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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think aged 2 is far too young for this archery kit

122 replies

gollyimholly · 05/05/2025 01:32

DH has bought this archery kit that he wants to teach DD with. She is 2! DH taught archery to beginners when he was in secondary school (but I'm pretty sure not to two year olds!)

AIBU that two years old is also just too young to learn archery? DH says they will only ever use the kit together and DD will always be supervised. But I feel like if we say to DD that this is something she can touch, if she ever does come across the kit on her own she will think it is OK to touch when it is in actual fact dangerous. For example, I wouldn't teach her to light a match because she is just too young. Similarly I think she is just too young for archery. AIBU?

Ps. This is the exact kit he bought and the safety information that comes with it

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/discovery-100-archery-set/_/R-p-302265
/!\ Never leave a bow in the hands of a child that is not under constant supervision.
Store the bow and arrows out of reach
/!\ Never shoot an arrow in the air, it can travel hundreds of metres
/!\ Never aim at: a person or animal, the shooting range must be clear
/!\ Inspect your arrow before each shot to ensure that it is in good condition and remove your arrows when no one is behind you.
/!\ Failure to follow safety instructions can lead to FATAL INJURIES

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 05/05/2025 01:39

2?! That is ridiculous. She is still learning to be a small human at that age.
Wait until she is at least old enough to express a genuine interest in it... which will be well beyond 2.

Profhilodisaster · 05/05/2025 01:46

She won't have the strength to pull the bow back will she ? 2 is way too young for this.

Danikm151 · 05/05/2025 02:05

Aside from the danger, a 2 year old won’t have the dexterity for archery.

He should wait till she’s older!

Eenameenadeeka · 05/05/2025 02:45

Yeah it's sweet that he wants to share his hobby with your child but it's not even remotely suitable for a 2 year old.

StevesLavaChicken · 05/05/2025 03:00

Fucks sake, I've owned a crossbow for about five years, I keep the bolts and the bow separate. Dd aged 13 wouldn’t know how to use it. I also have bow and proper arrows. This kind of hobby is not to be shared with a two year old. That’s ridiculous.

Olika · 05/05/2025 03:49

That’s ridiculous and too dangerous for a 2 year old.

Kittyfluff · 05/05/2025 04:10

My cousin shot the neighbour's kid in the eyeball with a toy one and he was fifteen at the time, six foot tall and quite strong. The kid would have been even more screwed up than he was if it had been one of those you posted a link to. It was quite bad enough as it was. Was not a pleasant image as he got carted off to hospital. No way would I let a two year old near that.

A two year old might not be tall enough to put an arrow in someone's eye but she can sure as heck stab DH in the balls with an arrow.

Please tell me you don't have other kids around for yours to accidentally injur.

sashh · 05/05/2025 05:22

So he wants to play at archery and he is using your DD as an excuse?

Tell him to go play in the garden while you do something age appropriate with your DD.

PotatoBreadForTheWin · 05/05/2025 05:23

We had this exact kit when my kids were small. I don’t think your DH is that wide of the mark. Yes 2 is very young and DC won’t be able to do this themselves yet but they can learn with their dad as they get older. The “arrows” don’t have pointy ends, they have suckers on them to stick to the board

I’ve also seen archery done with this same kit at the holiday club my DC went to, from as young as age 4.

Spies · 05/05/2025 05:26

My first thought is he obviously doesn't actually spend much time with your daughter or he'd know that it's both an inappropriate thing for her to play with and that she won't actually be able to use it.

It sounds like he wants an excuse to buy the set and is using your daughter.

Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see it's irresponsible to let a 2 year old near bows and arrows.

feelingbleh · 05/05/2025 05:29

Aww He's just excited to share something he loves with her he will soon realise she hasn't got the strength to do it. I don't think you need to rain on his parade just let him figure it out for himself

DragonCity · 05/05/2025 05:30

PotatoBreadForTheWin · 05/05/2025 05:23

We had this exact kit when my kids were small. I don’t think your DH is that wide of the mark. Yes 2 is very young and DC won’t be able to do this themselves yet but they can learn with their dad as they get older. The “arrows” don’t have pointy ends, they have suckers on them to stick to the board

I’ve also seen archery done with this same kit at the holiday club my DC went to, from as young as age 4.

It says the arrows are steel tipped.

The bow is just over 1.3m in length, its been a long time since my kids were 2, but I'm definite they weren't that tall, so she wouldn't even be able yo attempt to use the bow.

