The swimmie noodle idea is a good one...the problem with saying "Hit sword against sword only" is that it teaches nothing practical about sword use...but I can understand the caution abut letting them bash each other...my Mom never would let use hit each other until we were older and could control a sword better...and of course we started using padding and armor-type wear as well.

I think it's cool that there are people who still let their kids whack around with toy weapons. SCOOOOTLAAAAAND!!!