My Grandson is 5 and I got him started. I started by letting him shoot all he wanted the way he wanted with just some basic instruction on how to draw and release. He stood about five feet from the target. Once he got that down, I showed him how to anchor and aim. He is still way to small for even a youth compound and does not have the strength to be able to draw a bow with enough energy to 'stick' into the target. I just let him have fun for now.