ninja. half of the household in america don't have ninja weapons that kids can get ahold of.

i guarantee that i was lucky enough to encounter one of those fifty crazy people who would make a big deal about a kid talking about guns. a 4 year old GIRL - my girl repeated what a boy told her to say about "shooting" people and the daycare director made a huge deal about it. i've mentioned it here before and that has zero to do with what i think bc i've never allowed gun play. the words gun and play do not go together. people have been killed when their toy guns were mistaken for real guns. kids have been killed mistaking real guns for toy guns. a woman in my town was arrested and charged with assault for "playing guns" with kids in her child's kindergarten class. i don't think gun play causes people to kill or anything like that, but i think there are only negative things that can come from kids associating with guns. what is one GOOD thing that can happen? if there's no good, what's the point?

it's funny - people worry more about boys playing with baby dolls than they worry about guns. people here always say "oh yeah, it's okay for boys to play with dolls" but i bet more have bought toy guns for their boys than dolls. i wonder how many people buy guns for their girls? it's twisted.

Ok-- there is a huge difference between toy guns and a real gun. I think that you do not give kids enough credit. They can understand this.

My daughters have a play kitchen. They cook in it all the time. They know that they are not permitted to use the real stove or oven.

My kids have toy drills and power tools- they know that they can not hurt themselves with these toys. They also know that they are not to play with their dad's real power tools.

Gun accidents have nothing to do with kids playing cops and robbers or cowboys and indians. In fact if a child has never touched or played with a toy gun then they really may not know the difference if they were to find a real one.

Boys do play differently than girls, that is a fact. If I gave the boys dolls to play with they would be using the doll or the dolls bottle as a gun. Most girls just naturally dont play like that. Maybe the good that can come out of gun play is the same as any dramatic play. Kids figure things out and learn by playing.

[QualiTcare]

Ok-- there is a huge difference between toy guns and a real gun. I think that you do not give kids enough credit. They can understand this.

My daughters have a play kitchen. They cook in it all the time. They know that they are not permitted to use the real stove or oven.

My kids have toy drills and power tools- they know that they can not hurt themselves with these toys. They also know that they are not to play with their dad's real power tools.

Gun accidents have nothing to do with kids playing cops and robbers or cowboys and indians. In fact if a child has never touched or played with a toy gun then they really may not know the difference if they were to find a real one.

Boys do play differently than girls, that is a fact. If I gave the boys dolls to play with they would be using the doll or the dolls bottle as a gun. Most girls just naturally dont play like that. Maybe the good that can come out of gun play is the same as any dramatic play. Kids figure things out and learn by playing.

there IS a huge difference, but kids can't understand this. many adults can't tell the difference. skim through this site and scroll to the bottom where there's a pic of some guns.

http://www.irol.com/avc/fact_sheet_about_toy_guns.html

if grown men who have a gun on their hip every day can't distinguish, i don't trust little kids to be able to.....and when tested, it's proven that they can't.