Parenting Protocols - Safety

[Siderite]

This is not intended to be a discussion of the article, but what parents can do to avoid such a tragedy happening to them. If you want to discuss the article, start a new thread.

Reading the following article (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/toddler-dies-mistaking-gun-wii-controller/story?id=10056190) made me think about what protocols/habits/procedures parents can have to prevent lapses. If we accept that we are fallible and will make mistakes, how can we minimize the damage?

Some things like teaching your kids to understand the danger that a gun can pose, and how to deal with a "found" gun - run and tell an adult - are good, but what about before kids get to an age where that sort of training can take hold? How do you ensure that a gun doesn't get left out?

Along the same lines, would the parents comment about their rules with regard to toy guns - are they allowed? is there a realism threshold (color, nerf, etc)? or outright banned?

 

[General Geoff]

Some things like teaching your kids to understand the danger that a gun can pose, and how to deal with a "found" gun - run and tell an adult - are good, but what about before kids get to an age where that sort of training can take hold? How do you ensure that a gun doesn't get left out?

Telling a child to "run and tell an adult" about a found gun, without a firm explanation behind it, is fruitless. It is much more effective to teach a child all about how guns function, and what they do, than to just tell a child they're dangerous and to not touch them.

 

[pv18463]

Here are some good articles from the Cornered Cat about this subject.

http://www.corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx#Kids

 

[Oyeboten]

When I was six, my Dad showed me his M1917 S&W .45 ACP Revolver, and, went over various details of it's construction and use, and, how to see if it is loaded, and, how to load or unload it.

He explained simply how a Gun should be respected, and, how it is not like Cartoons or Movies, and, can do great harm very quickly by accident, if mis-handled.

He advised me, that, if playing at other's homes, if any Child finds a Gun, Hand Gun or Long Gun, and, begins handling it or playing with it, that I should intervene with circumspect, and have the Muzzle directed up for Long Arm, down for Hand Gun, and away from People, have them put it back, and, he showed my how to respect the Trigger, Hammer, and Muzzle-direction of the Revolver.

And, I forget what else.


This was very nice of him, and, as it happens, there was never any incidence of me ever being anywhere, where another kid began playing with any sort of Gun, so, I never had to intervene...which, I gladly would have.


By 8, he was taking me out Shooting now and then, where, I soon proved a crack Shot with the M1917...shooting surplus WWII 'Ball' Ammunition, in those unbleached pasteboard Boxes of 'fifty' we'd get at surplus stores for 50 cents a box, later, a dollar a box.


If I had young kids around, I would do likewise, and or, advise them how to intervene, or, to leave a scene if a Gun is produced, at their judgement, were another kid to begin handling or playing with one.

 

[Beelzy]

Taking my kids out shooting and showing them what a .22 Mini-Mag does to a pumpkin was sufficient.

 

[Shadow 7D]

reactive targets, or say a shotgun to a coffee full of water (my uncle) is pretty effective to explain why you don't mess with gun, you treat them respectfully