Kids playing with 'guns'??

[Trillian]

I"m a bit *meh* about it too. I love a good nerf gun fight with the kids and what everyone else has said about them is so true - you can not let them watch violent things and not have toy guns in the house, but imaginative play is a natural and normal part of their development and I'd hate to stifle that. I don't condone letting children watch anything violent, but my point is that they pick it up anyway - from other kids, from other environments etc. The most important thing is that you keep the lines of communication open and make the difference between pretend play and reality very clear to them.

[shellbell3]

I don't mind the pretend gun playing so much for me its more the words like "I'm going to kill you" or similar. If I say anything DD1 points out its not real, she's just pretending. I know but still I have to explain why I don't like that sort of talk.

[MantaRay]

I have really changed my thinking on this since having two boys. I never thought I'd like the idea but the boys make guns out of anything. It is such a natural way for them to play so I've come to be meh about it too. I think it's just the way it is and going with the flow is a good approach.

[Phteven]

For me...... picking up a stick and making it into a gun is an act of imagination so I'm ok with it. I'm also ok with water pistols/super soakers in summer although I do prefer the ones that are non-realistic.

[MummyNaomi]

I have really changed my thinking on this since having two boys. I never thought I'd like the idea but the boys make guns out of anything. It is such a natural way for them to play so I've come to be meh about it too. I think it's just the way it is and going with the flow is a good approach.

Totally agree with this. DH and DS have nerf guns - DS is only three, my BIL/SIL bought them for their birthdays in April. At first I was a little apprehensive but all they do is play, and laugh - A LOT! They will run around the house chasing each other and have a ball, I am totally comfortable that its harmless and fun, and defintely a boy thing!. DS knows he is allowed to aim the nerf gun below the middle - eg no face or head (they dont do any damage anyway), and I think SIL plans to get me one in July for my birthday so I can join in. Its just another toy, and like everything you teach your child the values you want them to have etc. We also have water pistols and have lots of fun with those too. Having said that I probably wouldn't be so comfortable with a toy gun replica that looked completely the same as a real hand gun. So I contradict myself

[Sunny Love]

Guns are used to maim (sp?) or kill, prey or people. We don't do guns, swords, or any kind of weapons in this house. I don't judge it though when I see other kids playing that way though.
I *think* you should follow your gut instinct and level of comfort in order to assess how to approach the topic. Why don't you have a talk with them about their play, ie listen to the context of the play, why the guns are used and then set some boundaries like where they can aim, what the 'gun' is loaded with (let their imagination create something surreal).

In saying that though, we do make hooning car noises (you know, EEK, SCREECH etc etc), and that after recent weekend events has me hesitiant to encourage it again with my own kids, as harmless as its intended on our behalf, it still encourages a dangerous behaviour, and cars are weapons that kill also.

Sorry, I got a bit off track, but I do see where you are coming from. xx