It was bound to happen, because it happens with every building toy at some point or another. It also tends to happen more often than not when my oldest son and his friends are around. The it I am referring to is weapon play.
My 9-year-old had a few friends over after school today, which resulted in my 6-year-old spending some time outside with them. My daughter passed the time playing with dolls and eventually Magnetix Jr.
When the boys came in from outside, they saw my daughter building, and they dove right in. She was none too pleased. The exchange went something like this:
"Mom, they're taking my pieces!" she called into the kitchen.
"You guys are too big for that! Go play upstairs!" I called back.
And then it happened. I heard noises, laughter, yelling and crying. I raced into the living to find my 6-year-old holding a few magnetic pieces fashioned into the shape of a gun. He was making explosion noises and running around the room. The older boys were laughing, egging him on. My daughter was in hysterics.
"Put that down!" I yelled at my son. "And the rest of you boys need to find something else to do."
My son dropped the source of the excitement and ran upstairs, with my oldest son and two friends following close behind. The other friend stayed, seemingly oblivious to the commotion. He sat on the floor next to a pile of Magnetix Jr., tapping two yellow, metal balls together.
"Aren't you going upstairs with the other boys?" I asked.
He emerged from his haze and looked up at me. "Oh, yeah. But wait. Why don't these ones stick together?" He asked, tapping the yellow, metal balls together.
My 4-year-old daughter who had found solace with her arms wrapped around my thigh, looked straight at this second grader and said, "Because those ones aren't magnets."
The kid looked up at us, cocked his head to the side and shrugged his shoulders, and then he ran upstairs to join the rest of the crew.
I told my daughter how proud I was of her for knowing the answer to that question, and how cool it was to think she knew something more than a second grader. Rather than simply basking in my praise, but she looked relieved to be rid of the chaos.
See parents helping parents in action! 
