A gun safety programme being rolled out in some early childhood centres is being seen as an innovative idea.

Evolve Education has developed a kit, which includes cut-out guns, targets and gun safes, for about 40 rural preschools in areas where hunting is common.

Early Childhood Council CEO Peter Reynolds says he was unsure about it at first.

But he told Mike Hosking the more you think about it, the more obvious it seems.

"It's a great way to enable kids to recognise risk, to learn the boundaries of what good safe play is about and what isn't." 

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