Youth shotgun help

[Birdguy]

I have two kids ages 10 and 7. My daughter (10) is very tall 5ft and skinny, my son (7) very short and skinny but has a terrific attitude about ALL things outdoors. I am putting my daughter in hunters ed and my son will go and listen. I am looking for a good shotgun that will have a minimum recoil. My Dad just handed me the JC Higgins single shot 12 gage and said if you can handle this you will be fine. Not exactly the path I want to take with my kids. I was thinking a autoloader but am open to anything. They both want to bird hunt with me so I am thinking a lighter model would be good for days in the field but perhaps negotiable in regards to recoil. Thanks.

[EastWaViking]

H&R single shot 20 gauge.  That's what I got when I was 8 and still have it.  They don't kick and are great for
grouse to ducks.

[MasterMisser]

Remington 870 youth in a 20g. I wouldn't think twice about his purchase! It will last them forever!

[ICEMAN]

Mossberg 500 youth 20 gauge. Stock has spacers for as they grow, and you can get a full size foregrip/stock later too if they want...cheap...

[270Shooter]

Not sure if they still make it or not, but Remington made the 1100 semi-auto in a youth model 20 gauge with a 20 inch barrel I believe. I sure you could find one some where.

[Bofire]

They still make an 11-87 20 gauge youth. Just load one shell at a time until they get used to it being an auto.
Take those kids huntin!!
Carl

[Wacenturion]

Going to suggest something different than everyone else.  Get them 28 gauges.  They will do just about everything a normal 20 will do but less recoil, less weight of the gun, and shells. 
Good choices....Remington 870 Wingmaster or an Express (cheaper)28 gauge with choke tubes, Remington 1100 28 gauge (although heavier than the 870 by about a lb.), and a favorite of mine....Remington 11-48 28 gauge in either IC or modified as they are a fixed choke and weigh about 6 lbs., same as the 870.  I have two 11-48 skeet guns in 28 gauge.....my absolute favorite bird gun behind a pointing dog.
Believe Cabelas in Olympia has an 11-48 plain barrel 28 , modified for like five something.  Saw it online in their Lacey gun library.  Just a though, and down the road the 28 are always valued higher as they made fewer.
Of course there are several over and under choices in 28 gauge.........

[dontgetcrabs]

What about 28 ga ammo? Is it common? More expensive? Might be on the light side for shooting steel shot at ducks?

[Wacenturion]

What about 28 ga ammo? Is it common? More expensive? Might be on the light side for shooting steel shot at ducks?

Ammo can be scare if you're looking for it out in the field, but if one plans ahead and picks up enough or reloads, not a big deal.  Definitely need choke tubes if shooting steel, as the fixed choked older guns would not work. 
Years ago however, I spent many a day killing limits of mallards over dekes in the Potholes shooting lead 6's out of one of those 11-48 skeet guns.  Of course skeet choke range is out to about 25 yards, but that's where I usually shoot ducks anyway when decoying in and feet are down on final approach.  Just don't miss.
The 28 gauges is just all around sweet......get used to using one chasing quail, pheasants, and chukars (preferably in the snow when they hold better) and you'll fine it really difficult to go back to packing those heavy 12 and somewhat lighter than the 12, 20 gauges.  Heck....a entire box of 28 gauge shells weighs about what  1/3 to 1/2 a box of 12 gauge shells weigh.  A 28 guage points and shoots much faster with a shorter barrel (25 inch) and less gun weight.   

[Birdguy]

Thanks for the info and recommendations. I will check out a few of the options tomorrow while at Cabelas. I know I do not have the answers but I CERTAINLY want to make it safe and FUN for my kids! The help one gets on this site makes it that much better.