Toy guns fall silent for children in Lebanon

Beirut: Psychiatrists blame wars and armed conflicts for children's choice of guns, tanks and soldiers in uniforms as their favourite toys. But many Lebanese children, during this holiday season, behaved otherwise despite witnessing a war last summer.

Toys related to war, one way or another, are not attracting children, noted parents and sellers in shops.

"Thank God, I am relieved that my children have not picked up guns as their presents," noted Rita Wakeem, a mother of an 8-year-old boy and 10-year-old boy in one of the big shopping malls in eastern Beirut. "This means what we have been going through has gone out of their heads and thoughts," added the mother in reference to the Israeli war on Lebanon during the summer.

The brothers want educational electronic games.

"Parents and children alike this year are not choosing any toy related to war or violence, such as guns, rifles and soldiers," said Yara Yajouk, a senior philosophy student who works in a toy shop.

Shift in choice

"Children are choosing stories, puzzles, animals, classic toys like dolls, kitchen sets and Lego, as well as board games like Monopoly and Scrabble. Electronic games, which are both educational and entertaining, are also luring little people," said Yajouk.

"He can choose whatever he wants and it means nothing to me," said Edmond Khoury of his little son, who asked for a pack of cards as one of his games. This year the holidays come at a time when a crisis is making political life tense and continues to bite into the Lebanese economy. Hotels and airlines are reporting a drop in occupancy and ticket sales to Beirut.

Shops in Beirut and Lebanese citizens are describing the current holiday season as the worst in so many years, even when compared to the civil war period (1975-1990). They said the decline started with the Israeli war in July and August and continued with the current standoff between the supporters of the government and their opponents.

And many parents want their children to celebrate the holidays away from the current political tension by taking them out for a meal, watching a movie and buying presents for them.

"No matter what happens, let them celebrate the holidays," said a mother of a three-year-old girl, who arrived from Kuwait to celebrate Christmas with family. "Sales have declined nearly 80 per cent compared to previous seasons," said Ahmad Saeed Haj Ali, a 59-year-old toy shop owner in western Beirut.

When asked whether the war and the political tension have influenced the children's choice, he said: "They learn violence from the television and cable channels and not the street."

"I have been here during the civil war years and I have not held any bullet," added Ali, who has owned the shop since 1965.

"Children are choosing stories, puzzles, animals, dolls, kitchen sets and Lego, as well as board games like Monopoly and Scrabble."