Superhero and weapon play - dissertation.

Superhero and weapon play - dissertation.

by: KJT - 14-01-10 21:02

Hi All 

I am hoping for some views and help with my dissertation research for my Ba Hons. I have choosen to complete it on superhero and weapon play in early years. I was looking for some general views and wether practitioners accept this type of play within their setting and how they deal with it. My practice has always been to intervene in the play as that is only what I have known. However I am beginning to think this may be causing boys selfesteem to be lowered. I am unsure and would love some others to share their experiences feelings and views.

Thank you

by: Rose

I firmly believe that all children should be allowed to follow their interests. If this involves gun play, superhero play or general rough and tumble with 'goodies' and 'baddies' then so be it. Its only in recent years that a call from practitioners for banning this type of play has surfaced but I have yet to find any concrete evidence that this play causes children to grow up violent, unsociable or in any way on the fringes of the society. If we really mean to follow childrens interests and plan for their needs then we should allow this. I've seen it stopped far too often with usually no explaniation to the child(ren) of why. In the main, girls can play every game they want because it usually centres around the home corner or mark making but boys have their games stopped. Its not fair, and training courses should address this. All practitioners should be asked why they ban it. I doubt one could come up with a studied, considered response. It seems that the gun banning has spread without anyone having any evidence to back up the whys behind it. I think people just jumped onto the bandwagon to protect themselves.

by: KJT

Hi Rose thank you for your view. I totally agree with you. I have get to find a setting which llows this type of play or a setting with a policy in place which states why this type of play is banned! I greatly appreciate your response. Can I ask from what background you are speaking ie teacher, nursery nurse?

by: Rose

NN, I managed a pre-school for years then worked for a couple of agencies so I got to see loads of different settings. Not one allowed gun play but not one had a policy, just staff who didnt allow it. I always felt that it was a learned attitude amongst staff, one didnt like it or understand it or want the noise associated with it, and it spread. It became an easy option to stop the play rather than allow it and role model who they could or couldnt shoot, or talk about the outcomes. I saw or reaad something (cant remember any details) that said if you observe this play you will see that after shooting each other and running round and dying, the children will usually just stop and play with something else, the behaviour exhibited in the game didnt manifest itself into other areas. The children knew they were playing and then played something else. I always allowed it but laid down a rule that they could only shoot participants not anyone else. Stopping it taught children to lie, they would say their 'gun' made from lego or a piece of train track or even a finger, was a water pistol or a piece of train track! Their play wasnt appriciated, the story, however complex, wasnt looked at to see story, line of thought, interaction, it was just seen as noise, violent and a nuisance. Good luck with your paper.

by: KJT

Thank you very much. Intresting aspects you have mentioned! Lots to be explored.

by: Rose

I was going to mention about the fact that women and men tend to play differently, but then read the post about men in childcare so you knwo that. I have to say when we had a dad come in the play was always more boistrous and technical, morre use of the duplo, lego, bricks etc. Maybe thats where we're going wrong, maybe we're not qualified to play with boys?!!

by: KJT

Good question are we qualified to look after boys. I will open a new post asking the same question. Thanks for you help

by: Reflective Practitioner

A very interesting aspect!

 I have to admit as a Manager of a centre, that we have always stopped such play, however, as a mother of a 3 year old boy obsessed with pirates, swords and guns, I have been considering this for some weeks.

As my partner pointed out when I was refusing to buy our son a sword, I don't want him to ever own a motor bike but I couldn't wait to by his first push bike!

I would hope my daughter has time to grow as a person after her education before becoming a mum, but I don't assume that giving her a doll makes her more likely to become a teenage mum.

My partner is a very soft and gentle man, but you would be hard pushed to find any photo's of him as a child, where he wasn't dressed as or playing with soldiers!

Much food for thought - what an excellent topic to look at - [would love to read your report on completion.

by: kaz (the first one!)

