Peace activists had a message Friday for holiday shoppers bustling along Massachusetts Street.

âÂÂChildren learn what they play,â the flier from the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice read. âÂÂIn this season of peace, donâÂÂt give the children you love toys of violence and war.âÂÂ

Between five and 10 volunteers at a time helped hand out the fliers, while six activists rotated a sectioned mural with the words âÂÂWar is not a gameâ on one side and a depiction of television sets with words such as âÂÂKapow,â âÂÂKill,â âÂÂBody Countâ and âÂÂKilling Machineâ on the other.

Coalition coordinator Allan Hanson organized the campaign, aimed at encouraging parents to restrict their buying habits when shopping for their children this holiday season.

âÂÂWe donâÂÂt want children growing up thinking the way to solve problems is with aggression and violence,â Hanson said. âÂÂWeâÂÂd rather they learn cooperation and mutual understanding.âÂÂ

Jason Robertson, shopping with his 4-year-old son, Kemper, agreed.

âÂÂItâÂÂs nice to think of that sort of thing this time of year,â Robertson said outside The Toy Store, 841 Mass. âÂÂItâÂÂs interesting how computer games have taken over kidsâ lives. IâÂÂd like (Kemper) to have a chance to play more peaceful games.âÂÂ

Robertson said one way to fight back against increased violence in childrenâÂÂs toys was for parents to take a more proactive stand when it comes to gift-giving.

âÂÂParents have a choice,â he said. âÂÂThey could send a message by not buying these sorts of games and toys, but our society works on supply and demand.âÂÂ

ThatâÂÂs the message coalition volunteers like Christine Smith were hoping to get shoppers in Lawrence thinking about Friday.

âÂÂWeâÂÂre promoting the idea that peace is not just the absence of war,â Smith said. âÂÂItâÂÂs a way of life Ãi¿½” a way of looking at the world.âÂÂ

While many shoppers seemed to go about their business after being approached, Smith said she hoped the message made an impression.

âÂÂWe need to teach children peace,â she said. âÂÂWe need to be conscious of it. ItâÂÂs the 21st century Ãi¿½” itâÂÂs time.âÂÂ