Toy Weapons for Children

Children love to pretend play. Today, I like to share about pretend play using weapon toys such as gun, sword, dagger knife and light saber.

At first, I felt uncomfortable if my son play with some of those toys, specially gun. But then, if we look back in time, we were playing with pretend weapon toys and we grew up alright. Besides, if we look at some stories, such as Peter Pan, or other fairy tales with some Princes tried to rescue Princess, they had swords and sort of things. So, we couldn't really say 'No' to weapon toys. I suppose when we decide to let our children play with this kind of toys, we also have to look their age level and their intellectual (mean, they understand is only toy and for pretend play, Not for hurting).

Messages we need to pass to our children regarding weapon toys:

• They are only toys. They aren't real and aren't use for hurting anybody
• Do not point any weapon to anybody's face (I found that most of children would feel intimidate and scare when they have something point to their face. But again, aren't we all?)
• Do not poke any pointy toys to anybody's body parts
• Do not run with your swords or any other pointy toys facing forward, toys should be pointed up or down (to avoid any bad accident)
• Do not throw any pointy toys to other people
• We will confiscated the toys as soon as we see dangerous acts

Personally, I do not let child under 3 years old to play with any of this weapon toys, I do not even let them play with just a stick when there are other little children around. I think 3 years old and under still do not have the idea of the item could hurt others or even themself if they are not played correctly and without supervision. But again, everything it depends on each child intellectual.

For parents, as you may already aware, they are some plastic toys that still quite dangerous even the pointy bit aren't really sharp. Before you buy any weapon toys, make sure they are safe for your child and others. If you do not feel comfortable of your child play with them, give them clear explanations and your point of view of the toys.