Archery for Kids

Getting Kids Into Archery

As with many pursuits, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, with proper guidance and techniques, the more thoroughly you will master a certain craft. That is why, as parents, we try to get our children involved in various activities, so that they may begin to build competence, skill, and self-reliance early on. That way, when they reach adulthood, they will already have a rich reservoir of built up skills and experiences, to aid them in their endeavors in the wild, wider world. That is the theory anyhow. This article addresses the basics archery for kids and young adults.

 

 

Starting archery at a young age is nothing new. Throughout history, children learned to practice archery at a young age. In times past, this skill was essential for survival, nowadays, it is just a lot of fun.

The Huns were known to be able to ride a horse and begin training with small bows right after they were able to walk, sometimes before. This early exposure and training definitely helped them gain a reputation as expert archers.

An English archer from medieval times describes his early introduction and training as an archer:

“[My yeoman father] taught me how to draw, how to lay my body in my bow … not to draw with
strength of arms as divers other nations do … I had my bows bought me according to my age and
strength, as I increased in them, so my bows were made bigger and bigger. For men shall never shoot well unless they be brought up to it.”

 

 

Why Get Your Kids Into Archery?

Why consider archery for kids? There are many reasons why you would want to consider getting them involved. Let’s address some of them right now:

• FOCUS

  In today’s digitalized, pixilated, dopamine hit modern world, it is becoming increasingly evident that maintaining focus is becoming a serious issue. With the ease of availability of instant digital gratification, both adults and children are finding it harder to concentrate and focus on more mundane but at times necessary activities. Archery addresses the issue of focus head-on. Control over one’s mind and body are crucial in archery. Focus can be built and strengthened in the mind, just like with any other muscle or skillset. It is undeniable that archery helps build the muscles of focus and concentration. This could be especially helpful for children and young adults these days, whose soft and squishy little brains are still growing and developing.

• SELF AWARENESS

  The Chinese philosopher and archer Confucius wrote: “In archery, we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns around and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.” Archery is a deeply meditative and inward process just as much as it is a physical and material one. Practitioners of traditional Japanese archery or Kyudo treat archery as an introspective meditative ritual just as much as a recreational physical activity. Self-awareness or the lack thereof also seems to be a great threat to our ever fragile youth. Ever projecting outwards, without considering one’s own internal workings seems to be a suitable position for many these days. Nonsense says the archer and Confucius! Be aware of thyself. Once awareness is achieved then journey to true self-mastery may begin.

• PHYSICAL FITNESS

  While not as rigorous as other more cardiovascular sports and activities, archery is still a good form of exercise. If you can get outside in the fresh air to practice it, all the better. Also, archery is itself a year-round activity, with indoor practice available in many places. As well as developing muscular strength and endurance, archery for kids also encourages balance, co-ordination overall mind-body control.

 

 

• PATIENCE & PERSISTENCE

  Progress comes slowly at first, but through constant action and persistence, the archer improves. Archery teaches patience and persistence to all who follow the way. An important set of characteristics that should be imparted upon future generations. Archery is an activity that can be enjoyed throughout one’s life, from childhood to old age.

• SELF CONFIDENCE 

  The basic principles of archery take only a short amount of time to understand, but archery involves mastery, which is a continual process. Archery master takes a lifetime. As the student of archery gains some skill and consistency in their shots, so too will they grow in their self-confidence. Their view of themselves as persistent and competent makes a child eager to take on many other challenges.

• SAFETY

  Archery and its practice are not without their risks. Recognizing, analyzing, and mitigating risks are all skills that will be passed onto the child by a responsible teacher. Safe archery requires the practitioner to be aware of and responsible for the well being of those around them. Safety consciousness is of the utmost importance when engaging in archery. Analyzing risk and being safety conscious are traits that can and should be carried through to many other areas of life. The sooner these ideas are instilled in the youngster, the better.

• SPORTSMANSHIP & COMPETITIVENESS

  Archery clubs and tournaments allow children to be competitive and social. Some healthy competition is always a good way to increase your skills and make connections. Good sportsmanship and respect are never in short supply when dealing with honorable archers. A healthy competitive spirit, coupled with a sense of fairness and respect will help children greatly as they transition into the adult world.

 

 

Bow and Arrow for Kids

There are several bow manufacturers who tailor-make their bows and archery accessories for the younger crowd. Just as the bowmen of medieval England, you should start your little one off with a very light, simple bow. Proper form and technique as well as safety should be greatly emphasized when they begin training with their first bow.

Before deciding to purchase a particular bow for your child, you may want to consider the actual purpose of the bow. Will the bow be used for recreation? Perhaps the child will eventually be learning the sport of archery? Will they eventually be hunting with a bow?

Archery for Kids – Other Considerations When Buying a Kid’s Bow

 

Draw Length

Draw length will be important in choosing a good fitting bow for the child. For recurve, or simple self-bows, the longer the draw length, the longer the bow must be. Reflex bows and compound bows are a bit different, but the draw length must still be determined. You can easily determine your child’s draw length by having them hold out their arms to their sides so that they are parallel with the ground. Next, measure the distance between the tips of the longest fingers on their outstretched hands. Then divide this number in inches by 2.5. This will give you a good approximation of a comfortable draw length for the child.

