should settings allow 'gun play'

should settings allow 'gun play'

by: mo5es - 21-12-05 10:39

I am doing my dissertation for an early childhood studies degree on the subject of practitioners views on whether we should allow boys to engage in 'gun play', or power rangers etc in settings. There seems to be a long standing view that this is always stopped and children encouraged to do something else, it certainly is that way in my setting. What are practitioners views, and does anyone know of any books or articles on the subject? Any help most gratefully received!! Jane

by: janny

Hello Jane, Not very many people think about children of Forces families who more than likely see armed guards on the gates to where they live on a daily basis, they could be their mum or dad! What do we tell these childre, that guns are bad? Does that then make mummy and daddy bad? I think the way the situation is handled is important and I speak from experience having been a practitioner on military units for 15 years!

should settings allow 'gun play' - 21-12-05 20:33

by: newsetting

Hi ya,

Was reading an article on this today actually. It was in Nursery Education Magazine published by Scholastic and it was in the Autumn edition. Dont know if you can get your hands on a copy but if you cant, i can forward you a copy.

should settings allow 'gun play' - 29-12-05 09:25

by: sally

Hi! From personal experience I have a boy who is now 11 and has grown up in a forces environment.
When he was three he was obssessed with guns. He would role play with his friends lying in ditches or under shrubs waiting for his orders. I thought that it was better to let him get it out of his system at three rather than wait until he was 18! I also saw that there was a lot of verbal communication and organization going on, role play imagination - a lot like hero play that boys tend to do. I didn't see him link guns to wars, controlling people, or death although when I asked him about real guns he knew they were dangerous. I also talked to him about wars and how they are not very nice because people really do get hurt. I did this in an appropriate way for a 3 year old!! I also found that because he felt empowered he would take control of things and be caring - he took care of a fledgling bird that he found - I saw no detrimental effects of being allowed to play with toy guns apart from a gain in self confidence and self-esteem.
We then spent time in civi street with other boys that preferred to play football. My son joined in with this activity but didn't really like it.
He is now 11 and has moved back into another military environment where boys tend to play with guns rather than football. The guns and rifles have come back out again and he's back outside under the hedgerows and in the ditches. Again verbal communication has improved and co-operation. I also think that boys are able to distinguish between 'games' and 'real life'

should settings allow 'gun play' - 31-01-06 18:03

by: Mibbs

Hello Jane,
Have you read Penny Holland's book on 'War, Weapons & Super-Hero Play? It's worth taking a look. I ahve always been passionately against gun play but this really made me examine my beliefs & opinions.