My grandsons play war with the neighbor kids. Their play is complete with walkie talkies, camo clothing, nerf guns, forts covered with real camo netting, etc. They work a continuing storyline that has progressed for over a year. I have warned them not to do any of this at school, where the teachers might not understand.
When I was a kid we had 2 recesses and a lunch recess if you finished eating fast enough. We played DODGEBALL and yes, some kids got smacked. But they learned how not to have that happen. We played gang tag. Four-square (with that ball) was not pattie-cake...it was a form of war with spikes, slams, spins.
And, yes, we did the dreaded soldiers, cops, robbers, cowboys. This was pre-show and tell, so I don’t remember carrying anything to school except my lunch or books.
We made up our own games, our own guns, our own fun.
I remember when the best sled was a refrigerator box.
we all played “army” in the fifties...The “Bang, You’re dead!” “No, you missed!!!” eventually gave way to a handful of gravel wrapped with aluminum foil centered with a cherry bomb.....
The squeals and shouts gave proof to the term, “Gotcha this time!!!!”
Thank the Lord no one was ever hurt...