Boating with Children
Many people buy a boat with their kids in mind. They envision fun afternoons towing them on an inner tube, going across the bay for ice cream, and so on. For a smooth and fun boating excursion, follow our boating with children tips below. If your boat needs a tune-up, or if you are looking to buy, visit H&W Marine. We proudly serve those in Shreveport, Louisiana and Marshall, Texas.
Establish Safety Rules
Your top priority when boating is ensuring everyone stays safe. Kids are often unaware of safety risks, so you'll need to develop rules to keep them out of harm's way. Kids should stay seated at all times in the boat (to help prevent them from excitedly leaning over to look at the water and falling in). Everyone should put on their life jackets before getting on the boat (to provide proper flotation in case someone falls overboard getting in or out the boat). Everyone should walk, not run, when inside the boat (since it's too easy to slip and fall).
Telling kids the rules is one thing. Having them follow the rules is another. Help them remember rules by explaining the reasons behind the rule. For the first explanation of the rules, do it in a place and time where you have their full attention (so not on the boat right before you go get ice cream). Then review the rules before each voyage until they stick. Focus on gentle reminders and reinforcing positive boating behavior. A kid's boating experience will get ruined fast when they get yelled at by their parents!
Bring Along Supplies
Boating with kids requires items for safety and items for comfort. As always, every passenger needs a life jacket. For your kids look for three things. First, head flotation so that their head easily stays above the water's surface. Second, a crotch strap to keep them from slipping out of the life vest. Third, self-righting features to keep them swimming in the right direction. Make sure to test life jackets for proper fit before relying on them on your boat.
To make the boating experience more fun for your children, you'll want to bring along certain items. A cooler stocked full of snacks keeps kids from getting hungry (and, in turn, grumpy). Ease seasickness with Dramamine, 7-Up, or saltine crackers. Sunscreen keeps sunburn at bay. Bug repellent keeps you from swatting away the irritating insects. It never hurts to pack a change of clothes and extra towels. Kids get cold quickly when they get wet.
Keep the Ride Fun
A fun boating experience to an adult is different than to a kid. Adults love relaxing on a boat. Kids love playing on a boat! Short attention spans mean you'll need a way to entertain them during the long boat ride. Bored kids turn into misbehaving or whining kids. Keep them entertained and you'll keep the boating trip fun for everyone.
Play around with different approaches to see what works for your kids. Some children love board games or art projects (such as nautical themed coloring books or Play-Doh). Others enjoy games that involve their environment (such as I Spy). Older kids may love building the trip playlist or handling tasks (like removing or attaching bumpers).
Looking to buy a boat? Visit H&W Marine! We offer a range of new and used boats for sale. Let our friendly staff help you find the perfect vessel for your budget and lifestyle. We proudly serve those in Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana. We also serve those in Marshall, Longview, and Texarkana, Texas.