I remember playing Cowboys and Indians as a child - we had bows and arrows and guns. My brothers played 'war' and it was totally acceptable. They were the blockbuster films when I was a child, John Wayne was a hero! I don't have the urge to shoot people as an adult.

by: KJT

No worries reflective practitioner. Once completed I can email you a copy if you would like. You mentioned that you dont tolerate this type of play in your setting. Have you a policy in place supporting this, or is it just the way the setting responds to this and have done since you have known? I have yet to find a setting in which a poicy is in place?

by: sparkie

Hello

Yes we have a policy saying that says play should be based purely on children's interests. if you 'ban it' then they do it sneakly. I think it is Islington that has done research in to allowing boys to follow interests and how it improved literacy, if i can find the aassignment i used it in i'll post title. If you think back to our childhood it was normal to play with guns wasn't it. isn't play ment to make sense of the world? the see gun crime etc so they need to be able to pla, you are limiting the childs interest and creativity by stopping them playing, so what is so wrong with superheroes? Are they any worse than stereotyping girls in their pink Bella dress?!? I suggest not!

by: KJT

Thank you Sparkie I have found that islington research from your post. I really appreciate it. I have also just read about uns being prepared to power alongside the fairy wand. This has made me think about how we treat girls and boys. A fairy wand is fictional as well as a gun in cgilds world! Is it all about power?

by: sparkie

Hello

I'm not sure if it's power or lack of understanding. People don't like change and have always done it this way. Since I qualified in the 80's all of the practitioners I ever worked with limited gun play and super heroes but never fairies etc. but if you think about some of the meanings behind fairy tales now, after takin my degree don't understand why. Good Luck

by: kimme

Wow.  What a fascinating thread with some excellent thoughts.

I confess to always being uneasy about this type of play but at the same time uneasy about feeling this way.  I feel strongly that with problems our society is facing this is an area that needs urgent attention.  I would love to see early years research and training as part of the solution.

As a NN I have worked with many teachers and found that more often than not it is their personal beliefs that influence what levels of play is "tolerated" within the setting.  I once worked with a teacher who felt strongly that we should not condemn this type of play as she had taught children whose parents were in the forces.  

As a mum of a very boisterous 4 year old I have surprised and disappointed myself at how much I struggle with these aspects of his play.  It really has led me to question if I as a NN with over 10 years experience I am qualified to play with boys? (excellent point Rose)

I too would love to read you finished dissertation.  

by: Rose

I've just fund an interesting article from Diane Ric 'Bang, bang, gun play and why children nee it' Hope its useful http://www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk/pdf/bang%20bang%20gun%20play%20and%20why%20children%20need%20it.pdf

by: kimme

Thanks Rose,

I found that article really interesting with so many different ideas covered.

I wonder if anyone has any ideas on how we can actually engage in this type of play?

by: KJT

Thanks guys I am still struggling on with dissertation but enjoying it at the same time. I myswelf is asking the same questions myself. Many good article out there and really are intresting reading. I will let yo know when finished and will email all a copy if wanted

by: kimme

Hello again,

I've just ordered myself some hopefully (only read the first few pages) inspirational reading: Playful Parenting by Lawrence J Cohen.  Flicking through the index there are obviously references to this type of play that I haven't got to yet but I also found this in the notes (bibliography) at the end:

Nancy Carlsson -Paige and Diane Levin, Who's calling the shots?  How to respond effectively to children's fascination with war play and war toys (Philadelpia:  New Society Publishers, 1990)

Not sure if this will be of any help to either of us but I thought you might be interested in finding out more - I'm starting with the book.......

by: stormgirl

Our gun & superhero play policy supports staff in following the children's interests while keeping the play safe & constructive. Children will always have this interest, many have parents who are in the military or have an interest in hunting so who are we to say that their interest is wrong?

When doing research for my degree I used the work of Penny Holland http://www.amazon.co.uk/dont-play-guns-here-Superhero/dp/0335210899

Coincidentally I am now teaching at her old nursery!  This attitude gives us the best of both worlds, currently we are using our boys interest in ben10 to support peer tutoring and use of the creative table. We now have large groups of 4 & 3 year olds helping each other to make costumes & watches, signs & books. 

This is fantastic constructive play across the curriculum driven by their interest in superheroes & fighting. 

I was trained in New Zealand, and it was always a popular approach to get children who wanted to play with guns to sit 'gun licenses'. 

If they wanted to play with guns they first needed to make them, then sit a gun license which set out specific rules & expectations, but supports the play safely. It seemed to work well. Rough & tumble play is handled in the same way, it is allowed when done appropriately, in a safe place (on mats not in the block corner) participants must listen to each other and make sure everyone stays happy. 

 Good luck with your dissertation! It is a great topic with many controversial views :)

by: Chelle

There was an article in a NW press 7.01.10 about supporting Superhero and weaponry play and bring up things about violence and action figures. I used it in my paper for the power of stories. 

Hope this helps?