Design a youth curriculum

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El Tejon

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My brother and I have been going back and forth on what to teach my four nephews and niece (ages 8 and under). I am looking for some sort of teaching plan. Any moms or dads have experience in these matters?

The two oldest (8 and 5) are shooting off a picnic table for now. I want to get the oldest into position shooting as soon as possible.

What's important at this age? I know you have to keep it interesting. We have big steel critters for them to shoot at so they have immediate feedback.

What do we teach them next?

Any sources you would recommend to use as a guide?

TIA, a concerned uncle.:D
 
My dad started me shooting at age 4! He actually said I did very well as faras safety and everything. My reccomendation would be a semi auto .22 rifle that is reliable so that there are no jams or malfs to deal with. Have them fire at coke cans and water bottles (they jump around) from a seated position. The 8 year old may even be stong enough for off hand shooting. Don't heistate to hand them a 1911 either, I started shooting those around age 9 or 10.
 
Pop can on a string. Tie the string off to a fence or make an "L" from a piece of scrap metal and plant it down range. Put a couple of small rocks in the can for weight and start it swinging. Then turn the kids loose on it. They'll figure out how to lead a target in no time at all.

Mike
 
El Tejon.

I do the "adopted uncle bit" with kids, boys and girls. Now I "try" to remember what my Mentors did on private property, and the Military Folks that I did competition rifle before I became a heathen and went Shotgun Nuts. :)

You have f-a-r more training in all this that I do. All I can offer is my hodgepodge "passing forward".

So as to not taint this thread, PM sent .

:)
Uncle 'teve
 
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I learned by shooting an airgun, purchased at Kmart, which was an almost perfect replica of an M16.

Popcans, popcans, popcans.

airguns gave me a pretty good idea of the arc. It was quite educational, and almost limitless fun for the age. Honestly though, I would focus almost as much on proper technique away from the range, as actually implementing it at the range. I am horrible at doing something when I am just told "do it like this". I have to understand WHY.
 
The most important thing to do is not to treat them like idiots but treat them like what they are: people that need supervision. What I mean by this is that you should teach them the same things you would teach anyone else. If you tell them to just start blasting away they will develope bad habbits and bad shooting techniques. Teach them sight picture, breathing, and trigger control. My dad was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marines at the time he taught me to shoot so I got essentially the same basic principles of marksmanship that the Marines did. Sight picture, breathing, trigger control. In the end once you get that down everything turns into fun!
 
Let your kids invite their friends to go shooting with you. I started with my son at 10, both rifle and shotgun. At times he was reluctant to go to the range, he was giving up free time that he wanted to spend with his friends
Now, when we go to the range, I usually have a couple of his friends go along. There are no shortage of volunteers and it makes it more fun for the kids. I never had a problem with getting permission from a parent either.
 
What's important at this age?
Click to expand...

What's important at that young impressionable age is that they develop good safety habits, skill, and the respect for firearms or air guns, and the reason they are used, in an enjoyable manner.

I would focus on....

1. Safety.
-Make it a part of a contest, ie, teach safety and have a contest to see who follows all the rules of safety. Granted, safety is NO game, but kids don't grasp the importance of it, and making it a contest can help develop good habits. Weapons handling safety, eye protection, ear pro (unless you use airguns), target back drops (ie, what's BEHIND the target if you miss). Teach the consequences of negligence.

2. Slow aimed fire.
-teach and practice the fundamentals. Steady position or stance, grip, aiming, breathing, trigger squeeze, follow through.
-tightest shot group contests

3. Engaging moving targets
-using trapping techniques
-using tracking techniques

4. Sport shooting vs. game shooting
-sport shooting for competition as a discipline and art
-bullseye shooting
-silhouette shooting
-hunting/game shooting for food
-respect for the animal that provides you with nourishment

5. Weapons maintenance
-cleaning requirments
-functions check
-storage in a safe place

I would wait a bit for "combat" shooting though. ;)
 
Slightly OT- but have you thought about getting them involved in 4H? I believe there is a Shooting Sports group in that area (at least there should be). Very good program for kids whether parents are shooters or not. Allows them to shoot with other kids and enhances their experience. I am no longer active in my area due to time constraints but it is the best program I know of for kids because it is designed for them.
 
Safety and fun.

Since they've been shooting for a while, the safety issue is being addressed. But, kids being kids, will need to be continuous. You already knew that. The next thing is fun. Feedback is great, as is introducing them to different aspects of shooting. You mentioned position shooting. Introduce them to it, but don't force them into it. If it's not their idea, it won't be too fun. Introduce them to prone and bench rest for tiny groups, sitting and kneeling for "better than offhand" shooting and even offhand, though it can be hard for youngsters to learn to do well. One or both may continue shooting as an adolescent or adult, they may or may not become hunters or stricktly target shooters. The best advise I can give is to introduce them to as many aspects of shooting, maybe even some you personally don't enjoy, and let them choose their direction. If nothing else, it will give them options. You can let your experience guide their choices, but it's theirs to make. You may well find yourself going in two different directions.
 
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