How to Introduce Kids to Boating, Kayaking & Whitewater

You wouldn’t be doing some reading on the NRS website unless you are an outdoors person. What’s more, you’re probably reading this article because you have kids, grandkids or other young people in your life. You love the outdoors and you’re keen to spread that passion to the younger generations.

Read on for tips, tricks and advice on how best to prepare kids for boating and the outdoors.

Kids and Nature: Why Outdoor Time Matters

Many children today don’t have the same access to the natural world as previous generations. There are multiple reasons for this: more people are living in urban and increasingly urbanized areas with less access to the outdoors, and parents are more apprehensive about letting their kids roam unsupervised.

In many households, both parents work, limiting the time they have to supervise outside play and exploration. Video games, smartphones and other forms of electronic entertainment are plentiful and seductive. And kids’ lives have become much more scheduled, with parents shuttling them between sports practice and games, music lessons, after-school activities, etc.

Is This a Bad Thing?

Many researchers in childhood development and environmental education think it is. They find that exposure to positive experiences in natural environments improves creative problem solving skills and enhances creativity. It also aids in the development of imagination and motivates life-long learning. Being in nature lowers stress and builds a connection to the earth that is important for creating an environmental consciousness.

What can we do to help kids appreciate nature?

First, it’s about making the time to take them out and let them play outdoors… not in a manicured park with manufactured playground equipment, but in the rough and dirt and wet. And it doesn’t have to be out in the wilderness. Most places have areas of underdeveloped land sufficiently accessible for your purposes.

Just Let Them Play

With young children, you don’t have to fuss with a lot of organized activities. Just let them roam and romp and play. They’ll find creative ways to amuse and entertain themselves. Older children can enjoy games of plant and animal identification, looking for animal tracks, collecting leaves and plant seeds, etc. Keeping an outdoor journal that they can draw and write in can be educational and fun as well. Make a place at home where they can display their collected treasures.

Outside Resources

Many local conservation groups sponsor land restoration projects and nature excursions that can be fun for the whole family. Scouting teaches many outdoor skills and fosters self-challenge and leadership. Many museums have nature programs and field trips for all ages. Some summer camps may have a nature-oriented curriculum.

And, of course, camping and boating with your young people offer many opportunities for learning, fun and exploration.

Gifts that Give Back

Buy gifts that promote enjoyment of the outdoors. Plant, animal and insect identification books stimulate interest. A magnifying glass opens up whole new worlds. Modern LED headlamps really conserve battery life; any kid will enjoy having their own. A pair of inexpensive binoculars makes looking for wildlife fun. Use your imagination.

Boating and Camping with Kids: Essential Tips

You’ve decided to take your kid boating. Great! Just remember, you’re there on the water by choice; your kids are probably there by your choice, not theirs. Remember that your reasons for boating aren’t theirs. For them to enjoy the experience, you have to meet their needs and give them reasons to enjoy the trip. Do that and not only will you have fun, but everyone will be looking forward to the next trip!

Physical Comfort

Nobody likes being uncomfortable on the water, kids and grown-ups alike. If they’re not comfortable, they’re not happy. When they’re not happy, the trip becomes a pain.

• Keep them warm or cool, depending on the conditions. Waterproof raingear and multiple layers of synthetic fabric garments are essential when the weather is wet and cold.
• Remember to also pack warm booties, gloves and headgear. When it’s sunny and warm, cover them up with broad brimmed hats and protective clothing.
• Sun protection is a must. Look for clothing and apparel that provides full UPF 50+ protection.
• There are many brands of kid-friendly sunscreens. Look for “broad spectrum” that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, and those with high water resistance. One solution for covering sensitive areas is to use a lip balm that includes sunscreen. It works for noses, cheeks and ears, as well as lips.

Staying Fueled & Hydrated

Being active in the outdoors means packing lots of snacks and hydration. Sure, you can try and share your quinoa salad and raw carrots, but chances are they’ll be much happier with their own selection of kid-friendly snacks.

• Kids’ bodies are growing and they get hungry often. Pack lots of healthy snacks. Good ones are cheese sticks, summer sausage, crackers, pretzels, dried fruit, trail mix, grapes, apples and oranges.
• It’s important that they stay well hydrated. Get them their own water bottle; put their name on it and some fun stickers. If they’ll drink water, that’s probably best. If not, add flavor with fruit juices or a sprinkle of powdered beverage crystals. Be sure they drink often.

Creative Play, Camp and the Teachable Moment

Bringing kids along can be a treat for everyone. However, while you might be out there looking for some much needed R&R, kids typically need more immediate engagement to keep spirits high and the fun flowing.

