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I have mixed feelings on this, because I I feel that it's not that big of a deal. I was taught to operate a gun at a young age and if you want a gun, learn how to properly handle it store it, and realize there is a proper time and place for them (and that is NOT Walmart, ugh).
I am confused on how to approach it with LO though because times have changed and he can get suspended from school for even drawing a gun. I have no issues with him learning how to handle one as he gets older and want him to! I work in the legal system and hate the cases I get where teenagers are being stupid with guns and something happens. I want him to at least know how to properly respect one if nothing else.
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@Mamaof2: Great rules!
@littlejoy: Good story and rule taught! Will definitely have to remember that!
Honestly, I hadn't really given this very important topic any thought yet. (DD is not even 2). I'm personally very very uncomfortable at the thought of any guns in the house or any play time with even fake guns. Water guns squirters are okay, but even Nerf stuff still seems to aim to hurt someone else?
I like all the pp rules on how kids should NOT play with the toy guns, but I might be clueless because I've never played with guns. WHAT exactly do they do when they "imaginatively play" with fake guns? If they are not pointing them at each other, at anything, saying "I shoot you", etc? What are they doing/playing? I remember very clearly being with a GF on a trip once, her brother and his friend had BB guns and they chased us around actually shooting them. I got hit in the head - thankfully no scarring, but I can't ever imagine even letting my child have one. I don't quite understand the "imaginative play" part of this? Honestly curious, not trying to bash anyone who is okay with them.
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Only bright, colorful, unrealistic looking water guns.
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I don't know...my instinct is to say "no" to all guns but DH insists they are fine if the guns are bright super soakers.
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I do.... but sometimes I am also not as sensitive as I was born and raised in Hong Kong. Citizens can not own guns and it has never been a big deal playing with guns when were were kids. It is just not a big deal because no one owns a gun except the police. So when I saw a bubble gun in a store (that thing doesn't look like a realistic gun, more like a water pistol with colorful and transparent plastic, flashing lights and all), I got excited and bought it immediately.... only to feel a bit weird when I took LO to the park -- he was shooting bubbles and kids were going crazy and wanted to come over and play. There I was like oh crap I don't know if I may offend anyone. All the parents *seem* to be cool though although I do not know for sure. Thinking more about it 2 or 3 parents did announce they are leaving soon after we've been shooting bubbles for not too long lol. Oops I hope it is not because of our bubble gun. But the remaining are cool. There was a father who was interested in my bubble gun and was asking me oh where did you buy this? I was like oh I forgot (it was a novelty store) maybe you can google "bubble..... machine"? And we just never really acknowledge that that "machine" is actually more like a gun lol
ETA: As long as we live in the US I don't think I would ever let him play with a realistic toy gun though. To be very honest, I think it is a bit silly (eg. getting detention at school because a student only drew a gun or brought a gun shaped cookie...etc)... but that's the norm nowadays unfortunately...
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I actually used to love playing with toys guns when I was little. I pretended I was a sheriff or something and had two toy guns in my pant pockets all the time. I don't recall why I was so into them. But with my kids, they have never played with any type of toy gun. Since starting school, my son has started to pretend shoot with random things like straws or anything that has a similar shape. He'll make "guns" with his lego. I haven't deterred him from playing pretend because there doesn't seem to be any malicious intent in his play.
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@NeekieRose: Same here. However I think I will really enforce some of the rules posted above, especially taking the toy away when there are threats of violence, no questions asked.
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I was about to say no, no gun toys...then I realized we already have a "bubble gun" that blows bubbles when you pull a trigger, but it looks more like a hair dryer but still - it didn't even occur to me that this was in some sense was toy gun until I read Irene's post!
I'm fine with water squirter/bubble toys as long as they aren't being used violently. Although for little kids I'd rather have plastic fish that squirt water or something cute like that. I really don't like war/gun play though. It just makes me uncomfortable, so I'll discourage it until my kids are old enough to talk about why I think it's not a joking matter.
I do agree learning gun safety is important - we will probably utilze relatives who (safely) keep guns on a farm property to help us educate the girls on this topic when they are older. I really like the "tell a grown up" rule done if you have mentioned.
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Squirt guns and nerf guns.
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Yes definitely.
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@shopaholic: yes, that's what I wonder as well...what is the play that occurs with guns? I was thinking maybe target practice?
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@shopaholic: DS has a few nerf guns and the little darts have suction cups on them so he likes to try to hit the bullseye on a target we have - or he will shoot at the front door. He also likes to set up toys and knock them over (kinda like that tin can pyramid)
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Water guns and nerf guns, no biggie. But my husband and I have discussed it and we won't do any realistic toy guns. im really not worked up about it...I had toy guns and I knew the difference between them and my dads gun.
DH is a hunter and gun handler. We have guns in our home (secured). DH says he would just rather not have toy guns so our kids will never see them as play things.. DH's dad always did the same with him. Like I said, I'm not worked up about it but Im definitely happy to agree with DH's stance.
When you deal with guns often and your children will probably grow to go hunting with dad, then there's no room to not take guns seriously.
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As far as guns go, I never let my kids play with guns of any kind, not even Nerf or water guns. I hate all guns, and feel that no one but the police should carry them, which I know probably puts me in the minority. I know they made finger guns or stick guns, but they knew how Mom felt about guns and why. My sister has always thought I was crazy about it, but then, she's always hated my kids' names, and told me so!
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