Toy Guns In Childcare

[Controlled Chaos]

We do play cowboys (and yes I have a toob that they have guns) We play police etc. Now I do not have toy guns back here. They know my son (now 18 sigh) shoots (competitive shooter) and they know he shoots paper. Shooting is an Olympic sport. I do not "encourage" gun play but sometimes it makes sense. When my son was very young my cousin told me go ahead and get him the little six shooters, he is a boy he will make guns anyway. And he was right... sticks, legos etc. There is something very satisfying for a little guy to go powpow with his finger. We live in a very rural, hunting area. These kids will play "deer camp" because they go to deer camp and watch the deer being butchered. I had a little 3 year old girl that could tell you all about hunting and deer camp.
Like with all things- I may discourage or redirect them if things get too wild
I do discourage "zombies, zombies, zombies" because that drives me crazy!

They drive me crazy too! I tell them "We don't want to scare the babies!" :: and that usually works. Sweet little creepers, looking out for the babies

[daycarediva]

I COULD NOT keep clients if I allowed gun play. It's a liberal area.

We are gun owners/sport shooting. No hunting though. I have one hunting family/gun owners. The rest are so anti-gun it isn't funny. "Ironically" enough, the child of the hunting/gun owner family does not make guns and is easily redirected when guns enter into play. The OTHER children are OBSESSED with them.

There needs to be a healthier outlet. 4 year old boys NEED time to be rowdy/wild/rough. The parents of the children who CONSTANTLY repress that, have the WORST behaved children. Also, maybe if children grew up understanding the importance of safety, who can/should use a gun and when and were allowed that power play there would be LESS gun violence.

I allow my own kids to play toy guns. My daughter is a target shooter/bow shooter, but we enroll them in safety classes and teach them. I have never had an issue with any of my children being rough/violent or making guns at school.

They SUSPENDED a kindergartener here for DRAWING a gun. It is no tolerance and taken ridiculously serious.

They are also implementing a NO RUNNING rule at RECESS (OUTDOOR!) in spring for our K-2 building.

That will help.

[NeedaVaca]

I COULD NOT keep clients if I allowed gun play. It's a liberal area.

We are gun owners/sport shooting. No hunting though. I have one hunting family/gun owners. The rest are so anti-gun it isn't funny. "Ironically" enough, the child of the hunting/gun owner family does not make guns and is easily redirected when guns enter into play. The OTHER children are OBSESSED with them.

There needs to be a healthier outlet. 4 year old boys NEED time to be rowdy/wild/rough. The parents of the children who CONSTANTLY repress that, have the WORST behaved children. Also, maybe if children grew up understanding the importance of safety, who can/should use a gun and when and were allowed that power play there would be LESS gun violence.

I allow my own kids to play toy guns. My daughter is a target shooter/bow shooter, but we enroll them in safety classes and teach them. I have never had an issue with any of my children being rough/violent or making guns at school.

They SUSPENDED a kindergartener here for DRAWING a gun. It is no tolerance and taken ridiculously serious.

They are also implementing a NO RUNNING rule at RECESS (OUTDOOR!) in spring for our K-2 building.

That will help.

No running OUTSIDE? OMG...so ridiculous! These poor kids need to RUN and burn off steam, so no more playing tag with your friends? How sad!

[mamamanda]

Thank you so much for all the input. I decided that for our particular group I will put all of the toy weapons away during daycare hours, but I'm not going to fight them on making pretend guns as long as they aren't fighting with each other & don't get too rowdy. Black Cat, thank you for sharing the websites!