Gun play

[theatokos]

This is a post for all those born male and for mothers of males.

If you are a male, did you play with guns? Did you turn non-gun items into imaginary guns? Do you think this is something innate in males? If not, where did you learn this behaviour from? As an adult male now do you have any parenting perspectives on this, or advice for the new mama of a male?

For mothers of males, do your sons play with guns or have gun play? If so, at what age did this start? Does this bother you? If so, how do you discourage this? Any thoughts for a new mama?

Comments

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

Agree!

We gave J a BB gun. He wanted a real rifle and wanted to hunt. So for 2 hunting seasons he had to show proper gun safty with the BB gun before he was given his first rifle. A BB gun IS a weapon and should be treated as such.

[raving-liberal.livejournal.com]

Before Liam was allowed to play with toy guns with friend, he had to demonstrate proper gun safety!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

I think this is great and I think I am going to copy you both on this!

[raving-liberal.livejournal.com]

These are the rules of gun safety Liam had to learn:

1. Never point a gun at something you don't plant to kill/destroy (in play, of course, the "bad guy" is the target of "destruction," but he had to graduate up to gun play w/ other kids).

2. Know your target and what's behind it.

3. Every gun is always loaded.

4. Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.

The rules for toy weapon play (guns, swords, etc.) include:

1. "Weapons" only touch other "weapons"

2. If anyone feels uncomfortable w/ the "weapon" play at any time, the game is over.

Mothering Magazine had a FANTASTIC article on toy weapons and children that you'd probably find very helpful. Most of the rules that the parents interviewed followed were similar to ours.