"Traditional" ideas for a 5yr old Birthday...

[gobblegrunter]

Hi everyone. My sone turns 5yrs old in 2 weeks, and I'm doing my best to come up with ideas centered around traditional archery. He just received a maddog pup longbow, arrows, and back quiver for Christmas between us and grandparents. Now I'm looking for other taditional ideas. Anyone have any good ideas about longbow-type toys (i.e. figures, etc - again, he's only turning 5), indian toys, pictures/novelties having to do with anything traditional archery?

Kids are bombarded with all kinds of useless, meaningless toys, and when buying, I'd certainly like to spend the money on meaningful things rooted in traditional archery rather than another toy car or truck from Toys-R-Us. Thanks in advance!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

3Rivers has a range of youth products:

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Youth+Archery_c16_s0_p0_cat.html

[Shakes.602]

If You should happen to come across some Cool Archer Toys,  PLEASE  let me know where ya got 'em??    
  I go into the Toy aisle in  ANY  store I go to too, just a Kid at Heart. Sorry "Collector" for Old Guys.  

[dposalski]

What about a Target to shoot at?  Might get a kick out of hunting like Dad.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Balloons on a target.

Inflate some balloons for your son to shoot at.

You could make him a target. There is a Sponge Bob Square Pants target at one of the 3d shoots that I attend. I think kids enjoy that kind of target.

[Green]

That's what I was thinking......targets!  My 11 y/o daughter loves to "kill the deer" in the backyard.  I'm sure he would too....or something smaller.  Hog target maybe?

[adeeden]

Targets are always good, maybe a fancy armguard with a design he likes? Even better would be to start him a "hunt fund account" at a local bank!

[gobblegrunter]

Great ideas! I like the target ideas and the "hunt-fund" too. Thanks! Any others?

[YORNOC]

How about some cool animal pelts?   Badger, fox,opossum, coon,coyote....my kids used to take mine from my shop and set them up around the house and yard, then pretend to hunt them. I made my youngest a necklace of resin grizzly claws, he flipped.  Camo face paint...another sure win.
The good thing about 5, is you don't have to spend a fortune to get a big smile.

[BDann]

3 Rivers has some cool paper targets, only $1.99.  Maybe set up a little "3D" shoot for him.  

Maybe a youth quiver kit that he (with your help of course) could stitch together?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Fred Bear videos last a lifetime and entertain people of all ages. How many of us wathced them at a young age and started the fire burning?

[gobblegrunter]

Fred Bear's a good idea too. Has anyone read the "Noggle Stones" book that 3Rivers markets to their kids?

[Mike Vines]

I have bought both of my boys The American Boys Handy Book for when they are old enough to read it.  I bought them the years they were born, 2003 and 2005.  My oldest just got his for his 7th birthday back in September, and he has read it day in and day out.  It was one of the best investments I have done in a loooooong time.

  http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/The-American-Boys-Handy-Book/productinfo/1401/

The book basically tells the kids how to be boys, and they even have the equivalent for girls (The American Girls Handy Book).

[gobblegrunter]

Mike, I used your link for the "Handy Book"...looks like a great idea too! These are all ideas of substance that I knew fellow Tradgangers would produce! Thanks everyone, keep 'em comin' if you got 'em!

howabout a coon skin hat, i woulda killed for one when i was a kid, matter of fact i still would, but i havent seen one..

[$bowhunter$]

yup coon skin hat. i got one from my grandpa. still have it and i still wear it preadator hunting.

[adeeden]

I think I have a couple coon skin hats laying around......PM sent!

[Snakeeater]

Along the lines of books, many started their interest in bowhunting by reading Fred Bears Field Notes. Also, maybe Hunting the Hard Way by Harold Hill.

You might also get a copy of the old Robin Hood movie with Erol Flynn where Hill did the shooting.

[Dave Alaxanian]

Steve Catts leather sells coonskin caps real cheap--they have a real tail and acrylic cap(looks & feels real)--Indian Medicine bag for around his neck is something my grandkids wont take off!!

[toppredator]

I bought my nephews little possibles bags when I got them their bows.  They were 5 then and they loved the bags as much as the bows.  They loved putting different stuff in them and carrying them when we walked around in the woods.