When it comes to teaching our kids about firearm safety, where do we begin? Do we take them to the range? Do we let them play with pretend guns? Do we try to sit down and have a conversation with them?
Kids are extremely smart; they understand a lot more than we think they do. When it comes to talking with kids, being honest and treating them with respect is usually the best course of action.
It’s highly likely that by the time your child reaches the age of 2, he or she will have at least seen a gun in some way or another. This would be especially the case if you have guns in your household.
My daughter has always seen me put on my gun before we walk out the door. She doesn’t bat an eye to it. We first took her shooting when she was around 5-months old and she’s been shooting several times since. Again, she doesn’t bat an eye to the shooting world.
However, just because she’s been around guns her whole 3 years of life, doesn’t mean she’s an expert when it comes to handling guns or gun safety. Quite the opposite. Seeing guns and knowing that they exist is a great start. But it’s up to us as parents to teach our children about gun safety.
The topic of guns and gun safety can be a daunting experience for both parents and children. Parents not be able to find the right words and sometimes children might become frightened if something is made into a big deal.
The key to talking to children about guns and gun safety is to take away the stigma that guns are bad, while also teaching them that guns aren’t to be feared, nor that they are a mystery.
So how do we do that?
One of the very best ways to teach children is through reading.
We live in a great age where some fantastic books about firearm safety have been published for the sole purpose of teaching children about guns and gun safety.
Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules: A Children’s Book About Gun Safety by Julie Golob
Guns The Right Way by Jerry Luciano
Prepper Pete’s Gun of a Son: A Gun Safety Book for Kids by Jones Jr., Kermit
Safety On: An Introduction to the World of Firearms for Children by Yehuda Remer
There’s Only One You!: A Gun Safety Book for Children by Ryan Cleckner
Books are a great way to begin the process of teaching kids about guns and gun safety because they tend to absorb information well through reading.
For more information about firearms safety and education, visit Project ChildSafe here.
Morgan lives in Texas with her husband, daughters and 2 dogs. She spends most of her time getting outdoors with her daughters, prepping for emergencies and disasters and teaching others how to be prepared. She also enjoys archery, hunting, fishing, firearms, hiking, camping, HAM, Jeeps and generally getting out and exploring life through epic adventures! View all posts by Morgan Rogue