ItisIbeserk · 05/05/2025 05:31

PotatoBreadForTheWin · 05/05/2025 05:23

We had this exact kit when my kids were small. I don’t think your DH is that wide of the mark. Yes 2 is very young and DC won’t be able to do this themselves yet but they can learn with their dad as they get older. The “arrows” don’t have pointy ends, they have suckers on them to stick to the board

I’ve also seen archery done with this same kit at the holiday club my DC went to, from as young as age 4.

That exact set? The one linked to has steel tipped arrows and is a starter set for ‘the whole family’. There is an entirely different set with suction tips for a third of the price for use for kids 5 and up?

Wardrobehanger · 05/05/2025 05:37

PotatoBreadForTheWin · 05/05/2025 05:23

We had this exact kit when my kids were small. I don’t think your DH is that wide of the mark. Yes 2 is very young and DC won’t be able to do this themselves yet but they can learn with their dad as they get older. The “arrows” don’t have pointy ends, they have suckers on them to stick to the board

I’ve also seen archery done with this same kit at the holiday club my DC went to, from as young as age 4.

This one doesn’t have the suckers-it’s got proper steel tipped arrows.

The sucker one would be much better. We have that one and my 3 year old nephew can use jt (still supervised of course)

Lioncubhearted · 05/05/2025 05:45

I'd day too young especially with the steel tips. She probably won't have the strength to draw the bow nor the height to hold it. (Unless he's planning to kneel down beside her and draw it at the same time but then he risks the bowstring injuring her).
We had the soft archery set from there when n my DC were about 5-6 and that was a good age.

Has the considered the compression damage to her joints at such a young age?

PussInBin20 · 05/05/2025 05:52

How old is your DH? He sounds a complete idiot.

Sorry but what 2 yr old will be interested in Archery, let alone the dangers!

Tbrh · 05/05/2025 05:57

I think there's alot of overreaction on here given your DH actually teaches this and I'm sure he knows what he's doing.

SapporoBaby · 05/05/2025 06:03

Steel tipped? Absolutely not at 2. She can’t even control her own muscles properly yet.

Id say safety arrows until maybe age 7, then blunts until 11, then steel tipped IF they are responsible and with an adult.

TheNightingalesStarling · 05/05/2025 06:07

Where is he panning on using it?

Bogeyes · 05/05/2025 07:08

Please don't let this happen. It's too late for regrets when you are sitting in a hospital emergency dept.

tonyhawks23 · 05/05/2025 07:13

My thoughts would be your DH will end up like pat from ghosts pretty quick.

CaptainMyCaptain · 05/05/2025 07:15

Profhilodisaster · 05/05/2025 01:46

She won't have the strength to pull the bow back will she ? 2 is way too young for this.

Yes, bit he'll soon find out she lacks the co'ordination yet and put the kit away for a few years. There's no harm in letting him find this out for himself. If he used to teach it he'll be well aware of the safety aspects.

JustShhhhh · 05/05/2025 07:16

Not with that kit... no! But my daughter has just turned 3 when she tried something similar last year at a haven site and loved it. The kit they used was like this - not the same as a proper bow but the string gets pulled back and clicks into place until the trigger is pulled: www.wickeduncle.co.uk/childrens-presents/sureshot-handbow-target-combo-pack?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16988184135&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoNzABhDbARIsALfY8VOWqEplPsB-JRsbhz-AURlUg_q5uzhhAU2v7aXW7iGlwY7q-8A7aScaAsL3EALw_wcB

Whyx · 05/05/2025 07:25

At 2 this might be more appropriate
pom pom bow and arrow

When she's 4 or 5 the suction cup version may become more appropriate.

The actual sharp ended ones should be at 10/11 plus thing under strict supervision.

LimitedBrightSpots · 05/05/2025 07:37

I was about to say YABU, it will be a nice activity for them, she might enjoy the attention, my younger DC has a go with our set (the sucker one) with their older sibling and prancing around the house saying "my bow, my arrow". Her favourite game is poking us all in the bottom with the arrows.

BUT STEEL-TIPPED ARROWS?!!!

Is he mad? Let's see how he feels about that when he gets one of them poked into his bottom or the toddler thinks it's funny to aim for his face not the target.

Just make sure it's put away on playdates. Other parents won't thank you for re-enacting the hunger games with toddlers.