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Violent Toys
From CopperWiki
Our nuclear missiles may never be fired. But in millions of homes toys like the “Blaster”, which simulate machine-gun fire, laser beams and nuclear explosions, casually offer children a way to blow up the world. Violence is like a drug. It's addictive to both kids and adults. And it is shamelessly sold to children. Sold because it is readily bought.
In earlier times the sight of children wielding toy guns and playing cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians was not a subject of worry or widespread discussion. But today due to escalation in gun crimes and changing views towards war, this is enough to cause concern among parents. Models such as GI Joe or Rambo - or characters from the current space, war and adventure movies - are hot sellers. Toy firearms that discharge lasers and fake bullets sell exceptionally well.
Countless opinions keep pouring in from doctors, psychologists, behavioral scientists, parents, law enforcement and politicians regarding the wisdom of letting children play with violent toys. Research says violence is a learned behavior. And this behavior is taught to children by parents and society.
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[edit] The Real and the Imagined
To a 4-year boy often a pork chop bone is also good enough to use as an automatic gun. If you don't let them have actual toy laser guns, they will make them out of anything they can lay their hands on: twigs, bananas, cutlery, or anything for that matter.
As long as children realize that these are fake guns it is alright. But with proliferation of look-alike weapons brought about by proliferation of violent crimes in society, more and more kids are running around with realistic semi-automatic guns.
[edit] Parental Guidance
Toys are only one aspect of the problem. The other is failure of parental guidance. As children grow they should begin realizing that in real life violence doesn’t work. That there is a difference between imagination and reality. That in real life one doesn’t come back alive after a gun fight. Parents should realize that this has to be taught to their children as it is not something inbuilt in their system.
As long as he is using a stick or a banana as a gun it is possible that he realizes it is an imaginary one. But often at certain age it is not possible for a child to distinguish between a real gun and the one that looks like the real thing. Adult input is extremely important in such cases. More than one child dies every day in the USA from gun related violence and accidents.
Studies have shown that till the age of five or six kids find it difficult to differentiate the real from the fantastical. From age 7 to 9 most children tend to over-estimate their ability when it comes to imitating the ‘heroic’ actions of their favorite stars.
[edit] ‘Not Toys But Parents to Blame’
Toy makers and children’s advocates do not agree that violent toys go to make children violent. They feel it is not toys but parents and care givers and the atmosphere created at home which go to shape a child’s personality and traits.
General Paranoia About Guns
All of a sudden anything to do with guns is bad. A seven-year old carrying a gun to school can be scary. That may also include a toy gun. But when it comes to zero tolerance policy on guns, in some instances, it is against the rule to even draw picture of a gun. That’s the reason why a school in Debbis Township, Atlanta, suspended a seven-year old.
Fear of violence among children, though justified, has gone too far. In schools children can’t play with guns, or express themselves about firearms. This lack of balanced approach is counter-productive. More liberal bent of mind is called for from parents and educators not to take things to such extremes.
Though difficult, only parents can observe the impact violent toys have on their children and provide them the necessary guidance. Over-reaction can also be harmful. For most children holding a ‘weapon’ does not automatically make him a potential killer. It is more than likely that with ‘weapons’ they feel more like knights slaying dragons, Zorro, Robin Hood or any such acceptable characters fighting for justice.
The general paranoia, largely brought about by the present social order, prevents us from distinguishing what is normal and what is not. Children have a right to play. And it is our duty to ensure that they play right.
[edit] Harmful Effects Which Tend to Become Worse
Fifteen studies conducted at the Universities of Pennsylvania, Miami, Utah, Kansas, Montana, and Wisconsin as well as by the National Coalition on TV Violence in Champaign, Illinois found playing with violent toys brought about harmful effects on children which tend to get worse over time. It also noted that many parents, often those whose children have the worst problems, ignore the evidence of harm. The studies were able to find a link between juvenile delinquency and adult criminality in later life and children’s early behavior. Violent toys and violent TV programs often act as the first role models and shape many children’s personalities.
Other studies have revealed that children who play with violent toys may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Though they develop aggressive or harmful ways toward others, such toys also make them more fearful of the world around them.
Pretending to kill should be as much discouraged as engaging in play sex.
[edit] In Society
Attitudes about violence as “entertainment” have to be changed over time. Television, videogames, music and film have become increasingly violent. Over 1000 studies attest to a casual connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in children.
Violent toys are those which:
- teaches that violence is the best way to settle a dispute
- propagates that violence is fun and "cool"
- encourages hurting and killing
- glamorizes war and combat
- promotes male dominance and female passivity
- provides negative depiction of ethnic groups
- promote excessive materialism
- fosters aggressive competition
- lead to anti-social behaviour
Violent toy trade-Ins
Toy Trade-Ins are fun-filled events where children exchange their violent toys for non-violent toys and treats. These are community-based programs aimed at bring about change in the perception of violence toys.
