Four-year-old preschooler Lucy Coup has already earned her own gun licence. Like the other children at her Auckland kindergarten, and in childcare centres around New Zealand, the youngster hangs the laminated licence from a string around her neck when she plays with her toy gun – but she must shoot at the target. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them," Lucy says firmly. Instead of banning gun play, many early education centres are adopting a policy that sees children earn a "gun licence" once they brush up on the dangers.

In Wellington, Ngaio Kindergarten is among those who have adopted the practice. Lucy's grandmother, Dorothy Coup, was confused when she heard that her grandchild was the bearer of a gun licence. At first she thought Lucy must have picked up a discarded licence on the street – but when she was told her granddaughter had been given it at kindergarten, she thought it was a hoot. "When she came home with her gun licence, I thought it was a very good compromise. "If you've got little boys running around and shooting everyone and disturbing people's play ... then what a good idea."

The licences were introduced at Te Atatu Village Kindergarten last month, after a group of rowdy boys pretended to shoot all the other children with their fingers. Early childhood teacher Louise Samuels said teachers decided to contain the gun play, making sure children understood the real-life implications of guns and putting strict rules in place. "What I noticed in my other workplace, when we banned it, was that the children would hide and shoot you – they get sneaky about it. The play would turn quite negative. "We teach them you don't leave [guns] lying on the floor, you don't shoot people, you make sure you ask to borrow someone else's gun."

If a child "pretend" shoots another child, they have their gun licence revoked. All the guns are made by the children out of paper or cardboard, and must be stored in a gun rack between play sessions. Lucy's mum, Jules Coup, said it was good to teach children about the rights and wrongs, especially young boys, who would "make a gun out of a Marmite crust" if they could. "It has not been a negative thing in any way. I think the teachers have been incredibly clever in the way they have handled it.
"When Lucy came home with her gun licence we all thought it was a bit of a joke, she gave it a go but found out it wasn't really for her."

Central North Island Kindergarten Association general manager Jan Ballantyne said labelling gun play as "bad" and banning it sent a mixed message to children whose fathers were hunters, farmers or in the armed services.

"For us to be making value judgments like that is quite wrong, but children need to know that there are rules. It's important for children to know, yes, there are guns, they can kill, and there are rules around that." The Wellington Kindergarten Association said it was aware of some kindergartens in the area introducing the policy. Ngaio Kindergarten head teacher Rebecca Cross said that, in the 18 months since gun licences had been introduced, they had made a positive impact. "Children will always make guns, whether it's in front of you or behind your back, so we thought it was better to teach them about safety."

Kiwi wrote:Lucy Coup, 4, shows off the laminated gun licence she earned for learning the dangers of and rules about using guns. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them,'' she says.

rEvolutionist wrote:Interesting approach. I wouldn't necessarily agree with them encouraging them to make guns or whatever, but this seems like a good compromise between discouraging violent play and being realistic.

AlohaChris wrote:All three of my children can recite the "4 Rules" of gun safety from memory. Before taking them to the range, we practiced safen handling, using the rules. At the range I supervise them while making them performing the tasks of locking the action open, unloading & showing clear. They really enjoy stopping the hordes of zombie balloons that infest the range.

For those who don't have guns in their homes, you may want to teach your kids these gun safety rules as an absolute minimum:

"If you see a gun or a friend wants to 'show' you a 'real' gun I want you to:

1. STOP.
2. Don't Touch.
3. Leave.
4. Tell an Adult."

Lucy Coup, 4, shows off the laminated gun licence she earned for learning the dangers of and rules about using guns. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them,'' she says.

Tyrannical wrote:

Lucy Coup, 4, shows off the laminated gun licence she earned for learning the dangers of and rules about using guns. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them,'' she says.

Wow, even at 4 smarter than scores of inner city youth in the US.

Tyrannical wrote:

Lucy Coup, 4, shows off the laminated gun licence she earned for learning the dangers of and rules about using guns. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them,'' she says.

Wow, even at 4 smarter than scores of inner city youth in the US.

NeedAnswers wrote:

Tyrannical wrote:

Lucy Coup, 4, shows off the laminated gun licence she earned for learning the dangers of and rules about using guns. "We don't shoot people, because it might hurt them,'' she says.

Wow, even at 4 smarter than scores of inner city youth in the US.

That was kind of ignorant, it has nothing to do with intelligence. Inner city youth in the US aren't taught these rules.

johnbrandt wrote:I've always found it amusing that if people say we should educate young people about gun safety and the responsible use of firearms, we're called insane gun nuts, as if teaching safety is somehow "wrong".

But then again in my country we have politicians who on the one hand wring thier hands about young car drivers dying in accidents, and yet at the same time saying that proper driver training and advanced driving courses for young people shouldn't even be considered as they "do no good" and "encourage dangerous driving" (really...).

mrjonno wrote:Any British parents here, is it acceptable to give young kids toy guns these days. I know I played with them when I was a kid but times have changed.

My sister in law wouldnt let her 3 year near a toy gun nor would she allow one in the house , no problems with pretend violence for a lot older kids but as at that age its pushing it a bit