Does anyone have a 3yo son obsessed with swords,guns,weapons?

Question

My son will turn anything into a weapon (current favorite is sword)--paper, stick, toy spatula, etc. Why does he always want to poke or "do battle"? Is this a boy thing? A 3yo thing? Will he outgrow it? He doesn't have any toy guns or swords, and never watches violent TV. Where does this come from?

Answer 1

Well, that's the way little boys were back in the day. They never made a big deal out of it until the past 15 years or so. In my opinion, they are making sissys out of children these days. I've witnessed school closings this year because it was "too cold"....What? We NEVER had school cancelled because it was too cold. Also, just all the other crap they make a big deal out of. Like kids playing with pretend guns or swords. Maybe they have family in the military and want to be like them. Or maybe they just enjoy it! Some things are just engrained in a child. So your child is a boy-boy! That's fine. As long as he's not violent towards people for real then don't worry.

Answer 2

Well if it IS a boy thing then I'm missing a penis. I was a "warrier" when I was a small child. I had six guns that went with my cowboy outfit. I had swords that went with my pirate outfit. In fact I have always had a thing for pirates. Your son has a vivid imagination is all. Now as an adult the only "weapons" I possess are my hands and my feet (Eagle Claw Kung Fu) No guns, no swords but I do have a Bowie knife that was used at the battle of the Alamo...but it is in a display case and not used as a weapon.

Answer 3

I believe it is an age thing. Most of the boys in my son's daycare class have the same "obsession" because of the Super Hero characters. My husband who is a police officer has gone into the school and talked to the kids about the dangers of weapons. Now my son and his friends talk about how not to touch weapons and to get an adult if they find one anywhere. They still play "Power Rangers", etc., but they know not to "shoot" at other people. My son has a toy gun, but he knows that if he points it at anyone, it is taken away. Use this "obsession" as an opportunity to educate your child.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Who knows! when my grandson could grab things the first thing he grabbed was a toy car, and a toy motorcycle. When he was about 15 months I bought him a push bike, you know the one without peddles. Well he grabbed the handlebars and made a brrrr sound with his mouth, twisted his right hand on the handle bar and drove that thing up the side of the couch and up the television and pretended to do wheeles and he NEVER had been influenced by anyone about what a car or motorcycle sounds like with the exception of seeing cars and motorcycles. He never saw anyone flip make a wheele on a bike. I have seen other kids do this with guns and swords, and guitars and pianos, with paint and crayons. Go Figure!

Answer 5

My little brothers were like that. They aren't violent kids or anything; now they just play computer games. He's using his imagination, which is something not too many kids do. You could always ask why he's fighting whatever it is he's attacking, to see what his response is. Maybe through that kind of conversation you can see where he's getting his ideas. As kids go, if you make it off limits, it'd probably make him want to investigate it further. I'd suggest letting him play, but if he ever hits or prods an actual person, then bring down some punishment (time outs, etc).

Answer 6

My son is almost 3 and he turns everything into a sword. I believe it is the natural male testosterone in them!!! He never sees anything like that and is the same way. He watched Brother Bear a Disney movie and turned the canoe in the movie into a sword. It is honestly just a phase though it will pass.

Answer 7

Yes its a boy thing!!! My son who is 5 can see a gun in almost anything, a hot wheel truck, a pencil ( you just gottta tape something onto it)( and he will), anything i tell ya, but id guess legos are his favorite. he will make different guns all day with them, then go throught the house like hes in a battle or something. And they dont have to watch violent movies to pick it up just look at the news and the show that kind of stuff in cartoons too, look at elmer fudd. So yes you have a boy there, just be glad hes not into barbies lol.

Answer 8

I have a 3 yr old and yes he too is obsessed with swords ,guns and knives . I hope it is just a phase. The other night when I put him to bed I found 2 huge kitchen knives under his pillow. Of course I was shocked. I tend to let my boy play pretend pirates etc as I know its just a game he is a loving kid who is kind to his pets etc. So I'm not too worried about his play habit........for now.

Answer 9

Congratulations on raising a healthy, normal little boy. I teach pre school and have a little boy that is 4.

It doesn't matter how many times I say, "No guns at preschools" I'll still have someone pretending to shoot something anyway. They use the kitchen center items, pencils, tools, legos, and lincoln logs. lol

I find that the boys are either into cars and trucks or super heros and weapons.

Enjoy your little boy! SD

Answer 10

Almost all boys do this, even the ones who aren't exposed to violent images. I don't think they ever grow out of it but it should be less constant by the time he's maybe 10 (sorry, I know that's a long time!). Try to get him interested in other activities. Think of things that you enjoyed when you were little. Maybe painting, reading, playing cards or little kids' board games, soccer, etc. I'm sure you probably do some of this but I don't think you can eliminate that behavior completely.