Water Guns: Walk Me Through This

[Kindra178]

I am pretty (ok, extremely anti) gun. We have had some crazy hot days lately and I am thinking this summer is going to be brutally hot. I would love for my boys to enjoy some super soaker action/big boy water games, but I need to get over my water gun thing. Thoughts?

[oneplustwo]

Well, you can start out with these kinds of water squirters. LL Bean even has had these for sale. They don't resemble guns but some of them can squirt water really far. Lots of kids in our town have these and love them.

http://www.amazon.com/Max-Liquidator-Eliminator-colors-vary/dp/B000H8D5N4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339292536&sr=8-1&keywords=water+squirters

[Mamma2004]

I, too, am very anti-gun. However, summers can be hot and humid so...I have found peace with the huge squirters that look like 1/2 of a pool noodle. KWIM? They pump water at a furious pace but they do not resemble guns. Both DS and I enjoy them!

Good luck!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I am anti gun but play guns don't bother me. They are just as likely to pick up a stick and pretend its a gun if they are inclined. No aiming at people's faces and make sure they want to get wet. They make some less gun looking soakers (short water noodle w plunger).

[ohiomom1121]

All the kids in my neighborhood are heavily "armed" with super soakers. They have lots of fun chasing after each other, getting wet and staying cool. I don't really see how it's got much to do with real guns.

[brittone2]

I finally relented when my DS1 turned about 5 or 6. DS1 and DD have Nerf guns and water guns.

I've made peace with it ;)

[newg]

Well, you can start out with these kinds of water squirters. LL Bean even has had these for sale. They don't resemble guns but some of them can squirt water really far. Lots of kids in our town have these and love them.

http://www.amazon.com/Max-Liquidator-Eliminator-colors-vary/dp/B000H8D5N4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339292536&sr=8-1&keywords=water+squirters

I pick up something like this every year in the dollar bin at target.......I find they hold up better than water guns of the same price and shoot much farther!

My mommy friends and I call them "water squirters" rather than using "gun".....even true water guns are called "water squirters" by most of us.

I've also found some fun, at home, water activities on Pinterest....
http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/sponge-brigade-1015159/
http://eventhorizons.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/backyard-sprinkler-park/
http://www.stufftocraft.com/2009/05/recycled-soda-bottle-sprinkler.html
http://ministry-to-children.com/water-games-for-kids/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Ministry-To-Children+%28Ministry-To-Children%29
http://scraphappyheather.blogspot.com/2011/07/water-balloon-pinata.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2011/05/25/dip.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fba-Bike_Wash_0503519863.jpg

[Kindra178]

Great ideas. Thanks everyone.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

[essnce629]

I'm anti-gun too, but with two boys (one being almost 9), it's pretty much impossible keeping them out of our house. We now have about 3 regular Nerf guns and 6 water guns! The water guns have been getting played with every day lately since it's been so hot out. DS1 got his first Nerf gun for his 6th birthday from one of my friends and has loved them ever since. I've also found that boys will make "guns" out of anything even if they don't have toy guns. DS1 used to make guns out of his blocks and even his sandwiches starting at the age of 3 and DS2 does the same.

[Tondi G]

One word of advise if you decide to go the super soaker route. My boys seemed to do best with the ones that didn't involve too much pumping and then firing till they were maybe over 5. They have motorized water guns that work well ... we have all kinds now (pump action, motorized and simple small hand held ones)... my boys tend to reach for the motorized ones.