Rather than echo what's already been posted about allowing gun play, let me offer a alternative thought. Families might not need an article from you about gun play; they may need media literacy information.
If the gun play you're witnessing is about children imitating real-life adults in their lives, then you can address the issue the same way that you'd address any imitation of behavior that may be okay for grown-ups but not safe for kids (or perhaps you're looking at a situation best addressed by trauma-informed care). But chances are, most of the gun play (or superhero play) is sparked by imitation or integration of things that kids have seen in games, movies, or TV series. If they've just seen one thing, they'll play for awhile and then likely move on to the next thing - no need for extended intervention. But if the family media diet includes regular doses of gun violence, the need to keep working through the issue remains, and so will the gun play.
Simply asking families to ban the entertainment they enjoy isn't a solution they are likely to adopt, and it may even backfire by disrupting opportunities for children to bond with the parent or guardian who is fond of such entertainment and eager to share that part of their media culture with their child. Very few adults have had an opportunity to learn how children process media or how to choose developmentally appropriate media, nor do they know how to spot the ways that children use play to work through issues that may be disturbing or confusing. You could provide a great service to such families by offering non-judgmental media literacy information.
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Faith Rogow
Media Literacy Education Maven
Insighters Education
Ithaca NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-28-2019 09:35 PM
From: Kate Williams-Hewitt
Subject: preschoolers pointing and gun noises new in the classroom- educating families
Hello All,
I am looking for a few articles for preschool families talking about pointing in the classroom and using shooting noises through out the day. I have read Diane Levine's work on gun play. I can't find an article that ties up her book for families.
I would like to include home/gun safety, how power play with pointing and noises interferes with messaging between children, how school can be free of gun play but home can make their own choices- hopefully with education about the importance of supervision.
Thanks, Kate
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[Kate] [Williams-Hewitt]
[Teaching Director]
[The Children's Nursery School]
[Portland] [Maine]
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