Gun and Superhero Play Policy

We support all children’s interests to further develop their play, learning and development, including the use of gun and superhero play, in line with the EYFS requirements and our Quality provision policy, Early learning opportunities statement and Promoting positive behaviour policy.

The EYFS recognises play as essential for children’s learning, development and emotional wellbeing. We acknowledge that imaginative and role play, including superhero and weapon play, can help children to explore feelings, experiences, power, safety and fairness in an age-appropriate way.

Children will often take part in gun and superhero to make sense of the world around them. They may develop this interest from:
• Watching their favourite movie or TV characters involved in physical battles with weapons
• Witnessing an older sibling or parent playing an online game with weapons
• The child’s parent working with guns as part of their professional job role
• First-hand experience of witnessing or involvement in traumatic experiences.

We recognise that children’s play can reflect both positive and difficult experiences. Staff will observe play carefully and respond sensitively, particularly where play may indicate distress, anxiety or trauma.

The benefits of supporting gun and superhero play are:
• Supporting children to follow their interests
• Developing imagination
• Resolving conflicts
• Building self-esteem
• Language development
• Supporting emotional development by making sense of their experiences
• Developing physical skills.

This approach supports the EYFS prime areas of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development.

We believe all children should be free to follow their play in a safe environment with adults who can positively support their play.

Gun and superhero play is not automatically discouraged or banned; however, it is careful supported, supervised and managed to ensure the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

We implement the following procedures to ensure that this type of play is appropriately supported:
• Ensure staff give the same positive praise for children engaged in gun and superhero play as they do for children engaged in other activities, while reinforcing positive behaviours such as cooperation, kindness and respect
• Engage with children and agree rules for gun and superhero play so everybody can play safely, including rules such as no physical contact, no aiming at faces, and stopping play immediately if someone is upset
• Allocate an agreed zone for this type of play so children who do not want to get involved can play undisturbed, supporting children’s right to choose and feel safe
• Use superhero play to tell stories, encouraging narrative skills, empathy and problem-solving
• Look at real life heroes who help the children. Talk about what makes somebody a hero, promoting positive role models and British values such as kindness, responsibility and helping others.
• Create our own display of heroes in the children’s lives, including family members and local community helpers
• Include action figures and capes (squares of material) in our continuous provision. Ask parents for donations of unwanted superhero costumes, ensuring all resources are safe, non-realistic and appropriate for the age group
• We do not allow realistic replica weapons or toys that closely resemble real firearms, in line with safeguarding and health and safety guidance
• Talk about conflict resolution (age and stage appropriate) and different solutions for solving conflicts, helping children learn non-violent ways to manage disagreements
• Be sensitive to the needs of children and families who may have experienced trauma, modifying or limiting this type of play where necessary, seeking the support of external professionals if required.

Staff will closely supervise this play at all times and intervene promptly if play becomes unsafe, aggressive, exclusionary or distressing to any child.

Where play raises safeguarding concerns, including repeated violent themes, extreme distress or reenactment of traumatic events, staff will follow the nursery’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and record concerns appropriately.

Partnership with parents
We work in partnership with parents and carers and will discuss this policy openly. Parents will be informed if their child regularly engages in gun or superhero play, particularly where it links to emotional wellbeing or behaviour.

Parental views will be respected, while ensuring that decisions always reflect the best interests of the child and emotional wellbeing or behaviour.