Need Opinions

I am a daycare teacher and mother of two boys ages 4 and 2. My boys are very much into PBS kids shows and are not exposed to anything violent (tv, movies, video games). They certainly do not even know what a gun is or if they do, then they never pretend to be shooting one.

The other day I was working the toddler room and shocked when I saw a 21 month old boy not only making a gun out of Mega Bloks but even "cocking" it and making sound effects! I took it apart and the kid got upset with me and rebuilt it. My two coworkers thought it was cute. I told my boss (the Director) and expressed how I don't like it. (21 months?!?). I asked if we should bring it up with the parents just to get an idea of his behaviors at home or if dad plays video games in front of him. My boss said she didn't like what the kid was doing either and "maybe will talk to parents."

And then we have parents out there taking their children to see Deadpool?!?

But back to the daycare kid.... What are your feelings? Do I need to lighten up or do you think this should be handled? There is no older sibling that can be the reason. He just has a sister who is into princess stuff.

Need Opinions

I don't know what you should do but if my child, especially my 21 month old was doing that, I would not like it at all and I'd like to be told. No kid that young should know what a gun looks and sounds like. IMO.

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IMO, this should be brought up to the parents. That is way young to be building guns and whatnot. My son is 5 and he doesn't do that bc we don't allow him to play with guns/swords/knives at all.

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I have a 23 month old and she has NO clue what a gun is or what sounds it would make- I would be concerned about what that child is exposed to at home. I think it should be brought up with the parents.

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My daycare has a policy that if a kid pretends to play with a gun they stop the play. They tell them they are not allowed to do it at school.

I love that they do this. My DS watches all kind of things and knows about guns from TV but we make sure we discuss it and he has learned that pretending to "play gun" is not something we do. Does it still happen sure but we now use it as a discussion since he is 4.

Re: Need Opinions

I am the most anti- gun person you can know lol. But even though we own no guns, my son will build them out of legos or just his fingers. He is 4 though, not 21 months. And even at 4, he doesn't know anything realistic about them. While playing guns is normal, I would reach out to the parents just to let them know, maybe he sees it from sitter or a show they don't even realize he is watching, and also to let them know that it is not appropriate at school.

Message edited 2/15/2016 6:51:51 PM.

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Need Opinions

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate your input from a parent point of view. I think what's shocking to me most is not the shooting gestures but that he is so young and should be still into Thomas or Paw Patrol or something lol. I'll give an update if there is anything more. Thank you.

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Re: Need Opinions

Message edited 2/16/2016 7:57:31 AM.

Re: Need Opinions

You did the right thing ending the gun play. I wouldn't say anything to the parents. He likely has older cousins, friends, other kids around that play like that. There is nothing they can do if that's the case. It's not really a big deal, you just don't want him to influence the other children in class.

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Message edited 2/16/2016 9:18:24 AM.

Re: Need Opinions

You should continue to discourage the child, and tt should be brought up to the parents as 'inappropriate behavoir for school' - because it IS inapproriate behavior for a classroom ..........

But, not as "don't expose your children to xyz' THAT is not your place to tell the parents or imply that what they are doing is wrong.

Message edited 2/16/2016 9:18:15 AM.

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Ugh, I hate this whole gun thing. I really do. My DS is 4 and is OBSESSED because of Star Wars I think. Everything he plays with turns into either a gun or a light saber. I think he's too young for Star Wars too, actually, but I had never seen it and MIL bought it for his bday and by the time I started paying attention to it, it was too late. (Parenting fail). I digress.

I think 21 months is really young to know how to play guns. Does he have older siblings? In any event, if I was mom, I would want to know and I would address it. I would also hope it continues to be discouraged at school.

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My day care rule is any play pretending to be guns is stopped. My son is almost 3 and although we do not have play guns in our house, our friends do. He also sees them in some shows such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I would tell the mother about the behavior and stop it when he is at school.

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I would definitely be upset if a 21 month old was doing that. My DS, who is 5, began doing that at the start of K. He learned it from a classmate & came home & taught my 3 year old how to turn everything into a gun.

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I have a kid in my preschool class that uses everything as a shooter. Blocks, lacing beads, crayons, markers, anything. I constantly tell him no shooters at school. I told his mom and she was mad because she told me her husband lets him watch all these inappropriate shows and she argues with him about it constantly. She said she would talk with him at home. Since I told her he has cut back quite a bit. I do have to remind him every once in a while.

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My kids are 5 and 7 now. My initial thought is that this kid has older siblings and/or someone in that house likes to play video games.

When my older son turned 4, a friend bought him his first gun. I was bothered that she bought my 4yo a gun at the time. She was generous enough to buy my then 2yo the same gun. It is a laser gun that shoots these alien bugs that explode. 3 years later, it is still the most popular toy in our house. Whenever a kid comes over, it is the toy they are most drawn to.

I don't remember when the new Halo came out but DH plays Halo in front of the kids now. I think I yelled at him about it a few years ago but I lost that battle. It isn't like DH has lots of time to play but there might be an occasional weekend where kids see him play.