children and toy weapons - what do you think?

Question

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGklO.DndHJHQAD3JXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4dGFrZ20yBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y3NTRfODkEbANXUzE-/SIG=124ifi0u9/EXP=1199071294/**http%3a//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7163741.stm
Should children be allowed to play with toy weapons? What will they learn/gain from doing so? I can't see what good can come of this, I think it only encourages violence. As if the world wasn't already violent enough.....

Answer 1

I have to agree that the world is to violent. The article did not surprise me at all. The government has turned into the military and the military loves toy guns. If you have noticed the military has sponsored some of the most realistic violent video games out there. They are basically simulators of a real war. So I think why would they want to do so? Because they are training future soldiers. Why would the government promote gun play for boys at school? Because they are training future soldiers.

Besides this being extremely sexist; as my kid sisters favorite thing is her gun; it is not the government or the schools responsibility to teach about guns. That is up to the parents and what the parents want the schools to teach is the the stuff that gets them through the educational aspects of life. Let's not forget Physical Education! They stopped teaching that and now want to teach them gun play. That's wrong.

Answer 2

I always loved playing with the little guns and things like in cops and robbers and such. I think that what was said before is true. If you do not give them an actual weapon....they will make one either with their hands or whatever. Also I think that if you choose not to let your children play with toy weapons then that is your decision, but if another parent chooses to do differently then that is their decision. To put an actual boundary up like CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH TOY WEAPONS that would be wrong. These decisions should be based on what the parent chooses to do. I personally do not see what the problem is because that is how I was raised. Then again, I was raised with very strict rules regaurding the toy guns etc. I was allowed to play with the little guns and bows with arrows and things but if I ever pointed them at anyone.....I was in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!! So as long as you explain to your child that guns are not to be pointed at anyone then I don't think their is a problem. But it must be explained.

Answer 3

That's ridiculous! I had toy guns and other weapons and I'm not violent. It's just a freaking toy!

How are you going to play cowboys and indians or army with no weapons? This is the kind of liberal pansy crap that is wrong with this country.

Answer 4

yeah your first poster is right
i have two boys and wateva is in their hand you give thema flower and they will prtend it is a machine gun or another weapon
i think the more you molly coddle them and say you cant do this and that the more that when they grow up in life they wil get a shock

just because kids play violent games doews not detremine that when thye grow up they will be violent and agressive in life
i htink as long as they understand that this is play and that violence in general is wrong :its all about teaching your kids morals and ethics ,i know its easier said than done but all we can do is give it the best try that we can

Answer 5

While I would not want to see any toy weapons in schools, I think if the parents provide adequate supervision, playing with guns is not harmful to children. It is important that the child be given rules to govern their play so they understand the importance of proper play with weapons.

Answer 6

I have boys, and I've noticed that even if you don't give them toy weapons, they will create them! Building blocks, cardboard tubes, etc etc. I don't think that makes kids violent, however - I think they are play-acting, no different than being firefighters or princesses or whatever. It's the adults in this world who cause violence by not being ADULT.

Answer 7

As I've stated before, I've had toy guns when I was a kid and I turned out completely non violent.
It's how you raise your children that makes them violent. If you raise them with violence you'll breed violence, if you raise them with love and understanding you breed love!
It's that simple

Answer 8

I belonged to a church that frowned on toy guns, etc etc. And my boys never had them.
Which is why they were fascinated by them. My son joined the army, he took up shooting as a sport. Both my sons love violent games.
It didn't work for me.

Answer 9

Kids have played with toy weapons since long ago. You have to remember that kids will be kids. It's up to the parent to teach their kids right from wrong...

Answer 10

Toy guns were my primary entertainment from 5 to 10 years old and I haven't killed anyone yet.