Nerf guns are fun! Just make sure he wears eye protection, some of the sets include them or you need to buy a pair separately.

I had the same problem when my 6 yo had his birthday. We let him keep it, only play with it in his room, and not for his little brother to see/play with. It needs to be put away in his closet, and if he leaves it out I take it. If he has boys over to play, they do end up playing with it. In our neighborhood, we mostly have girl neighbors closeby, so we've avoided running around the yards with it so far. My husband has said it's something I just need to deal with....

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I am a terrible parent. I have given kids Nerf guns. I didn't think twice.

I have given Nerf guns because I am an awesome parent. There are rules so no one gets hurt on the inside or the outside (no aiming at heads, only play with people who want to play), which is why I am anti-real gun: Those rules either don't exist or aren't followed with real guns, a point my kids are clear on.

My kids have also played driving videogames. That doesn't mean I'm handing over my car keys and wishing them luck on the Beltway.

Wow. I am a terrible parent. I have given kids Nerf guns. I didn't think twice.

OMG the travesty! What will we do?!?!?

Get real..... me and all my childhood friends played shooting games growing up and shot each other with everything from nerf, water guns to bee bee guns (probably was a bad idea in hindsight) and you know what? We are all fine are not shooting each other (or others) with real guns now. Grow the fuck up and teach your kids right and wrong, they will be fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Who gives a toy like that for a birthday present? You know it's a hot topic for some parents. Gun play with kids is controversial.

Don't be an obtuse asshole.

Just weeding the mentally ill out. Not obtuse, just efficient.

Do you actually know what mental illness is? I'm decidedly NOT anti-gun but I wouldn't call someone else mentally ill just because they disagree with me on some parenting issue. You sound awful and you're welcome to find other awful people.

Mental illness is many of these helicopter parents who think nerf guns lead to real gun violence despite there being no evidence whatsoever that supports that. As a matter of fact imaginary play with toy guns is mentally healthy and appropriate imaginative play.

Yes, these mentally ill mothers can all find each other. They usually do. Guaranteed these parents are overwhelmend with untreated anxiety.

Nuts nuts nuts.

Word up.

Lol idiot. I feel bad for your kids that you care this much about this and come to this lame ass site to bitch about it. Loser

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Who gives a toy like that for a birthday present? You know it's a hot topic for some parents. Gun play with kids is controversial.

Don't be an obtuse asshole.

Just weeding the mentally ill out. Not obtuse, just efficient.

Do you actually know what mental illness is? I'm decidedly NOT anti-gun but I wouldn't call someone else mentally ill just because they disagree with me on some parenting issue. You sound awful and you're welcome to find other awful people.

Mental illness is many of these helicopter parents who think nerf guns lead to real gun violence despite there being no evidence whatsoever that supports that. As a matter of fact imaginary play with toy guns is mentally healthy and appropriate imaginative play.

Yes, these mentally ill mothers can all find each other. They usually do. Guaranteed these parents are overwhelmend with untreated anxiety.

Nuts nuts nuts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guns are not toys. Masculinity doesn't increase using a gun.

You're an idiot. A little boy doesn't think like this.

My message is to fathers. You are the idiot who doesn't think.

What makes you think if Nerf guns are allowed real guns are? My DH is anti-gun. He thinks all guns should be illegal, including hunting. Your logic is flawed.

Go affect real change and work on our society's real gun problem. Picking on small boys with Nerf guns doesn't address the problem of real gun violence. Although picking on small boys is easier for you, I know.

One of the starting points with guns is when you buy a toy gun to your young child. A boy gets the message that it is ok to play with guns. You are teaching violence from early age. And that's a real problem.

I guarantee you that the 14 who shot my 15 year old GSW patient last night (they used to be friends before they were in rival gangs) were never given NERF toys as kids. Gun violence does not stem from toys. Your over simplification of this very complex and serious issue would be comical if it weren't so insultingly ignorant.

Amen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guns are not toys. Masculinity doesn't increase using a gun.

You're an idiot. A little boy doesn't think like this.

My message is to fathers. You are the idiot who doesn't think.

What makes you think if Nerf guns are allowed real guns are? My DH is anti-gun. He thinks all guns should be illegal, including hunting. Your logic is flawed.

Go affect real change and work on our society's real gun problem. Picking on small boys with Nerf guns doesn't address the problem of real gun violence. Although picking on small boys is easier for you, I know.

One of the starting points with guns is when you buy a toy gun to your young child. A boy gets the message that it is ok to play with guns. You are teaching violence from early age. And that's a real problem.

I guarantee you that the 14 who shot my 15 year old GSW patient last night (they used to be friends before they were in rival gangs) were never given NERF toys as kids. Gun violence does not stem from toys. Your over simplification of this very complex and serious issue would be comical if it weren't so insultingly ignorant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Who gives a toy like that for a birthday present? You know it's a hot topic for some parents. Gun play with kids is controversial.

Don't be an obtuse asshole.

Just weeding the mentally ill out. Not obtuse, just efficient.

Do you actually know what mental illness is? I'm decidedly NOT anti-gun but I wouldn't call someone else mentally ill just because they disagree with me on some parenting issue. You sound awful and you're welcome to find other awful people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Who gives a toy like that for a birthday present? You know it's a hot topic for some parents. Gun play with kids is controversial.

Don't be an obtuse asshole.

Just weeding the mentally ill out. Not obtuse, just efficient.

No, adopting an opinion on a subject without being fully informed is obtuse.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/why-toy-guns-can-be-good-for-kids/2013/01/07/8ec6b6ec-5906-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_story.html

^^airport guns

My boys have airs often guns and target shoot in the backyard.