i have a 8 year old daughter that i started out with an airsoft pistol just to get her into muzzle discipline. that will tell you a lot about their maturity level
on the other hand i had a 10 year old girl that attended a class they i helped teach who might have been the safest person on the line. the head instructor had me working with her because she had different issues than the other shooters...can you say "fingers too short" to reach the mag release button on a Sig 225. she was a great student by the end of the day her draw and fire were excellent and her mag changes were very smooth.
yes i am a miracle worker