What are your thoughts on knife play? In a time when so many young people are being injured killed on knife violence in the UK, is it appropriate to encourage knife play? We are lucky that ( on the whole ), in the UK, guns are not easily available, so gun play would not encourage real gun use age.
Hi Kirstie - I haven’t come across “knife play” as a common theme, but sword play is certainly familiar - usually based on story or fantasy. Children naturally use play as a way to process and understand their world. If they’ve had real experiences with or exposure to knife crime in their community, this may well appear in their play. Rather than being a cause for concern, this is often their way of making sense of complex or difficult situations.
In some cultures, children are introduced to tools like knives from an early age under careful supervision, helping them to develop responsibility and respect for their proper use. While that isn’t the norm everywhere in the UK, the principle is the same—play involving weapons or danger doesn’t mean a child will act it out in real life. Instead, it’s an opportunity for exploration and emotional regulation.
The research suggests that trying to ban or suppress weapon-themed play is unlikely to be effective and can even limit children’s emotional development. So, I would say our role as adults is to observe, guide, and where appropriate, gently steer the narrative. Structured boundariessuch as safety rules and discussions around kindness and empathy—can help children explore ideas safely without glorifying violence. Rather than seeing this type of play as something dangerous or inappropriate, we should see it as a way for children to work through what they see in their world and support them in doing so in a safe, meaningful way.
What are your thoughts on knife play? In a time when so many young people are being injured killed on knife violence in the UK, is it appropriate to encourage knife play? We are lucky that ( on the whole ), in the UK, guns are not easily available, so gun play would not encourage real gun use age.
Hi Kirstie - I haven’t come across “knife play” as a common theme, but sword play is certainly familiar - usually based on story or fantasy. Children naturally use play as a way to process and understand their world. If they’ve had real experiences with or exposure to knife crime in their community, this may well appear in their play. Rather than being a cause for concern, this is often their way of making sense of complex or difficult situations.
In some cultures, children are introduced to tools like knives from an early age under careful supervision, helping them to develop responsibility and respect for their proper use. While that isn’t the norm everywhere in the UK, the principle is the same—play involving weapons or danger doesn’t mean a child will act it out in real life. Instead, it’s an opportunity for exploration and emotional regulation.
The research suggests that trying to ban or suppress weapon-themed play is unlikely to be effective and can even limit children’s emotional development. So, I would say our role as adults is to observe, guide, and where appropriate, gently steer the narrative. Structured boundariessuch as safety rules and discussions around kindness and empathy—can help children explore ideas safely without glorifying violence. Rather than seeing this type of play as something dangerous or inappropriate, we should see it as a way for children to work through what they see in their world and support them in doing so in a safe, meaningful way.
Thank you for your reply Alastair , it’s very interesting