• On the water, make games out of what you’re seeing and doing. “Tell me when you see a fish jump.” “Tell Dad/Mom if you see any rocks ahead of us.” “How many birds do you see it that tree?” “Let’s see how many dragonflies land on the boat.” It’s a variation of the car game, “Let’s see how many red cars we meet” that can help preserve your sanity. It also helps nurture observational skills. Simple water toys also help keep them occupied.
• In camp, a few simple items, like a little bucket and shovel and a ball or two are probably all they need; their active imaginations will take care of the rest. Bring along some of their favorite books, and paper and crayons. Animal and plant identification books are excellent teaching tools.
• Please have them wear their life jackets at all times on the water and when playing near the water; you can’t watch them every minute.
• Kids love headlamps! Choose one with LED bulbs and a durable construction.
• Getting them to go to sleep in a tent before it gets dark can be a chore. A set of headphones and some stories or music may help.
• These are great times to teach young folks outdoor skills and respect for wildlife and the environment. Model good outdoor behavior like staying on trails, recycling beverage containers, not feeding wildlife, picking up trash, etc. Let them help with camp chores.
• If they’re old enough, let them use binoculars to study the birds you see.

Have Fun!

When your young ones have fun, they’ll want to repeat the experience. Start them out the right way and you’ll be helping them build a lifetime love of boating and the outdoors.

Beginner Kayaking Skills for Kids

You went boating and camping, you and your kids had a great time, and now you’re thinking of introducing them to kayaking. Nice! Remember: Kayaking with kids can be fun, but it takes a different mindset than when paddling with other adults.

Introduce the Kayak

Tandem kayaks work especially well with a young one. Place them in the front of the boat, so you can keep an eye on them, while better controlling the speed and direction of the boat. A sit-on-top kayak is a great craft when paddling with kids: it’s wide open so they can wiggle around, jump off for a swim and scramble back aboard. A young child can sit on your lap in a tandem kayak or even a solo kayak.

Get a Proper Life Jacket

Be sure the child is always wearing a life jacket. There are many good children’s life jackets available; make sure you get one that fits them well. A jacket they can “grow into” can be very dangerous. Get one that really fits. After you have it properly adjusted, lift up on the shoulder straps. If the jacket slips up around the head, you’ll need to readjust it or get a different jacket. Jackets with leg straps can be an excellent and safe choice for hard-to-fit kids.

Keeping Kids Engaged & Having Fun

Kids have a limited attention span, so don’t overdo the length of earlier paddling trips. Make the trips fun by letting them have a paddle and giving them some paddling tips. Paddle in calm, sheltered areas, and close to shore in case a potty break is needed. You want the paddling sessions to be fun. An early scary or negative experience can turn your young one off from wanting to go again.

Make sure it’s safe and fun for them and you may end up with a lifelong paddling partner!

Getting Kids Started in Whitewater Kayaking

Your kids really enjoyed kayaking with you and now want to give it a try themselves. Amazing! Follow along for some techniques, dos and don’ts that can be helpful when teaching kids to kayak.

Practice in a Controlled Space

Swimming pools are ideal for letting kids use kayaks as pool toys and helping them get used to life jackets and helmets. Once kids know how to swim, they’re ready to play in the pool. They love floating in their life jackets, climbing into the cockpit of a kayak, becoming comfortable when it tips over with them and learning to hold their breath and swim underwater.

• Flip the kayak over and show kids how to swim under and come up in the cockpit for a breath of air.
• Once they’re comfortable, they’ll beg for a paddle and begin racing from end to end of the pool.
• It’s empowering for kids to be able to direct their kayaks and makes them much more comfortable when they’re asked to tip over on purpose, or when you introduce different paddling strokes.
• Once they’re proficient in the pool, the next great place to take kids paddling is a local lake or pond in which they’ve played before.

Building Up Safety Skills

Since they became comfortable wearing helmets and life jackets in the pool, they may be ready for more—kids will usually ask when they are ready for another challenge. This is a great time to see if they’d like to practice wet exits with a sprayskirt on. Make sure you use a loose skirt that they can put on and take off without much effort. A one-tug skirt is a must!

Also, using a skirt with a loose tunnel is great as sometimes kids forget to pull their skirt and will just wiggle out instead. It seems like they’ll wet exit perfectly, and then the tenth time they’ll forget, panic for a second and then wiggle out. No harm done, as long as they can wiggle out.

Once they’re comfortable with wet exits and hanging out upside down before they wet exit, they’re well on their way to the next challenge. Taking the time to do “a million” wet exits makes kids comfortable with the water and their kayak. Then, they are usually ready for easy rivers.

Preparing for Their First Time on the Water

When you’re ready to introduce kids to the river, consider having them paddle inflatable kayaks down a stretch first, or paddle with you in a tandem kayak before they paddle their own boat. This takes the pressure off and allows them to view their next step without worry. Don’t rush the progression from here; they will tell you when they want to learn to roll.

Consider hiring an instructor or enrolling them in group kayak instruction once they’ve expressed interest in learning to roll. It’s very powerful for kids to see other kids rolling, and it’s great to start two kids together from the beginning! Encourage a friend to come along to the pool.

It’s very important that they have a kayak that’s outfitted so they stay in the kayak, but ensure it’s not too snug. Make sure there is a little wiggle room. Many kids programs have kayaks for rent. Yes, the right size of boat and paddle is important.

Enjoy the progression, and know it’ll pay off when you’re running the river together and having a blast. The first combat roll will be as exciting as the first wet exit! Whitewater parks offer a safe place to paddle and work on the fundamentals.

Have fun watching your little one develop their skills and grow into a proficient boater. It’s an exciting time for you and for them! Remember: Don’t rush it and, above all, have fun.