Queensland's education minister has backed a regional kindergarten issuing licences to children who want to play with toy guns to teach them about weapon safety.
The C&K kindergarten at Kilkivan, a rural town near Gympie, allows three and four-year-olds to play with guns if they obtain a "licence".
The licence lets children "use a pretend gun at kindy" only if they shoot at targets, pretend pests like dingoes and foxes and the ground.
Children lose their licence for the day if they point their gun at other people or pretend to shoot them.
Education Minister Kate Jones said she hadn't received any complaints about the initiative, which was supported by the community given children would see guns used on rural properties in the area.
"My understanding from C&K is that parents endorse the program at that kindergarten because they think that it is a safe way for young people to understand how you must be safe when you're playing with guns," she said.
"(I) understand that for C&K kindergartens, who are responsible for the curriculum being taught ... that they will cater, quite rightly, for local communities and local settings."
The kindergarten's director, Anne Bicknell, said the initiative was only used if children expressed an interest in guns.
When children do decide they want to play with toy guns, they have to ask for them from a secure "gun cabinet" - actually the cleaner's closet - not loan them to anyone else and not put them down, she said.
"They're very exposed to guns, they've all seen them," Ms Bicknell told AAP.
"Mum and dad have all got licences, so it is just part of life here and it's very much in context."
Ms Bicknell said community support for the idea had been overwhelming.
She said the program had been in place since 2011, but not actually used since 2013 because children hadn't displayed a keen interest in playing with toy guns since then.
