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Question

I am an experienced licensed family child care provider (12 years’ experience, plus an Illinois 04 certificate). Currently, I have seven children in care, four of whom are 4- to 5-year-old boys. Though they have never seen the videos here, they are very "into" Star Wars and the Power Rangers. Their play is dramatic play, where they assign roles, fight evil, etc. My question is about gun play. I'm currently taking a course on the Creative Curriculum for Preschool, and our instructor firmly feels that our homes should be gun-free zones. I agree with her in principle, but it’s a losing battle around here! Though I don't have any guns or swords as dramatic play props, everything from Duplos to bristle blocks, even crackers, have at times become guns. I have drawn the line by saying that gun play is active play that can be done outdoors or in the playroom on my lower level so that the younger children in my care are not run over. Before allowing this, it was a losing battle to say no gun play. I would witness something that was clearly gun play, remind them of the rule, and then be told, "Oh, no, Ms. Kathryn, it was just the spaceship taking off."

So, my questions are: What does the research say about dramatic play including gun play? Is it developmentally appropriate or not? Are some forms more acceptable than others, such as swords vs. guns? Do you have any suggestions on structuring or diverting this type of play?

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this subject.

Dr. Katz
The concern you have raised about the availability of guns in a child care environment is widely shared. So many of our very young children are exposed to visualizations of guns in use; it is not surprising that they act out such scenes in their dramatic play.

The approach that you have taken is really the only one that makes sense. Trying to forbid gun play will not work, as you already know. You are right not to provide toy guns for them, of course. It is well known that children will "make" guns out of almost anything they can find and use almost any kind of materials to pretend they are deadly weapons.

I doubt whether there is any clear research on this matter. The best approach seems to be the one you have taken, namely, to make it clear that you do not encourage or approve of play that involves hurting others, even if it is only pretend play.

Another aspect of this issue is to think about what other kinds of activities you might introduce into the curriculum that would engage these children. The suggested "Study Starters" that are part of the Creative Curriculum can be very helpful along these lines.

Web Resources

POWER PLAY: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
http://www.nncc.org/Curriculum/power.html

Playing with Toy Guns
http://life.familyeducation.com/emotional-development/violence/41417.html

Teacher Response to Superhero Play: To Ban or Not to Ban?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3614/is_199710/ai_n8770056

Beyond Banning War and Superhero Play
http://www.lionlamb.org/young%20children-war%20play.pdf

Managing Superhero Play
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/tip_sheets/superhero_tip.cfm

How Dramatic Play Promotes Development
http://www.teachingstrategies.com/content/pageDocs/CC4_Ch7_exrpt.pdf

Toys That Promote Violent Behavior (From Violence Prevention Resource Guide for Parents)
The section is found in the Early Years (birth - 5).
http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/pubs/ivpaguide/early.pdf

Study Starters: A Step-by-Step Guide to Project-Based Investigations in Science and Social Studies (Creative Curriculum)
http://www.teachingstrategies.com/page/PS_ScienceSocialStudies.cfm#Study_Starters

ERIC Database: Selected Records

To search the ERIC database for resources on this topic, use this search strategy: search on descriptors superhero play or play fighting.

How to Obtain ERIC Documents and Journal Articles:

References identified with an ED (ERIC document)or EJ (ERIC journal) are cited in the ERIC database. ERIC Documents (citations identified by an ED number) may be available in full text from ERIC at no cost at the ERIC Web site: http://www.eric.ed.gov. Journal articles are available from the original journal, interlibrary loan services, or article reproduction clearinghouses.

If you would like to conduct your own free ERIC database searches via the Internet, go directly to http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=advanced

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• ERIC Journal No.: EJ672027
  Beyond Banning War and Superhero Play: Meeting Children's Needs in Violent Times.
  Author(s): Levin, Diane E.
  Source: Young Children, v58 n3 p60-63 May 2003
  Publication Date: 2003
  Abstract: This article offers suggestions for addressing children's violent play, including promoting imaginative and creative play rather than imitative play, and encouraging children to talk with adults about media violence.
• ERIC Journal No.: EJ554383
  Superhero Play: What's a Teacher to Do?
  Author(s): Bauer, Karen L.; Dettore, Ernest
  Source: Early Childhood Education Journal, v25 n1 p17-21 Fall 1997
  Publication Date: 1997
  Abstract: This article examines the appeal of superheroes to children and adults' beliefs about superhero play, and suggests some potential benefits of such play. It offers examples of ways to successfully incorporate superhero play into an early childhood classroom.
• ERIC Document No.: ED391589
  So This Is Normal Too? Teachers and Parents Working Out Developmental Issues in Young Children.
  Author(s): Hewitt, Deborah
  Publication Date: 1995
  Availability: Redleaf Press, 450 North Syndicate, Suite 5, St. Paul, MN 55104-4125
  Abstract: Intended to facilitate communication between parents and child care providers through creative problem solving, this guide explains young children's normal developmental behaviors that frequently cause concern and identifies factors parents and caregivers can control in the environment that may have an immediate positive response from a child. The guide consists of 16 chapters on various topics, including superhero play and aggression.
• ERIC Journal No.: EJ515268
  Limiting Superhero Play in Preschool Classrooms: A Philosophy Statement.
  Author(s): Hampton, Marjorie
  Source: Texas Child Care, v19 n3 p2-9 Win 1995
  Publication Date: 1995
  Abstract: This article examines how children learn, particularly how they learn violent behavior, and discusses why and how one preschool limits children's aggressive superhero play.
• ERIC Journal No.: EJ512408
  Superhero Play: Making It a Part of Your Curriculum.
  Author(s): Fonville, Beth; Afflerbach, Susan
  Source: Texas Child Care, v19 n2 p2-8 Fall 1995
  Publication Date: 1995
  Abstract: This article examines how aggressive play such as superhero play meets children's needs for physical, social, and psychological power.
• ERIC Journal No.: EJ454920
  Coping with Ninja Turtle Play in My Kindergarten Classroom.
  Author(s): Gronlund, Gaye
  Source: Young Children, v48 n1 p21-25 Nov 1992
  Publication Date: 1992
  Abstract: This article describes one teacher's efforts to understand children's aggressive play by reading literature that suggests children use play to construct meaning, viewing the Ninja Turtle cartoon show, and interviewing children about their superhero play.

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