Toy Guns, Violence, And Parents

Violence and fake guns, children, parents, and responsibiliy

Apr 24, 2007

The issue as to whether toy guns promote violence in children is a controvertial one. The role of parents, the issues of video games, television and movies is discussed.

This article addesses the issues of parental guidance and whether they make a child more violent or will affect the way they react to situations as an adult. Other aspects of this conrovetial subject concerns whether toy guns should be banned and whether toy guns promoting violence more than film, television or video games.

Parental Guidance

The toy is only part of the problem. The other aspect is the failure of parents to educate their children in the negative aspects of guns. Children are open to the “hero worship” of guns and the power they posses. Children are observing their world all the time looking to see what works and what doesn’t. What they sadly see is in many aspects of the media is that violence works. Violence is power. More and more often this violence is no longer stylised and children are more likely to look at the violent solutions they see as a “real” alternative. Parents need to stand up and educate their children from a very young age. If children are going to be allowed to have toy guns and watch violence on television then they need to have parental input, explanations, discussions and a strong understanding that that violence is not an answer and that real violence cannot be retracted. A child can “come back alive” from a toy gunfight, but a real gun or any other violence cannot be undone. Too many parents believe that this concept is somehow inbuilt into their children. This is not so. A child often needs to be taught the difference between imagination and reality especially when they are very young.

Do toy guns make children more violent?

The argument that toy guns make children more violent, or make them into more violent adults who see a “physical” solution to all their problems is very controversial. Many parents argue that the stylised imaginary games of cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers did not turn them into violent adults. This may be true, but as children “real” violence was not pumped into homes with quite the regularity it is now. This given, do children who are given toy guns become more violent? Basically they should not become more violent if they are properly supervised, educated and supported by their parents. That should not be rewarded for violent behaviour whether this is with toy guns or not and inappropriate behaviour should be addressed by parents immediately. It is perhaps not the toy guns that lead to an escalation in violence, but the lack of parental supervision and time spent education children about their dangers and realities that is the problem.

The Forbidden Fruit Argument

This is another controversial angle to the toy gun debate. The argument goes something like this: If you ban an item in your home, a child will want it all the more. There are two distinct sides to this argument. On one hand there is a distinct truth to this, sometimes children who are banned from certain activities will take it upon themselves to have the experience anyway. This is where knowing you child is the most important thing. If you realise that forbidden fruit is always tempting to your child then perhaps a water pistol or something may be enough to quench their need to grasp at the toy gun forbidden fruit. The flip side of this argument is that with plenty of talking and delicate communication then a child will gain an understanding of why the family does not have toy guns. The child will probably still play with toy guns at other family’s houses, but they will do this knowing why there are none of these toys at home.

Are Toy Guns Worse In Promoting Violence Than Film, Television or Video Games?

Again there are endless studies and arguments as to what influences a child most. It is the nature of the play rather than the game itself that perhaps has the most influence. Solitary play without supervision and without time limits and communication is probably the most detrimental. This would mean that these activities could be ranked in some form with video games at the top of the list with film then TV and last of all toy guns which tend to be played with in a social setting. The vital point here is still parental supervision, communication and monitoring as the most important issues in this debate. If a movie, television show or computer game is rated TAKE NOTICE. Parents so often fail to really look at a game or even play it before they give it to their child. It is important to take an active part in choosing and regulating your child’s video game, TV, and movie habits. This is good parenting and not draconian parenting. It is adequate supervision and not out of control political correctness.

The copyright of the article Toy Guns, Violence, And Parents in Kids' Toys is owned by Philippa Rowlands. Permission to republish Toy Guns, Violence, And Parents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.