Dear Doctorone of the eternal discussions with my husband is compared to the games to make or not make our son Luca, 7 years just completed.
For months he asks me, because he sees her from schoolmates, one “pistol” fake – is clear – he pulls bullets. One of those with rubber darts.
Now, I can also not appreciate the genre, but from there to put a total veto in the name of a healthy pacifism that, for heaven’s sake, nobody discusses … I want to say: from what world and world male children – and not only – play soldiers.
I don’t think all of violent adults and warfondonas have become. Indeed, if I have to say it all, I find that the impositions create much more anger and violence than a toy.
As… I suggested to aunt (my sister) to give her! Did I do well?
Caterina
Dear Caterinaplaying war with the soldiers is very different than playing by holding a gun.
Not that the differences are enormous between the two types of play: always of the game that attacks and kills it is. But if in the case of the soldier the child stumbles a war situation and makes her act to her soldier, in the second case the child himself holds a weapon in his hand and uses it to shoot against a mobile target.
I don’t like children to be given weapons, of any kind. I don’t feel like saying that there is a scientific evidence that confirms this position of mine. Each parent, therefore, can follow his sensitivity and move accordingly.
I cannot exempt myself from saying, however, that in the third millennium in which our children grow immersed in a world that continually stimulates them with images of real violence (wars narrated by the media) and virtual (“shooter” video games to which many very young dedicate a consistent slice of their time) It seems to me more appropriate to put games and toys in their hands that provide the experience (even just imaginary) of building, rather than destroying.
Lego bricks, balls, musical instruments, canned games, puppets, kit for artistic workshops: There are so many possibilities on the market that weapons really seem to me the last of the choices that an adult should pursue.
Perhaps the only exception that I find to this story is the game with weapons that shoot water widely used during the summer.
Why do I say this? Because the very nature of the game is totally centered on the concept of “Wet” and not of “kill” The opponent.
That is, something is held in hand that shoots water and that works like the fire fire extinguisher. It has the shape of a weapon, but if you points it against someone, the reaction you get is a joke and laugh, not fright, because those who hold it do it to wet and not to hit you.
