https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 21:43:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583583 Sat, 09 Jul 2016 19:46:03 +0000 alphagam84 2583583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's a big deal at all and will let DD play with one when she's older. We are anti-gun in general though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583576 Sat, 09 Jul 2016 18:57:06 +0000 tlcbaby 2583576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our son has water guns and a couple of little Star Wars blasters. I've never even given it a second thought. To him, they are just toys just like his stuffed animals or play-doh. Either way, he will know what a gun is eventually and whether he plays with guns or not, we will have to educate him on the danger of guns and gun safety. I played with all kinds of water guns as a kid and I am terrified of real guns so it didn't turn me into a wild gun-slinger or anything.</p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: That is hilarious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583387 Sat, 09 Jul 2016 03:44:51 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2583387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS got one in a loot bag. He thinks it's a blow dryer and pretends to dry his hair with it. I'll probably chuck it eventually and avoid buying gun toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583368 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 22:30:08 +0000 sarac 2583368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am as pro gun control as they come, but yes, of course they play with water guns. I had no idea this was a thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583365 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 22:13:16 +0000 caterw 2583365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD has played with water guns at the pool and she totally loves them. She is not allowed to "shoot" people- mostly she just likes to make patterns in the water or the sidewalk. We also have Nerf swords and plastic lightsabers- same rules. I am not against guns in general and I don't have an issue with having real or pretend weapons in the house. Firearms in our family are stored safely (top of the closet, unloaded, ammo separate. Even my police officer FIL keeps his guns this way at their house so we don't have any incidents). We'll teach more gun safety when DD is older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583230 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:26:04 +0000 runnerd 2583230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would prefer to go for more of the soaker toy, but haven't given it much thought. On the other hand, I did almost buy him a foam sword, and quickly changed my mind since we constantly remind him about being gentle, not hitting, etc. and it is counter-productive to the behaviors we are working on teaching him. Toy and/or water guns will likely go in same category </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583220 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:12:05 +0000 josina 2583220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have any squirt guns or nerf guns now, but I'm sure we will at some point. We do have a wii gun that goes with a hunting game, and I know DS plays with squirt guns at daycare.<br /> I guess I don't like the idea of guns as toys, but there is a big difference between a squirt gun and a real gun, and I know my son is going to hunt with his father someday, so gun safety will be taught. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583214 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:05:55 +0000 kiddosc 2583214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, he has several. I played with water guns and knew they were toys, that shooting someone with water doesn't equal shooting them with a real gun, and never even touched a real gun until I meet my husband. I personally don't see a connection between water guns and actual gun violence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583186 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 14:01:55 +0000 erinbaderin 2583186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: Fair enough - I disagree personally but that makes a lot of sense for your family, thanks for explaining! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583179 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:48:49 +0000 PinkElephant 2583179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the cannons and squirt/spray bottles, but don't use them as often as expected. When friends are over, they seem to cause too many squabbles snout who squirted who, who wants which one, etc. Etc. I'm not a fan of things that look like actual guns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583167 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:24:18 +0000 coopsmama 2583167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Water guns don't bother me. They are typically brightly colored plastic that don't bear any resemblance to the real thing. What does bother me is pointing them at people...and not even just because they are "guns" (although definitely true in that sense, too) but because it is so rude to get someone wet who doesn't want to be wet, whether that's with a water gun or a cup from the water table. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583163 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:13:30 +0000 littlebug 2583163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Because I have no problem with hunting. He's seen Fox and the Hound a lot and likes to pretend hunt bears. He knows the difference between hunting a bear and shooting a cat. </p> <p>@looch: Exactly. I can keep guns out of the house, but like I said, he'll pick up a stick or just use his hands. I'm not going to completely prevent him from playing like that. I use it as an opportunity to talk about guns and gun safety. Guns are never going to not be a part of our society, so I'd rather he be aware of them and aware of the dangers associated with them.</p> <p>ETA: I played/pretended with guns as a kid. I'm not a raging psychopath running around killing people. These are teachable moments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583162 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:11:53 +0000 Foodnerd81 2583162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It hasn't come up but I think we will go with things like @hilsy85: posted (thanks for the link!). I don't feel comfortable with pretend gun play at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583160 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:08:35 +0000 looch 2583160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: That's interesting, because we've specifically said to our son that he can not use his water launcher pointed at people. Into the air or water only. