Toy weapons to be banned from childcare centres: Report

A major crack down on toy guns and plastic knives in Australian child care centres this week could see the days of playing “cops and robbers” become a thing of the past.

The Australian Childcare Alliance NSW has announced it will place further restrictions on the use of items including mock pirate swords and bows and arrows with fears the toys could promote violence and “warlike” behaviour.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Australian Childcare Alliance NSW President Lyn Connolly said while Australians are generally averse to guns it is important to reinforce safety and positivity into the lives of all children.

“Early childhood education and care centres believe in exploration, not expiration and in development not destroying, so zero tolerance is the norm for violence behaviour and weapons,” she said.

“I cannot think of a single childcare centre which has toy guns or even software apps with guns in them in their environment or uses them as part of their educational equipment.”

Child psychologists have claimed there is currently no evidence suggesting the use of toy guns does lead to violent behaviour in children, however, this hasn’t stopped the decision by child care centres in the country.

It does beg the question though whether children will now pick up sticks and other objects the play the usual “goodie vs baddie” games. 

While toy guns used to be a common item in most children’s toy box, the use of them is being frowned upon by many across the world.

However, that hasn’t stopped the Duchess of Cambridge from allowing son George to play with one.

Just last month the mother-of-three was slammed for letting her four-year-old openly run around with the toy and direct the barrel at Catherine herself.

Read more: Cambridges slammed for allowing Prince George to play with toy gun

Comments such as, “sad to see George playing with a gun when the whole country has a gun/knife crime situation” and “no child this day and age should look at any gun as a fun toy. This looks far too real,” spread across social media with many in disbelief.

What do you think of this decision? Is it acceptable for kids to play with toy weapons?