SURPRISING NEWS FROM BRITAIN:
Playing with toy weapons helps the development of young boys, according to new Government advice to nurseries and playgroups.
Staff have been told they must resist their “natural instinct” to stop boys using pretend weapons such as guns or light sabres in games with other toddlers.
Fantasy play involving weapons and superheroes allows healthy and safe risk-taking and can also make learning more appealing, says the guidance.
It conflicts with years of “political correctness” in nurseries and playgroups which has led to the banning of toy guns, action hero games and children pretending to fire “guns” using their fingers or Lego bricks.
You have to listen to the science, right? But there are always people who will oppose science for religious reasons:
But teachers’ leaders insisted last night that guns “symbolise aggression” and said many nurseries and playgroups would ignore the change.
Don’t they care about the children? Apparently not:
Research by Penny Holland, academic leader for early childhood at London Metropolitan University, has also concluded that boys should be allowed to play gun games.
She found boys became dispirited and withdrawn when they are told such play-fighting is wrong.
Of course, to some educators, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature. (Via Dave Hardy).
UPDATE: Rand Simberg denounces this child-destroying war on science.
ANOTHER UPDATE: More thoughts from the Insta-Wife.
