5YO's pretend shooting - how to deter?

[ReneeW]

OK, so this is my first experience with this particular issue. I have two DDs, 8 & 5, and the 5YO is now carring a kiddie hockey stick around the house and pretending to shoot everyone and everything. What in the world?!? I mean ... we don't have guns or talk about guns.

At first I just told her calmly, "We don't pretend to kill people, that's not playing nice," and then we also had a big discussion about how dangerous guns are. I told them that if they ever see a gun or rifle to not touch it, just walk away and tell an adult right away because guns are dangerous and there have been times when kids playing with guns have accidentally killed a friend or sibling, it's very serious and they are NEVER ever to touch one.

Then I decided to ignore the 5 YO when she does it because if we make a big deal she might play "guns" even MORE. But DH just texted me (he's at home, I'm working today) and he said it's driving him batty and is incredibly annoying.

What say you? Any advice on how to get her to STOP? Maybe we could hide the hockey stick while she's napping today!!

[bunsy]

At 5, she is old enough to know NO and consequences. If it bothers you and you don't want it happening, tell her so. Anything she uses as a gun, she loses. Every time she plays this way, she loses--an item, time, whatever works for her.

She's smart. She knows she's got you. Stick to your guns and discipline EVERY time. I bet she'll catch on.

[dara1012]

I agree with Bunsy. So far we haven't had this with DS, but I am sure it will come. My mom used to get so annoyed b/c she wouldn't allow my brothers and I to have toy guns, but they would turn sticks, forks, you name it into guns. She would take things away or put us in timeout, etc.

We were allowed to play Cops & Robbers with the neighbor kids, but we just used our fingers as guns. My dad had grown up partly in the Quaker tradition which is pacifist and he was a Conscientious Objector in the Vietnam War. On the flip side my grandpa on my mom's side was a hunter. So we had lots of conversations about guns, gun safety and that it was not appropriate to pretend to shoot someone.

Good luck!

[sarahisis]

Be firm, tell her no... It's not an appropriate game and to find something else to play.. otherwise there will be consequences.

[sharon]

What Bunsy said.

[cissy]

There are no guns allowed in my house, no toy guns, no fake guns, no imaginary guns, no guns made from legos, absolutely non. First I remind we don't play with guns in the house and if it doesn't work again time-outs or breaks are needed, it happens again same thing and I keep on top of it, eventually it is a forgotten game.

[onlyoneboy]

We have toy guns in our house, and DS plays with them often. I come from a family of hunters. DH does not hunt so we have no real guns. We teach DS that guns are for hunting animals to eat not for shooting at people or pets. He target shoots with his toy guns and shoots at the animals in the yard. When he is old enough he will go through gun safety as he will most likely go hunting with my dad or brother at some point. I believe everyone should be tought what guns are for the the proper handling of them.

[lilmermaid]

I agree with Gwen!
My DH is a police officer/SWAT team member and we have hunters on both sides of our family. My DDs have toy guns to play with. They also get the chance to watch DH target shoot. We have had lengthy discussions about guns and gun safety. It's something all kids should be taught! You have no idea when they might visit a house that has a gun that isn't properly stored or a friend who knows where the guns are stored and want to get them out. The kids who have never seen or learned about guns are the ones who end up the most curious about them and more likely to get hurt from them.

[ReneeW]

I appreciate hearing the two sides and opinions. Thanks, Ladies! You guys are all awesome.

[bumblebee23]

My boys have toy guns, swords, bow & arrows, knives. They play with there friends and are usually ninja warriors, army guys, or cops catching the bad guys. It's not like they are pretending to be gang members and robbing & murdering people. It is encouraging them to use there imagination and they stay active running around the neighborhood with there friends.

They know guns can kill people but I don't have to worry about it much cause I don't have guns in my house. I really don't see how playing with toy guns and playing make believe will cause my children to grow up and hurt someone, if anything it could be teaching them that they may want to grow up to be a cop or serve there military. In fact DS1 told me once he wanted to be a cop or be in the army and he told me probably a cop cause he doesn't think he could kill people being in the army.

[apryllraye87]

I agree with Gwen too. I also come from a family of hunters. DS knows that guns are used for hunting but we don't allow playing or pretending to shoot people or pets.

[megan1201]

We have toy guns in our home too, although DS doesn't play with them very often. DH is in the military and we both come from a family of hunters. DS (3) knows that toy guns are never pointed at people and he doesn't use them to pretend to kill. DH has also done really well in teaching him to avoid real guns and that if he ever comes across one to not touch it and tell an adult right away.