 

 

Dominant Hand & Eye

Many youth bows are ambidextrously accommodating. I think I just made up words there. What I meant to say was that many youth bows can be used with either the left or right hand. However, some are not. You should find out if the child is right or left-handed.

It could also be beneficial to determine the dominant eye of the child. A simple method for determining the dominant eye is as follows:

1. Pick an object that the child will look at, approximately 15 to 20 feet away.
2. Have the child point at the object
3. Then have them close an eye. Is the finger still pointed at the object or is it slightly off? If the open eye, their finger, and the object line up, this is their dominant eye.

Draw Weight

Children should be using very light bows to start. However, every child is different and some may be stronger and developed faster than others. The following chart gives a good approximation of a starting draw weight which correlates with the mass of the child:

Mass of Child (Pounds)	Suggesting Draw Weight (Pounds)
50-75	10-15
75-100	15-25
100-125	25-40
125-150	40-50

Kids Archery Set

If the children are really young (5-10) you may consider getting them an archery set designed for such youngsters. These sets have safety in mind and lets designed to maximize fun. They typically have very light bows (10 pounds or less) and soft arrowheads or suction cups. As mentioned, these sets are for entertainment and to get the child familiar with archery early on. The earlier they associate having fun and positive emotions with archery, the more likely they will be to continue enjoying the pursuit later on in life. Here are some options we have selected form Amazon.com:

NSG Deluxe Bow and Arrow Set for Kids

Great for small children ages 5-10. The bow is in the likeness of an Olympic recurve. Comes with:

• Draw weight adjustable plastic bow
• Target and target stand
• Suction cup headed arrows (x 5)
• A very cool quiver to keep the arrows in

Not going to lie. I might pick one of these up for myself. Click the link below for more!

SainSmart Jr. Kids Archery Set

 Have you ever seen anything cooler in your life? Be honest! This archery set comes with a very cool looking bow, which looks futuristic and super fun. It glows in the dark and looks like some sci-fi alien bow. I’m getting one right now! The set comes with the awesome bow just mentioned, 5 suction cup headed arrows, a quiver, and a small target.

Click the link below for more information!

2 Pack Kids Archery Set

Training multiple archers? Consider getting them in a set like this:

Click the link below for more information on Amazon!

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Ninja Set of Awesome

OK, I admit it. I got carried away. But this one is pretty cool because it comes as a set with all this other awesome ninja gear. Just saying.

Click the image below for more information:

Best Youth Bow

Now as the little angels start growing up, and are quickly approaching their adolescence, you may be considering a more robust and serious youth bow. There are many available from several manufacturers. We will give a brief summary of the more popular ones around today.

 

Brave Bow Archery Set by Bear Archery Products

A very popular and reliable youth bow set by Bear Archery. Designed for youth ages 7 and up. The draw length is 13.5 inches to 19.5 inches, and the draw weight is adjustable from 15 to 25 lbs. It measures 26 inches long with a 5.5-inch brace height. Included in this kids archery set is the following:

• Youth compound bow, with arrow rest and protective finger rollers
• The bows come in a variety of colors
• Armguard
• 2 arrows

The set also comes at a great value (around $ 100 USD). Unfortunately, the sets are only made for right-handed shooters. However, if your child is right-handed this would be a great starter bow set!

Click the image below for more information on Amazon:

 

Genesis Youth Compound Bow Kit

This is the official youth compound bow. The official bow of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). It is very popular and in use around the world. Some of the bow kit features include:

• Light yet sturdy machined aluminum construction
• Includes tube quiver
• 5 aluminum arrows
• Adjustable arm guard
• 3/16″ hex wrench
• Owner’s manual

It also comes in a few colors. This bow kit is also made for left-handed archers. A solid choice for children progressing to the next level.

Click the image below for buying options:

 

The Scythian Youth Bow by Kassai

This is a youth bow for the aspiring mounted archery. The bow has draw weights from 20 to 35 pounds. It is made of ash wood and fiberglass. We sell this one right here at ArcheryHistorian.com. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE:

 

Archery Equipment for Kids

 

Archery for Kids – Safety Considerations

Safety is paramount when engaging in archery. If the principles of safe shooting are taught and enforced to children early on, they will likely continue safe habits later on in life. Many children will likely begin their archery careers with small bows in the backyard. For more information, check out our article on backyard archery.

According to fairly recent statistics, there are approximately 6.8 million practicing archers in the Unities States of America. Apparently, a good majority of these archery participants are youths aged 6-14 at summer camps. Despite the fact that most archers, in my experience, are very safety conscious, over 4000 archery related injuries occur each year as documented by emergency room admissions. The majority of the incidences are reported as minor (abrasions from arrows or bowstring).

Some basic yet essential points for young and old alike are as follows:

• Inspect equipment prior to use. Ensure the bow, bowstring, and arrows are undamaged.
• Never point a loaded bow at anyone
• Establish a shooting line, ensure everyone is behind it while shooting takes place
• Wear proper archer attire. Protective devices such as gloves, tabs, rings, and armguards should be considered to be worn to prevent minor injuries. Be wary of jewelry, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.

Many a shooting club/range has a protocol in place whereby archers shoot and retrieve arrows at the same time.

 

 

Archery Programs & Lessons

You may even consider archery lessons for your child especially if you as a parent are a beginner or new to archery. Several programs, lessons, and clubs exist all over the world. Check out our Affiliates section for more.