Yep, growing up in Louisiana and starting with my Red Ryder BB gun and learning about bullet trajectory watching the bb arc in at longer distances...and shooting black birds when the flocks flew in. Then moving up to .22’s and Mom buying a brick of ammo a week to keep me going. Paid off after all the years of military then after military duties. Who’d a thunk? Keeping the tradition going....
My mother made me my first slingshot at about age 6 and showed me how to shoot it. That was about 67 years ago. I fast graduated to killing rabbits, squirrels and birds. I put meat on the table when it was a most scare commodity.
I still make and shoot slingshots to this day. To learn range estimation, keep eye on the target, to pull and release in one smooth motion without even thinking about it.
IMO, nothing is equal to becoming proficient with a slingshot and what learned will serve one well when it comes to firearms.
I got my first BB gun at 6. When I was 9 I had co-opted my father’s model 67 Winchester .22 single shot, bolt action rifle that he paid $7.50 for new. To me it’s the most valuable firearm I own.