I run a home day care and the kids pretend gun play I say no guns repeatedly but it continues, what do I do?

Question

I am searching for educational materials to help show how dangerous guns are. I also dislike them saying "your dead" "I am gonna kill you" etc... The group in mostly boys and I know they pretend but, i do not like it and want to educate them about the dangers and avoid them geting hurt some day!?!??!

Answer 1

I think you have a hard task in front of you. But it's really good that you want to explain why guns are dangerous, as opposed to just saying, "No more pretend play with guns."

Depending how old the kids are, and I presume they are pretty young, I think it would be difficult to teach them. Death & danger are pretty abstract concepts at that age. From what I've read, too, most gun safety lessons aimed at kids just don't work very well.

There are a couple programs you can use to educate the boys in your care. The FBI's site is pretty good: http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety5.htm  

The message is basically the same. Stop! Don't touch the gun. Go away. Tell an adult. That kind of thing.

Answer 2

They are still going to do that if they think guns will kill them if they touch one. Even they know their pretending.

Answer 3

They're little kids, and they're going to continue acting like that, more so if you forbid them to. They probably know that guns are harmful. Perhaps you could inform their parents that the children don't realize that gun play is not good.

Answer 4

I don't think this is your responsibility. I definitely wouldn't want some day care center brainwashing my kids that guns are bad. Most boys play army or cops and robbers when they are kids. There isn’t anything wrong with that. You should be more concerned if you see little boys playing with barbies.