Would you find this a little "odd"

[Neenie1]

My 3 year old neice was pretending to nail my daughter's hands and feet to a cross (like Jesus) and also doing this to her brother. I just found it really strange and felt really uncomfortable with it. I just politely asked her not to do that to my daughter. My SIL said that someone told them they nailed Jesus to the cross so now they play games about it. I don't know that it's a bad thing, it just made me feel really uncomfortable. Would you find it odd or allow your children to play games like that. It's not so much that I was freaked out about it, I think it was more of a respect issue, like respecting Jesus dying on the cross. I'm not sure why I found it uncomfortable I just did. Mind you I am going through a very stressful time at the moment.

 

[Hadassah]

Ummm, yeah count me in on the feeling uncomfortable bandwagon. I'd also ask them to stop and talk with them as to why it is inappropriate play.

We were allowed to play cops'n'robbers and cowboys'n'indians (the indians always won - - you can guess why ), but play like that just didn't happen with us. We'd play "church", grocery shopping and "school" though

 

[brinny]

My 3 year old neice was pretending to nail my daughter's hands and feet to a cross (like Jesus) and also doing this to her brother. I just found it really strange and felt really uncomfortable with it. I just politely asked her not to do that to my daughter. My SIL said that someone told them they nailed Jesus to the cross so now they play games about it. I don't know that it's a bad thing, it just made me feel really uncomfortable. Would you find it odd or allow your children to play games like that. It's not so much that I was freaked out about it, I think it was more of a respect issue, like respecting Jesus dying on the cross. I'm not sure why I found it uncomfortable I just did. Mind you I am going through a very stressful time at the moment.

You're instinct is right on target. It's not a 'game' that Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of the living God suffered and died on a cross. It's taking it lightly, in the worse way, as He can be the only sacrifice for our sins. We can't pretend we are the Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world. A sense of 'merriment' and 'play' surrounding His suffering is distorted. It should not be allowed. And the parents need some serious spiritual guidance as to why they'd allow such a thing.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

I agree. I would be uncomfortable with that type of play.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

It makes me uncomfortable but I'm not sure that a 3 year old understand why it is making the adults uncomfortable. Ya know?

My kids have played baptism in the pool. I know it isn't the same but it is their way of processing new information.

Maybe this is the opportunity to discuss in an age appropriate way what it really meant for Jesus to be nailed to that cross.

 

[lucypevensie]

No, I would not let them play that game. I would not freak out or lecture or anything like that. Like someone said above, it's the way kids process new information.

 

[charligirl]

It makes me uncomfortable but I'm not sure that a 3 year old understand why it is making the adults uncomfortable. Ya know?

My kids have played baptism in the pool. I know it isn't the same but it is their way of processing new information.

Maybe this is the opportunity to discuss in an age appropriate way what it really meant for Jesus to be nailed to that cross.

Totally agree. My 2 yo DD talks about it, and even 'plays' communion with her sandwiches. It's time to have a chat about why it's not a game.

 

[eliyahu137]

My 4 kids are all under 5 years old. They also crucify each other sometimes. I was troubled by this at first. But then I saw that they were just imitating what they had seen on the Gospel of John. They are too little to understand it. Maybe they should not even watch that part of the movie until they are older. They still see pictures of it in their kiddie Bibles. I let them go ahead and do their little passion plays. It is cute if you can get past how wierd it would be if they were older. I would stop them for a while but then I would catch them doing it when we were in another room.

My boys are always trying to slay me (I am Goliath to them). They love it when I attack them with my invisible sword. Their heroes are myself, Jesus, Optimus Prime, David, Heidi Baker and Jason Upton.

 

[*YouKnowWho*]

I would feel awkward as well. I'm sure they don't understand just how important Jesus being crucified is and they probably don't mean any harm, but at the same time, they need to know that it can come off as something inappropriate, even if they dont mean it that way.

 

[GolfingMom]

It makes me uncomfortable but I'm not sure that a 3 year old understand why it is making the adults uncomfortable. Ya know?

My kids have played baptism in the pool. I know it isn't the same but it is their way of processing new information.

Maybe this is the opportunity to discuss in an age appropriate way what it really meant for Jesus to be nailed to that cross.

 

[Neenie1]

It makes me uncomfortable but I'm not sure that a 3 year old understand why it is making the adults uncomfortable. Ya know?

My kids have played baptism in the pool. I know it isn't the same but it is their way of processing new information.

Maybe this is the opportunity to discuss in an age appropriate way what it really meant for Jesus to be nailed to that cross.

I see what you mean. I was there picking my kids up (inlaws had been babysitting) and saw my neice doing this with my daughter. I think they have discussed with them about Jesus dying on the cross and what it means, my nephew has made a childhood decision for God. So I am pretty sure they have explained it to them, it's just that their parents think it's an OK game to play and much better than role playing other things (such as cops/robbers and anything violent) I think that if they do that again with my dd I will explain to the parents that I just don't want my daughter involved in that kind of game. I am starting to get into reading Bible stories at night with my dd, I know I have been negligent in this area of parenting with my daughter, I have realised it's because she is not one for sitting still and listening to a story but I have found that if I put her to bed and then sit on her bed with her she will listen. So I will start talking with her about it. She is the kind of child that will go along with what the other kids are doing and is quite placid (however can also be quite wild and adventurous but now that she is becoming a "preschooler" that tendency has changed and she is becoming placid and will play with the group what the other kids are doing, probably because she is the youngest child)

Thanks for your comments everyone. I was just wondering if I was over-reacting.