I ran a search and couldn't seem to find what I was looking for. So here goes............My daughter turned two in september. My wife is wanting me to get her shooting soon. She has already purchased a small starter type bow with the suction cup arrows as a Christmas gift for her. I know there will probably be a lot of mixed opinions on this, but I am wondering how young is too young?
If they are interested, there is no too young. I will say this though, when they are real young, you need to keep it fun. The only way they will stay interested is if it is fun for them to do. As time goes by and they get a littlet older ans more mature, they will want to get better and want to concentrate on form and such to make themselves better.
Bisch
I've been told that I started from the time I could walk, im 52yrs. now. I started my kids around the age or 3 yrs. Don't ask for much from them just enjoy the times together. Make it fun and keep it that way.They will pick up more than you might think along the way. Enjoy the young years, it will be over before you know it.
my nephew got one of those little bow sets with the suction cups, and while Im no master bowyer I knew he needed something better than that, so I whooped him up this one from a red elm scrap and backed it with some fiberglass cloth just in case. I cant quite remember but Im pretty sure it came out to 9#@ 14"
then a little leather side quiver and a couple cut down arrows
in this picture he was 5 and now he is 6 and with literally no instruction other than how to hold the string and shoot split finger, I have been AMAZED at how good he has gotten, he actually has a good effective range of about 5 yards. I cant wait till he is old enough to pull back something that can actually kill a rabbit and go huntin with his uncle :)
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6047/6347371114_90503ba44d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45016144@N08/6347371114/)
james (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45016144@N08/6347371114/) by statikpunk (http://www.flickr.com/people/45016144@N08/) , on Flickr
I started my son at 3 yrs and He took right to it. I don't think they can be too young. Just remember to keep it fun and simple. My son likes to shoot for moose, elk, bears, dinosaurs, the fox that ate our chickens..... ect. (http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o629/wetfeathers1/DSC02960_2_zps6517ae23.jpg)
Started my grandson when he was two. Showed him how to hold bow and fingers put balloons out at five yards and let him enjoy himself. He's five now and still having fun with his bow and arrows. Wants to know when Pops is going to take him hunting.
When my son was 4, I had a robin hood birthday party. He was already smoking arrows so he was a bit ahead of everyone else.
But I filled balloons with small prizes and baby powder(looks like a bomb went off). Tacked them all to hay bales and showed all the kids how to shoot. Ages were 3-6, about 15 kids.
They had an absolute blast.
AS soon as they can walk! My oldest son actually got me started when he was 4, I bought him a little longbow and we had so much fun watching the arrows fly I never touched a compound again. (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/DSCN2654.jpg) (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/DSCN1364-1.jpg) (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/705cab2e.jpg) (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/IMG_0840.jpg) (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/IzzyNoakwithRabbit-1.jpg) All that I can tell you is a day waited on is a day lost.
Started my son at 3. He had a lot of fun flinging arrows in the back yard. He will turn 6 in Dec so now we are working on form a lot more. He likes playing "horse" with me, meaning my back yard looks like a recycling bin with all of the milk jugs, and oj bottles in, but he will shoot the item, and then I have to hit to too or I am out. Make it a game and he has lots of fun.
Started my daughter out at 3 to, and she will turn 4 this Jan.
Good luck getting him started.
There is no too young or too old. The best age ( in my opinion, which I don't give often enough I'm told :knothead: )is when they want to start. I started my son at 5yo, My Stepsons at 6,8,&9. My wife at 34. My neighbor at 62 (said he never had the desire to shoot a Bow till he saw my son and I having fun doing it. ). :archer: I guess the key is getting someone started as soon as they show interest and keeping it fun no matter the age.
Early as possible here is eagleeye at 4 (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/083-Copy.jpg)
And this is what happens at 10 years old (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/DSC07401.jpg)
My Gramps started me out at 3 that was 46 years ago,I have 7 children and they all started around 3 ,keep it fun simply launching arrows accrosed the yard can keep them at it for hours.
I started my kid out with a Nerf bow. He could shoot it in the house. All the kids that came over loved it. Heck, I had fun with it too. When he got a real bow later on to shoot outside, it was big medicine.
Both of my kids were shooting bows before they were out of diapers. I don't think you can start them shooting to early.
Both my boys started at 2 and fell right into it!
"If they are interested, there is no too young. I will say this though, when they are real young, you need to keep it fun. The only way they will stay interested is if it is fun for them to do. As time goes by and they get a littlet older ans more mature, they will want to get better and want to concentrate on form and such to make themselves better."
What he said. My son started at 2.
Chad
Started at 3.
she is 2 an you havent got her started yet.well its a little late but you may be able to turn her around drag her through the woods every chance you get.show her everything she will love the time with her dad.my boys love when we head out.Iam loosing one to a girl right now but he will be back.it is a lot of fun watching them grow with the sport.
My son dropped his bow for the first time when the doctor smacked his butt...LOL As early as you can and they will thank you for it later.
My son started at 3. As many have mentioned, keeping it fun goes a long ways.
(http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu47/chromebuck/Jordano.jpg)
~CB
Start them as soon as they want! My kids LOVE shooting with daddy, and I gotta say it's one of my greatest joys sharing traditional archery with them. They are so receptive to learning. One thing I learned from others when I was starting with my kids...KEEP IT FUN, and they'll keep coming back!
My son Eli's first bow, at two years of age
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/amzlongbow/elibow1.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/amzlongbow/elibow2.jpg)
His second bow at about three. Since these pics were taken I've cut him down some "custom" POC arrows (daddy loves this stuff).
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/amzlongbow/006.jpg)
By next summer I'll be looking to move him up to a newer, nicer bow. At the really young ages, the plastic and fiberglass is just fine.
His sister Gwen has shown alot of interest and at age six got a St. Joe River bow. David and Tracy are just amazing and really care about the kids they build bows for. Gwen's growing into this bow quickly! These two pics are about six months apart.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/amzlongbow/035.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/amzlongbow/007.jpg)
Started my boys when they could walk.My first grandson is almost 3 months old and has a Maddog Pup waiting in the bow rack.
Both my boys began at 2...as soon as they could figure which hand to "let go" with. Make games and have fun is key...don't get caught up with form or anything like that till they are "ready" which for my sons was around 5. That's when they could take instruction pretty well.
I envy you guys with youngsters....don't know "when" I'll get grandkids (or even if) but looking back, it was a fun magical time when they were "growing up" in archery.
My grandson is 3. It was 15 deg. the other day and all I heard was "Papa let go shoot our bows".
He is Gene and Barry's bigist fan just loves "Primal Dreams".
I'm sooooo Lucky!
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w31/clwalkerpic/IMG_1319.jpg)
sooner the better Bro :archer2:
My 4 year old wears has been tinkering with it for a little over a year and has better form than I do. She usually hits the vitals on my deer target from 5-10 yds. Daddy's proud :)
(http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g456/CPTDimondback/JShooting.jpg)
3 yrs old for Emma. Cherished memory below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXNYx7UA0LE
Thank you for the replies, pics and vid. Precious moments indeed.
My daughter started just under two years old , keep it fun for them! She still shoots almost every time I do and she is seven now!!!