Spending Time In Recreational Settings

Taking Your Child To The Shooting Range? 3 Tips

24 May 2019

Wade Moreno

If you love shooting and have a child, then you may be counting down the days until you take your child to the shooting range with you. There is nothing quite like the experience that you will encounter the first time that you and your child visit the range with one another. While the shooting range may be a bit intimating to your child at first, there are steps that you can take to help make the experience less stressful and smoother for them. If you are planning a trip to the shooting range in the near future, here are three tips to ensure that everything goes smoothly, and hopefully, your child will want to return to the shooting range again soon.

Tip #1: Do Not Force the Experience

As a parent, there are certain things that you can force your child to do, such as eat dinner. However, you should never force your child to fire a gun. Your child needs to have a genuine interest in learning how to operate a firearm. If your child is showing signs of reluctance or discomfort, take them seriously. If you force your child into the situation, trouble is going to be the only outcome. The same thing applies once you get to the shooting range. Keep an eye on your child's stamina and ensure that your child is energized and comfortable the entire time.

Tip #2: Stress the Importance of Education, Safety, and Supervision

When it comes to firearms training, education and safety are crucial. Because of this, direct adult supervision is also critical. Until your child is familiar with the precautionary measures surrounding firearms, he or she does not need to use a personal firearm. By delaying this, you will ensure that the process is safer and more enjoyable for both of you. In addition, it also provides you the chance to take turns, work together, and bond over the experience as a whole.

Tip #3: Open Up the Chance for Success

When you do finally get to the shooting range, take things slowly. You want to ensure that your child has an excellent session the first time. You want your child to experience how exciting it can be to be successful. Opt for close-range targets since they will be easy for your child to identify and strike. Hitting their mark can encourage your child to return in the future.

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