There’s plenty of fun to be had on the water and the idea of working your way down the river in a canoe or kayak sounds like a lot of fun to adults and kids alike, but when it comes to introducing your kids to watersports there is always a bit of fear and trepidation about making sure they are safe.

If you want to introduce your kids to these water pursuits and share your passion with them, there are a few things you need to cover in order for them to enjoy a fun but safe time on the water.

Here is a look at how to get them kitted out beforehand, why the right seating configuration matters, and a sensible strategy for giving them a positive canoeing or kayaking experience.

Keeping them as safe as possible around water

As well as providing them with a suitable and safe conveyance to get to your chosen river destination in the first place like a Jeep Patriot, for example, which should cope with the canoes and passengers just fine, you also want to ensure they are well equipped for safety before they get anywhere near the water.

It is important that everyone is kitted out with the right personal flotation devices (PFDs).

Make sure you fit them with PFDs that are sized to their weight and if you have very young children, it should have a strap that goes between the legs as an extra safety precaution to prevent the vest sliding off.

Always buy the PFD they need right now rather than getting them one that is a size up so that they can grow into it. That is a dangerous strategy and you don’t want to take risks with their safety just to get an extra season out of a PFD.

The right seating plan

Another important safety tip to follow is the need to sit your kids in the right spot in the canoe.

Smaller children should always be positioned within arms reach of an adult. If they are in their own boat alongside you the best thing to do to prevent a panic situation is to tie the paddle to the boat, but don’t be tempted to tie your kid to the boat as this can create a dangerous scenario if the boat manages to flip over.

Don’t be too ambitious

Another good tip when introducing kids to canoeing is to pick a short float to start with and build up the length of the journey on the water once they become more accomplished and old enough to cope with longer stretches.

A couple of miles down an easy route is a sensible and safe strategy with kids and always aim to stay close to shore, for safety reasons and also because young children can often need to cut the trip short for a bathroom break.

Consider paddling upriver first, as it is easier to cope with the current when everyone is still full of energy and enthusiasm rather than trying to contend with the hardest part of the journey when the kids might be tired and less enthusiastic than earlier.

If you dress and equip them right and follow some sensible safety rules the family should enjoy a safe and fun river adventure.

 

Image credit: Kids love kayaking (Flickr: Kelly V)