Fun.
Serious Fun.
Attract and Lead by example.
It is all about them.
Kids as they get bigger are attracted to new things, and of course are curious.
They see adults and other kids with inanimate objects or doing something and of course they want to see that object or do that activity.
Example - Slide at the park.
Little bitty, still "what is that?" they ask pointing at a slide.
Get the kid, start at the bottom and hold them as they are slid by hand.
They may see bigger kids doing the slide all by themselves, still Parenting and Mentoring come into play.
Parent and Mentor the kids, and Communicate with them.
Kids are not dumb, they understand a lot more that many give them credit for.
Firearms, and shooting.
This is where having a kids sized BBGun or .22 single shot rifle is important. Even if you do not have kids.
Neighbor, brother, sister, co-worker anyone might have a kid and this kid can be Parented, Mentored about firearms.
Neat is being around others with these guns and - a couple of camps of thought, either passing down a gun, buying one ,or letting that kid help in picking one out.
Firearms and Shooting is great, just like using slip joint pocket knives, and other lessons.
Safety is not a lock on a knife, a safety on a gun, - instead between the ears.
Just like the playground equipment, that stuff needs lessons in playing, having fun and learning all sorts of things, and being safe.
There is no "safeties" on that playground stuff, and that playground equipment cannot do anything at all by itself until a user does something with it.
So I go against the grain of many folks, and attract, pass forward, and assist with kids as I was raised.
Eddie Eagle is nice program and all, still I personally do not agree with all it shares.
So I adapt a kid's safety program I and mine like , based on how I and we were raised to the kid's, and lowest level of understanding of the kids development stage.
i.e
I grew with a gun behind the kitchen door.
My little broom and mop and doing chores and "I need that gun moved please!"
This before Stop, Don't touch, Get an Adult was ever in a Eddie Eagle program, we did not have Eddie Eagle, Gun Schools , and you can forget Internet with sites.
Wooden dowel, maybe part of a broomstick and we with kids paint it blue, we communicate "blue" is a safety color for lessons.
We don't do the stupid orange muzzle crap either, real guns don't have this, and we for damn sure do not want to instill "safety features" are what keeps them safe.
Not a safety on a gun or lock feature on a knife.
Kids learn knives with slip joints, learn to use a knife correctly and one does not fall prey to depending on a stupid lock.
So that blue rifle/shotgun is used to parent and mentor a kid.
We get a blue water pistol and that too is communicated as being a lesson tool.
These kids earn respect and trust.
"Bring me the handgun/rifle/shotgun/knife, we ask"
Kids will safely bring these to us. Put them back, or carry them around.
Doing lessons, stick a blue lesson tool somewhere and "I need a little help here, I gotta pee really bad, but there is a gun in the bathroom" - kid will say.
On the range, light, simple easy to use gun, close targets that react.
That apple "blew up" and lessons on that little bitty .22 short, instills that itty bitty bullet is dangerous - cute, neat - still dangerous.
Can of tomato juice is another good target to instill in a kid's brain what a itty bitty bullet will do.
Not to scare, instead educate.
Kids tire out, take breaks and have fun.
Let a kid eat a snack, and often times I or an adult will use a kid's gun to shoot to share something.
Another thing, adults do not know everything and are not perfect.
Little deal we do, and is fun, the kids get a kick out of is , while they win points or treats for shooting good...
Itty bitty jelly bean is set umpteen bazillon yards downrange.
"Yeah, we all checked to see what was behind that target, really good too! - kids share.
"Okay, if you miss *sigh* we guess you and the other adults have to take us to Taco Bell ( or wherever these brats have agreed to go eat).
I can't see this itty bitty jelly bean, much less hit it, and these brats do stuff like give me a NAA Mini-Revolver if I "might need more than one shot" or just one , .22 short, using a kid's rifle.
"We are so sorry you missed - again. Maybe you need to practice more, or put more beef jerkey in your back pocket or..."
*giggle-snort*
As they chow down on whatever they are eating ....
"It is okay, just because you can't shoot, you can hang with us Uncle Steve".
Kid and learning to shoot?
I'm still learning myself, and I refuse to grow up. Us kids gotta stick together ya know?
*wink*
True.
Young lady saw another young lady shooting a Pink Cricket so young lady and her parents asked if she would like to shoot it.
Young lady shot it and got this huge grin.
Grandma and Grandpa thanked the parents and had this cute granddaughter looking up with wanting eyes.
"Grandma, Grandpa, I really like the gun you had as a kid like me, it is neat to shoot but that one is sooooo sentimental and all...
At the store checking out Pink Crickets, "gun fit is important don't ya know?" ( one guess where that comes from).
Three .22 rifles were bought.
Seems since the grandparents were not sure to get each other for an Anniversary, the granddaughter made an "executive decision".
Picture a cute little lady making sure grandparents got a .22 rifle that fit them.
"Listen sport" she says to grandpa "I am going to inherit that little gun of yours and we need to per..pre...whatever that word is to keep it nice and in good shape".
*Grin*
"Well you could always blame Uncle Steve Grandpa..."
*smirk*
