Subject
Parents and educators struggle with the appropriateness of young children’s play
fighting,1 and interest in war toys (e.g., guns, swords, bombs, light sabers and blasters) in
home and school settings. Play fighting with symbolic weapons or war toys is a form of
socio-dramatic play predominantly observed amongst boys ages three to six years. Play
fighting is defined as verbally and physically cooperative play behaviour involving at
least two children, where all participants enjoyably and voluntarily engage in reciprocal
role-playing that includes aggressive make-believe themes, actions, and words; yet lacks
intent to harm either emotionally or physically. Play fighting encompasses superhero
play,2 “bad guy” play,3 active pretend play,4 physically active and imaginative play,5
rough-and-tumble play,6,7,8 and war play.