Curriculum for kids?

[MDS]

So my boys, 4 and 2, are showing some real interest in guns lately, especially my oldest. I like what Kathy has to say in her "Kids and Guns" section of the Cornered Cat website. So as soon as either of them showed any interest by asking about guns (usually prompted by bumping into my carry gun,) we'd have a short reminder chat about what to do if they find a gun, and then I'd take them to the basement, unload, make sure there's no ammo in the area, and dry fire at a concrete wall. It's a 5-minute routine and they never had the attention span to reach the actual dry fire part. It went like this every couple of months for maybe a year or more. About a week ago, it happened again but they stuck through the routing, they liked dry-firing a lot, and they wanted to shoot it for real. I made them "earn it" by sitting through a few more dry fire "sessions" and yesterday we took a crappy little airsoft rifle in the back yard. They loved it, and even though they're asking to shoot the "real gun" I'm thinking of keeping them in airsoft until I feel like they actually care about hitting. Then I'll take them to the woods with the 22lr rifle and some reactive targets (cans, plastic bottles, balloons...) and force them to earn each shot by demonstrating safe handling.

That's about as far as I've thought it through. I guess I should google for kid-sized ear and eye pro. Would love to hear thoughts, criticisms, any feedback at all!

[RoyGBiv]

2 is a bit young. IIRC, mine were little more than gurgling schmoos at 2.
Definitely not capable of retaining safety requirements for handling anything that involved projectiles (not even Nerf). YMMV.

For the 4yo, you're probably familiar: http://eddieeagle.nra.org/

Spring loaded airsoft worked for us as a transition.
22 rifle was next, at about age 5. I found rifle on a rest was easier for them to shoot than a 22 handgun, which has to be held and is relatively heavy.
Single shot weapons are recommended as starters, to reduce the chance of an excited/inattentive kid shooting unintentionally, (Crickett).
"Hey dad, did you see me hit that?!?!?!".... <BANG!>

We encouraged our kids NOT to discuss guns or shooting during school (not even on the bus).
We told our kids that if any of their friends expressed interest, we'd be happy to take them shooting as long as a parent came along. Never had any takers.
We were VERY clear about "never trying to touch guns in the house when nobody was around". Everything was locked up and the safe was out of sight, so it wasn't a worry as much as demonstrating discipline.

In the end, the kids are competent, safe shooters but not interested hobbyists. They enjoyed showing off at camp, etc., but never got the bug.

[David S.]

I don't know anything about airsoft, but I sent a gazillion bb's into my childhood back yard. A Daisy pump, iirc.

[LittleLebowski]

What is ".22LR?"

[LOKNLOD]

We've been having the "what do you do if you see a gun..." etc. talks for a long while now, and my girls always showed and interest in "wanting to see daddy's guns". I dont always drag them out on demand, but I have taken the time to get them out and show them what they look like and of course give the safety spiel. The oldest (7) has been asking to shoot, so I picked up one of pink Red Ryder BB guns the other day, and let her and her middle sister (almost 5) shoot it in the back yard. Again, working on the safety aspect and just trying to encourage them and make it fun. They're both pretty tiny and to shoulder the rifle their dominant arm was fully extended just to reach the trigger, so I sawed the stock off so it fits them better. It looks like some sort of ridiculous prop from Terminator 2.5: Pride Parade but it lets them get a sort of cheek weld and try to line up the sights.

[Odin Bravo One]

What is ".22LR?"

Come on over, I'll show you. It's the tens of thousands of bullets filling ammo can after ammo can after ammo can in my garage.

[RoyGBiv]

forgot to mention, best way to take the thrill/mystery out of guns for kids is to require them to help clean after every trip to the range.

[MDS]

Come on over, I'll show you. It's the tens of thousands of bullets filling ammo can after ammo can after ammo can in my garage.

I have seen this glory. Worthy of pilgrimage.

[MDS]

And thanks for the stories and tips, all!

[Jared]

I honestly can't remember my first shot from a real gun. I do remember that dad was very "conservative" with me about what I was allowed to do as far as age, so I was like maybe 14 or so before he would let me shoot on our farm without being under his direct supervision. This was all done for safety.

That said, I do remember being maybe 5 or 6 and us shooting a 10/22. He started me on rimfire rifles, and it was maybe a couple years before we did any handgun shooting.

He always tried to make it fun, and it always was. I'm gonna get a little sentimental here, but those shooting times are probably the fondest memories of my childhood. They were a great father/son bonding experience. To this day (I'm in my 30's now) I still make it a point to make time to shoot with Dad no matter what I have going on in my life.

[BN]

I have an old beat up 22 single shot for the kids to shoot. The stock has been hack sawed off to fit little kids. If you try to have them shoot with a full length stock, they can't get down on it right to see the sights.

I also have a green gas Glock air soft pistol and a cardboard box for a bullet trap. If one of the kids want to shoot it, I stop whatever I am doing, get the glasses and take them out on the back porch to shoot. :)

[Tamara]

Come on over, I'll show you. It's the tens of thousands of bullets filling ammo can after ammo can after ammo can in my garage.

Sean is the 1%. #OCCUPYSEANSAMMOSTASH

[RoyGBiv]

Sean is the 1%. #OCCUPYSEANSAMMOSTASH

IN!

[Tamara]

Actually, I just realized I don't own a Che shirt, so I can't come. :(

[EMC]

I took my 5 year old daughter shooting for the first time a few months ago. A heavy 10/22T with bipod and rear bag worked well to keep things manageable. The only problem is she pulls the trigger as fast as Jerry Miculek and 22lr isn't easy to replace. She loved it.

