Does Playing With Toy Guns Lead to Later Acts of Gun Violence?
Surprisingly, the topic of playing with toy guns is always landed in controversy. Around the world, parents avoid buying toy guns for their kids and even they stop their teenagers to play with them. Do you think it’s fair in all aspects? Is it lead to any violence in the later stage?
Many biological parents come with statements like “I never got water guns for my growing kids”, “I have 7 years old boy and I try very hard to pull him away from weapon type playable items”. Somewhere it's rude on their behalf.
Opinion varies but there is no evidence that declares Toy Blaster can lead to real violence in the later stage of their life. After the age of 3 to 4, boys are more interested in aggressive games such as wrestling and boxing. They love to watch these type of games and try to perform these in their personal life. Whereas girls are more passionate to play with dolls.
Recent studies say, 80% of boys are fond of playing with guns and 20 % of girls are also showing curiosity to indulge in the same activity. The gel blaster does not only have bitter reality but it has benefits too. The cognitive development is natural while playing and somewhere it links a kid to the social world. At teenage, children are more obsessed with imaginary games and its good for them because they come to know how to restrict impulses and analyze things in a better way. It also helps kids to come out of their comfort zone and overcome their fears. A small kid is not confident at early moments but when they hold a gun, definitely, they will feel enthusiastic.
Here one more thing, this type of play wouldn't avoid the violence completely because they might be turned to illegal track. For example, dominance behaviour, arrogant nature and always try to capture win instead of losing it. There is a situation when aggression is overloaded in a child and its hard to handle by their parents. Despite the parent’s warning, they explore weapon type toys secretly like in neighbour’s place; a friend’s home and even on streets when their parents are busy in other practices.
Whenever kids are going through a toy store, they love to hit them. The playable weapons hang on shops make them mad and they force their parents to buy. Till date, the research is not clear cut that to play with toy guns is safe or not. Many studies elaborate that playing with games for a short duration doesn’t influence a child for violence. Parents should participate in such activities in order to teach them the hidden effects of playing with a toy weapon. Apart from this, don’t forget to introduce a positive side of toy guns to your child.