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In fictionland, however, if someone with an [[Iconic Item]] [[Weapon of Choice]] is [[Spinoff Babies|shown as a child]], [[Follow in My Footsteps|has a child]] or meets a younger counterpart (a [[Fan Boy]] who wants to grow up to be just like them, perhaps) then you can expect them to own a toy or weapon with some perceived similarity to it.
 
The nature of this "[[Weapon, Jr.]]" and how functional it is can vary. It might be a literal toy version (wooden swords are popular, as are more high tech toys, like dart guns) or it might be an actual weapon that people wouldn't mind a kid having ([[Brats Withwith Slingshots]], Slings, etc) which might actually be dangerous in [[Real Life]] (but not necessarily in fictionland). Whether it's just kids playing at soldiers, or children [[Child Soldiers|actually being forced into combat]] depends on the series.
 
Some stock examples of [[Weapon, Jr.]] include;
 
* [[The Archer|Bows]]: [[Brats Withwith Slingshots|Slingshots]] are the most common one, however [[Suffer the Slings|slings]] (which makes no sense at all, since they require considerable skill to use are very damaging and turn up in cultures that lack bows) and crossbows (which makes some sense, since it requires less training than a bow...but they're still martial weapons) are also popular.
* [[The Gunslinger|Guns]]: This is much more likely to be justified, since gun-like toys are extremely common, including [[Water Guns and Balloons]] as well as dart guns and popguns. Not to mention air rifles and BB Guns are only different in their underlying mechanism and power (and indeed are classed as actual weapons in many jurisdictions).
* [[Heroes Prefer Swords|Swords]] ([[I Like Swords|and other blades]]): Wooden swords are the most common, followed by [[Batter Up|baseball bats]], but a simple stick or any object longer than it is thin will also do. More [[Delinquents|violent children]] might instead use a [[Knife Nut|smaller blade until they're older]]. Bonus points for using a dustbin lid as a shield.
* [[Carry a Big Stick|Clubs]] and [[Drop the Hammer|Hammers]]: More or less the same deal as swords. Pretty much anything smaller than the grown up weapon really. Maybe a pillow or squeaky hammer if they're ''really'' young.
* [[Simple Staff|Staves]] and [[X Onon a Stick|Polearms]]: A mop or any similarly shaped everyday object. Weapons that resemble tools (like [[Sinister Scythe|scythes]]) can also have smaller versions of said tools.
* [[An Axe to Grind|Axe]]: An actual axe, but of the domestic, firewood chopping variety.
* [[Instrument of Murder]]: While it might make sense to see the younger [[Spoony Bard]] training with their "weapon" at a young age, [[Rule of Funny]] demands that a simpler instrument be used (recorders and harmonicas being popular because of their being thought of as "children's instruments"). Toy versions work as well.
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* [[Armour Is Useless|Armour]]: Generally this takes the form of either a costume or [[Improvised Armour]] made from scraps. Sometimes they might just wear an outfit which resembles it somewhat. Helmets tend to become a [[Bucket Helmet]].
* [[Functional Magic|Magic]]: Expect a future magic user to use a wand (actually magic or not), or own a young stage magician's kit (or see below). Especially if they come to carry a [[Magic Staff]]. Mops and umbrellas work for the latter as well.
* [[Stock Super Powers|Superpowers]]: Finally, expect a child who will grow up to become a [[Superhero]] ([[Super Villain|...or]] perhaps [[Used to Be Aa Sweet Kid|not]]) and has [[Puberty Superpower|yet to]] manifest their powers play with or own some trinket that suggests them, such as a lighter for a [[Playing Withwith Fire|pyrokinetic]] or "grabby thing" for telekinesis.
 
Specifically designed training weapons can also count if they're in the hands of children.
 
If this is used in a flashback, expect it to be milked for "[[Used to Be Aa Sweet Kid]]" points if they aren't an [[Enfant Terrible]]. If older versions of the protagonists using more advanced "weapons" show up then it's [[Generation Xerox]] or [[Future Badass]]. A video game might have your character wield them in a [[Justified Tutorial]]. In an RPG they might serve as [[Starter Equipment]]. May be wielded by a [[Kid Sidekick]]. This can be either a [[Call Forward]] or [[Foreshadowing]] depending on when it's revealed who the child in question grows up to be. If children are actually being given weapons to played with (as toys or not) then it's [[My Little Panzer]] (although it still counts as this trope if the owner of it "upgrades" when they're older). Often turns up in [[A Minor Kidroduction]].
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{{examples|Examples; }}
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== [[Video Games]] ==
* ''[[Borderlands (Video Game)|Borderlands]]'''s opening cutscene shows a picture of the [[Player Character|Player Characters]] as children; [[Friendly Sniper|Mordecai]] has a slingshot, [[Touched Byby Vorlons|Lilith]] has a bubble wand, [[The Big Guy|Brick]] has a glove and [[Still Wearing the Old Colors|Roland]]... has a map (although he does wear an approximation of the armour he wears as an adult).
* In ''[[Ocarina of Time]]'' Link gets the slingshot, and uses it until he can get the bow (which he can only use as an adult). ''[[Twilight Princess]]'' takes the trope even further, with Link (only an adolescent in this game) [[Justified Tutorial|showing off]] his aiming skills with a slingshot, and his sword skills with a wooden sword.
* In ''[[Fallout 3]]'', the tutorial has the player learn to shoot with a BB gun on their 10th birthday.
* In ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' which featured child versions of several ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'' characters had sword wielding Tidus use a toy sword, and Nunchaku wielding Selphie had a jump rope. Wakka may count too, if you consider some of his spikier [[Improbable Weapon User|Blitzballs]] in FFX.
** ''[[Birth By Sleep]]'' had a teenaged version of Axel, when his name was Lea, wielding a pair of frisbees.
* At the end of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots]]'', Raiden meets {{spoiler|his son}} who uses a toy sword to perform the same moves he does.
* ''[[Super Mario]]'': In ''[[Super Mario World (Videovideo Gamegame)|Super Mario World]]'', Bowser used his Koopa Clown Car [is it car or copter?] in his showdown against Mario. In [[New Super Mario Bros Wii]], Bowser Jr. uses his own, miniature version of the Koopa Clown Car in his attempts [did he only use it the one time?] to take out Mario (and Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad).
* The armour varient of this trope is shown briefly in ''[[Legend of Dragoon]]''; [[The Hero]] Dart wears a red vest (similar to his red curaise) and his [[Love Interest]] Shana wears a white dress which is exactly the same shape as her armour (minus her [[Mini-Dress of Power]]). There is also a kid who's a fan of Lavitz in his hometown who wears a [[Bucket Helmet]] and carries a hoe (Lavitz wields [[Blade Onon a Stick]]).
 
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* In an episode of ''Disney's [[Hercules (Disney film)|Hercules]]'' [[Recycled: Thethe Series|series]], in which Hercules initially scoffs at being forced to train with a basic training javelin rather than a more heroic weapon. But at the end of the episode, he uses a basic javelin to bring down the big bad guy (having been offered his choice of any weapon by Athena) and turns down the offer of a proper spear from a (actual) [[Hot Amazon]].
* In the ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' short ''The Old Gray Hare'', there's a flashback where Baby Elmer has a pop-gun which he fires at Baby Bugs. The episode also begins with an elderly Elmer obtaining a [[Ray Gun]].
 
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