A buying guide to Toy Guns in 2023
Kids love to imitate anything they see that tends to give them some supremacy, such as a policeman wielding his weapon. Toy guns mock the real weapon, providing safer alternatives that children can play with without getting into harm's way. They are fashioned for recreational purposes. You can learn more about this on the popular blog and reviews website ReviewsBird.
Over the years, many opinions have surfaced about toy guns and whether they are ideal or not for the general well-being of children. Online webshop reviews about toys for kids have shown concern about giving toy guns to kids. This is due to the havoc the real weapon keeps causing in the world.
However, in this article, we are going to look at toy guns based on the following talking points:
What are toy guns?
- Pros and cons of toy guns for children
- Types of toy guns
- Is it wrong to let kids play with toy guns?
- What is the solution?
What are toy guns?
As earlier said, toy guns are a playful imitation of the real weapon fashioned for recreational reasons for children. These play instruments come in different sizes, types, modes, and specifications.
Although there is nothing directly dangerous about this fun equipment for kids, some are concerned about its effect on them.
Pros and cons of toy guns for children
Gun violence is a menace in society. This is one of the reasons so many people are concerned about allowing kids to play with toy guns. They feel it may shape their lives and make them prone to violence. However, others do not see it this way.
A kid playing with an Ak47 toy gun or a sniper toy gun does not mean he will end up with the real stuff. This argument keeps going back and forth. Therefore, let us look at the pros and cons of toy guns for children.
Pros of toy guns for children
It inspires self-expression and inventiveness
Children get to express themselves properly when they are allowed to play freely without restraints. This provides them with the avenue to improve their imagination and sharpen their creativity. Toy guns are a great way for children to achieve this.
It is a way to increase gun safety awareness in kids
Nothing beats a physical demonstration when trying to explain a concept to anyone, including kids. Gun safety can be taught to kids in this way. Allowing them to use toy guns will give them first-hand knowledge of what to do when they encounter a real gun.
It can help them understand gun handling rules
If a child can handle an M16 toy gun or a Glock toy gun, they will most likely know what to do when they encounter the real version. Adults can help children understand safe gun handling by physically practicing with toy guns.
Cons of toy guns for children
The demerits of allowing children access to toy guns are given below:
It may cause fright for anti-gun people
Some don't know how guns work or what they even look like in real life. This could be a big problem. When kids playing with toy guns come across these people, it may trigger fear which may prompt them to call the police because they assume the kid is wielding a real firearm.
This is possible because some toy guns are made so perfect that they resemble real guns.
This can lead to an increase in aggressive behavior among kids
Some kids' toys are known to increase violence among kids. Toy guns are among these kinds of toys. Toy guns can increase hostile behavior in kids. Also, some kids who demonstrate aggression when playing with toy guns may attempt to torment people with their fake weapons and see it as a way of having fun. This kind of behavior is unhealthy.
Children may see no wrong in using guns
Using toy guns may build this impression that guns are an entirely positive tool in the real sense. Children may attach no negatives to the use of guns, and such a mindset can be dangerous. Guns are not entirely a heroic symbol; they are also used to perpetrate evil. Sadly, children may not develop this balanced view about guns.
Types of toy guns
There are many types of toy guns. Most toy guns are made to imitate the real ones. Thus these toys are equally as numerous as the real ones. For instance, since guns have bullets, it is common to have something like a soft bullet gun or a bullet gun toy. Below are some types of toy guns we have:
1. Water Guns
Water guns are great toys for kids of different ages. This toy gun allows you to eject water like bullets but continuously flowing. You need to aim at your target, press the trigger, and water will shoot out from the barrel compartment. Water guns are not expensive because there isn't much mechanism that goes into the manufacture.
Some advanced water guns allow the user to shoot water in the form of balls.
2. Bubble guns
A bubble gun allows you to shoot bubbles of water. This type of gun resembles the water gun since they contain and eject fluid housed in the barrel compartment. Some bubble guns use soapy water, which makes it easy to shoot bubbles.
3. Toy minigun
Toy mini guns are toy guns that are small in size. They can be as small as possible. This toy gun is suitable for toddlers since they are not heavy to wield.
4. Monster gun
A monster gun is a type of gun that takes the shape of a creature. They are often big and oddly shaped. A monster gun can take the form of ancient creatures like dinosaurs.
5. Pop Guns
Edward Lewis invented Pop guns. It is a type of firearm that adheres to the dynamics of pressure. The pop toy gun is an imitation of a real firearm. It is suitable for older kids, as it can be dangerous for smaller kids.
6. Toy machine gun
A toy machine gun imitates a real machine gun. It comes with a sound record that mimics real machine gunfire. A synchronous lighting alignment also imitates real fire emanating from the gun.
7. Toy Tommy gun
The real firearm is the Thompson gun, named after John T. Thompson, an American army officer who brought the idea. The Tommy toy gun is an imitation of the submachine gun.
8. Splatter ball gun
A splatter ball gun is a toy gun that sprays little balls in the form of bullets. There are different modifications of this type of toy gun for kids. The size of the balls varies.
9. Cap gun
A toy cap gun is also called a cap pistol or a toy gun revolver. This type of gun is an imitation of a real firearm. It has a percussion cap that imitates a gunshot and emits smoke when lighted.
10. Shell ejecting toy gun
This toy gun simulates the firing of bullets and the ejection of shell casings. After you shoot, the gun has a slide you can pull back, and the shell casing of the fired shot will be ejected.
11. Lollipop gun
This is a fun type of toy gun for smaller kids. The gun comes with a lollipop which needs to be inserted like a bullet. The lollipop will move upward when you press the trigger, and recorded messages like "I love you" will play.
12. Toy set gun
A set gun is a type of gun set as a trap to fire at a trespasser or on an animal when they disturb the wire attached to the gun's trigger.
13. Money gun
A money gun is also called a cash sprayer gun. This is a toy gun that children can use. They can cut wads of paper to use as money. This cash is stored in the compartment above the barrel. When the trigger is pressed, the notes will be sprayed.
Is it wrong to let kids play with toy guns?
Some believe it is wrong to let kids play with guns because it can influence them to become aggressive people. The prevalence of gun violence in society is also a concern and another reason some people are against toy guns for kids. However, toy guns are made to help kids catch fun and express themselves.
What is the solution?
If allowing children to use toy guns is seen as risky, what is the solution? From children's webshop product reviews, we have seen how manufacturers of children's toys, especially gun toys, ensure that these products are mere imitations and resemble the real items they imitate. It is believed that the more real the toy, the more they would be patronized.
However, even if that is true, we know the risk of making toy guns look too real. If all the concerns surrounding toy guns are to be eliminated, providing children with toy guns that in no way resemble real ones is a great idea worth trying. Such products may limit the negative ways children relate to guns.
Conclusion
Whether toy guns are suitable for children or not is a debate that will still go on. We have discussed vital issues concerning toy guns in this article. We hope it will be of value to you.