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583155 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:03:53 +0000 erinbaderin 2583155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: Just out of curiosity, why is he allowed to pretend to shoot animals but not people? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583153 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:53:52 +0000 lamariniere 2583153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: 100% agree. We have the same thing as @hilsy85: and my son LOVES them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583145 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:46:16 +0000 looch 2583145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the launchers. That's as close to a toy gun as I feel comfortable getting.</p> <p>But kids will use anything as a gun, including their hands. It doesn't mean they're criminals, just a teaching opportunity that we as parents need to be prepared for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583138 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:39:48 +0000 arosebyany 2583138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never even thought about this. We live in Texas and my husband is an avid hunter, mostly with a bow though, so obviously my child needs to know about guns. I can't walk into Walmart without seeing at least 10 people wearing a pistol on thier hip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583133 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:36:53 +0000 hilsy85 2583133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. No guns, ever. We have water shooters like this: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Always-Under-Blaster-Eliminator-Shooter/dp/B00DC6YE4M/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1467999394&#038;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Always-Under-Blaster-Eliminator-Shooter/dp/B00DC6YE4M/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1467999394&#038;sr=1-1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583124 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:24:24 +0000 wrkbrk 2583124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583123 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:23:38 +0000 wrkbrk 2583123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Funny timing as I was just thinking of this yesterday. It hadnt really occurred to me until I saw a bunch of pictures of little kids on social media - toddlers! - with water guns playing outside. I was like oh hell no. That will not be happening. No guns of any kind and if I am the mean mom then oh well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583119 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:19:46 +0000 macintosh 2583119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm thinking I won't do water guns if they look like guns. I remember really loving Super Soakers as a kid, which had a pump action to it. I think I'll try to steer him to non-realistic looking water toys. No toy guns or BB guns for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583118 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:19:11 +0000 ShootingStar 2583118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No water guns allowed here. If they squirt and don't look like guns, that's fine. Guns are not toys, and playing at pretending to shoot things/people/animals is not appropriate to me. </p> <p>@littlebug: I absolutely intend to keep guns out of his play forever. Boy or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583114 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:17:29 +0000 chopsuey 2583114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. The kids got some as party favors a few weeks ago and they were a huge hit! They love their water guns 😊 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583104 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:03:02 +0000 littlebug 2583104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't keep guns out of his play forever. He's a boy. He's a kid. It's what they do. He will pick up a stick and pretend it's a gun, so not buying him fake guns won't prevent him from playing like it. We have talked about guns in the sense that they can hurt people. He is allowed to pretend to shoot animals, but never pretend to shoot or aim his pretend guns at people. He has been told that we can only shoot people with water guns (he actually calls them water cannons, thanks to Paw Patrol). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583103 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:02:31 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2583103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I purchased some prior to even having kids. Just cheap dollar ones that I ambushed DH with one night lol so there are 2 floating around here but the girls don't really play with them. My issue is that my oldest knows it's a gun but we are consistently teaching her to never ever touch a gun so I've been toying woth throwing them away. Especially because they likely will not go missed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583099 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 11:51:26 +0000 Canoli 2583099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting seeing this. My mom got water guns for them to play with because it's so hot this week. We got them out this morning to play with. At first I second guessed if I should let them but then I saw how excited the kids were to play with the water and I just wanted my kids to be innocent 2 and 4 year olds for a little bit. But I'm really not sure what to think. Nothing is simple these days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/water-guns#post-2583098 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 11:47:21 +0000 Bao 2583098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you let your kids play with water guns? Why or why not?</p> <p>We have two, and I honestly didn't put thought into it when buying them, I know the girls love to squirt our water bottles, so thought it would be fun. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't allow them...</p> <p>ETA: my girls don't know what guns are yet </p>