My 2 year old son helps me with dry fire by yelling "beep" at random times simulating a shot timer.

[RoyGBiv]

Actually, I just realized I don't own a Che shirt, so I can't come. :(

I'll loan you mine...

http://www.thoseshirts.com/images/shirtsquare-lousy.jpg

[RoyGBiv]

My 2 year old son helps me with dry fire by yelling "beep" at random times simulating a shot timer.
Awesome... but...

If he ever gets hands on a live heater, what will he try to do with it?

[MDS]

Sean is the 1%. #OCCUPYSEANSAMMOSTASH

After all, he didn't earn that stash, right? If we pass obammocare, and if enough young people sign up to offset the cost, no one will refuse you 22lr based on pre-existing market realities, right? And I can keep using my current load? Sold!

We really have to get after some funds for your white house ambitions.

[MDS]

Almost forgot - I've got a play date this weekend with a buddy, his kids, and some guns. His kids are older, they'll shoot for real, my kids will stick to supervised airsoft. Probably. :D

[Tamara]

If we pass obammocare...

I needed a good, honest laugh today. Thank you. :)

[JAD]

I'll loan you mine

Or mine...
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/05/a5uma8yd.jpg

[jc000]

Would love to hear thoughts, criticisms, any feedback at all!

Santa brought my son one of the refurb'd Daisy competition air rifles you can get through the CMP when he was 5 (6 now). He doesn't touch the gun while not with me (kept out of his hands). Took a while to figure out he's cross-eye dominant, but he's getting to be a good shot, all things considered. He has a great handle on the four rules and seems to be pretty conscientious about it.

I'll probably wait until he can go to the range with me (age 7) before having him fire any rimfire/centerfire gun. His younger brother likes to sit with us during our backyard range sessions but he seems too little to shoot now (aged 3).

I'd love to get my older boy into competitive shooting but it's hard to find good info on getting started.

[Odin Bravo One]

Sean is the 1%. #OCCUPYSEANSAMMOSTASH

I have never denied ammo to anyone in need............

I even use it as payment instead of cash. Bribed Fred M with .22lr and 9mm to help me move the MD house last year.

And if you feel the need to occupy my garage, I am sure I still have a couple of Che shirts I can spread around so no one feels left out.

[Kyle Reese]

I have never denied ammo to anyone in need............

I even use it as payment instead of cash. Bribed Fred M with .22lr and 9mm to help me move the MD house last year.

And if you feel the need to occupy my garage, I am sure I still have a couple of Che shirts I can spread around so no one feels left out.

I'd have helped you for free. :)

[Odin Bravo One]

I'd have helped you for free. :)

Of course........because that is the kind of guy you are.

I threw some .22lr and 9mm at you, because that is how I roll...........



Back on topic, my son got his first .22lr when he was 4 days old. Went ahead and had the barrel threaded because kids are notorious for removing ear pro. As a single shot, it should feed the Super Colibri's just fine, and keep noise to acceptable child levels. I suspect we will begin formal training by year 2.

Right age, wrong age? I don't know. But I know that he will likely know more, and be safer than 99% of current gun owners by the time he is 5.

[Surf]

Much will depend on the individual maturity of the child. Obviously people mature at different rates and some of us are still maturing to this day. ;)

For my Kids I started them off at around 2-3 years old with Eddie the Eagle which may sound cliche but they thoroughly enjoyed the short cartoon and the message was just the bonus. This video was very helpful believe it or not in their overall "orientation" about firearms. Of course the fact that daddy always has weapons around in the shop or wearing one has contributed, but the cartoon aspect held their attention at a young age.

From there my son started getting Nerf guns at around 3-4 years old. Before handling them, we made a bit of a game or father son play or bonding time by learning correct skill sets. At that age what you teach them is normal and if he is hanging out with pops and he is interested, he will enjoy even the tedious stuff, like learning safety rules etc. At age 3-4 my son clearly understood trigger finger and muzzle discipline. Maybe not the complete ramifications of how a weapon can truly devastate living tissue, but he understood the base concept that it was bad to point the nerf gun at someone and trigger finger discipline. At around 6 years old he could clear a room or the house like a champ with his nerf pistols and rifles. Control and discipline was natural and spot on. Kids are like sponges without any BS in their head.

When he hit 6 years old I transitioned him into Airsoft. I spent the money and got the all steel Sig Sauer P226 pistols authorized by Sig Sauer. High quality Airsoft pistols. He already knew his basic safety rules and before firing the airsoft he needed to be able to do a couple more things. 1 he need to be able to recite his marksmanship fundamentals and be able to demonstrate them correctly. 2 he needed to be able to properly field strip / function check the pistol and know its nomenclature. I used the same process as I use with my adult students. The biggest difference is he learned the quicker and with more precision. Again like a sponge. He had done a ton of dry manipulations, dry fire, draw, etc and his accuracy was amazing from the very first shots fired.

At 8 years old I transitioned him to .22 pistols and rifles. Now at 10 years old he is going into 9mm and .223 / 5.56. Of course like any proud papa I purchase or built his rifles when he was a baby but I definitely took a deliberate route in his grooming. My daughter at 7 is also solid, but her interest isn't as strong as my sons. He takes to shooting extremely well and I will see where we go from here.

[SeriousStudent]

.....

At around 6 years old he could clear a room or the house like a champ with his nerf pistols and rifles. Control and discipline was natural and spot on.

.......

"Did you see him clear that hallway T-intersection, then the stairwell? That's my boy!" :)

Surf, that is awesome. I always appreciate your posts, and I always learn something from them.