There's a debate among some of our neighbors about whether children (say, between 4-8 years old) should be playing with toy machine guns, combat knives, handguns, plastic scimitars, and other stuff they feel perpetrate violent behavior or dehumanization of life. What are your thoughts on these kinds of toys and play?
2006-09-16 16:56:31 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Weapons belong in the land of make believe. Let the kids keep their toys and take the real thing away from the grown-ups.
This reminds me of something John Waters once said when he appeared on a talk show years ago. He said he lectures at prisons and he encourages the prisoners to find creative outlets for their violent tendencies in the business of entertainment... movies, writing, video games, art, etc after their release. He was basicallly acknowledging that as human beings, we tend to crave the 'dark side'... horror films, gore, violent action films, etc and that keeping it all in the realm of imagination is the goal we need to strive for.
My sibs and I had great fun (and got plenty of exercise) playing cops and robbers as kids. But more often, we played Star Wars or Battlestar Gallatica. If we didn't have toy blasters and sabers, we would have used bananas and sticks. We used to pretend the swings at the playground were our Colonial Vipers. And if you could swing high enough to touch the tree branch with your toes, you entered a black hole.... but I digress. The most dangerous thing we ever got our hands on was the Indiana Jones whip my cousin received from some unthinking adult for his birthday... bad idea.
Would the children of today abandon war & violence in the world of tomorrow if we took away these playthings? That's a great question, but it demands a major paradigm shift. You would have to ex out all of the tv, movies, video games and books that the kids are basing their imaginings on as well and that is a daunting task, and one I am not sure is worthwhile.... sorry, now I'm just rambling..... stick to the first two sentences =)
2006-09-16 20:17:35 · answer #1 · answered by sueflower 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Toy Knives For Kids
2016-12-10 16:37:47 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question....I had 4 boys. I never bought them a weapon for play because I believed as your neighbors do, that they perpetuate violent behavior. They still managed to obtain some as birthday gifts or in trades with friends and they would magically "disappear" once the novelty wore off. The more you make of the issue the more the children will catch on that it's something "forbidden" and therefore desirable. If a child wants to pretend to shoot someone a stick will do. Get the kids into karate classes and have them learn the fine art of self-defense.
2006-09-16 17:59:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really don't see that there's anything wrong with these toys. Kids are going to play the way they're going to play. If you don't buy them a sword, they'll just chase each other with a stick. I don't think the objects themselves beget violence. It's got to do with how the parents raise the kids. If they're taught that it's wrong to murder, and that there's a difference between make-believe and reality, then I think they'll be alright. My parents' generation grew up watching "The Three Stooges" and I've never caught my Dad nailing my Mom with a Banana Cream Pie. I grew up watching "He-Man" and "G.I. Joe" and and have yet to be arrested in Wal-Mart wearing nothing but a sheath and loin cloth. People are quick to blame inanimate objects when the failing is more often on the up-bringing.
2006-09-16 17:41:51 · answer #4 · answered by Daryl E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all played with them as kids, and they LOOKED like the real thing back then, not colorful fakes. And we did turn out evil. No, wait, we're all fine.
And even if there is some residual romanticization of warfare--which I doubt--a nation ultimately does need men with a fighting spirit. ...lest they be overrun by any weak evil neighbor.
2006-09-16 17:52:33 · answer #5 · answered by A professor (thus usually wrong) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's pretty natural for kids to play cops and robbers, heck when we didn't have any toy guns we shot each other with our fingers. If there is some pansy parent that doesn't want their wuss to partake don't let your kids play with those particular toys when their around.
2006-09-16 23:25:50 · answer #6 · answered by .45 Peacemaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not? If their parents have taught them to differentiate between reality and make-believe, there really is no harm...It's the parent's fault when a kid goes and becomes a gang member/delinquient, because they didn't teach the kid right from wrong.
2006-09-16 17:04:45 · answer #7 · answered by xcrimsonxphoenixofxhellx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say no. only if there parents talk to them about make-believe and real life. other wise don't worry about it. they will grow out of it somday.
2006-09-16 17:09:53 · answer #8 · answered by girlofschool 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i dont see that its needed but as kids we had cap guns, and neither my brother or i turned out to be a killer,
2006-09-16 17:03:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a known issue...............its really stupid...............didnt u used to play cowboys and cops and robbers as a kid.................yes!
so y does it matter.......................and besides, youth today is screwed up as it is.....so y not just add stuff to the mix
2006-09-16 17:58:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