Playing with them is not the issue. SHOULD they play with them is the issue!
This started with the question from a kid 7 or 8 years old. No way that age should be using a pole.
At 7 or 8 I am not even sure they should be using a regulation ATT length. You have to cut that down.
My son is a very good player for his age (8) who uses both hands well and we've cut his stick down 2 inches. he plays D quite a bit and we were told by the coach that the long pole is a terrible idea for at least a couple more years. And this guy is a HS Varsity Coach. so I think he knows what he is talking about.