Parenting Advice for Kids' Boating Safety

It's impossible to predict when your children will come to you and ask permission to captain their own small craft for a trip around the pond. Perhaps you will be vacationing and have a row boat that goes with your rental. Maybe you will be on a lake and your neighbors will offer the use of their canoe. One way or the other you know that if you spend even a small amount of time each year by the water your children eventually will want to experience the joy and freedom of paddling or rowing off leaving mom and dad behind. You can be sure in advance that when that day comes you can let them go without too much anxiety if over the years you have used some of this parenting advice for kids and boating safety.

1. Trained personnel only. Even the most enthusiastic young boaters will easily understand that what must proceed taking a craft out on your own is sufficient experience in handling the kind of boat you plan to use. Parenting advice for kids and boat safety should begin with making sure that your children receive proper training in how to advance the boat, change direction, dock and take off from a dock and deal with the possibility of capsizing.

This basic instruction in boat usage is often available at summer camps or local boating programs. But even if your child has received training make certain that the first few times he or she takes the craft they do so with you or some other certified adult so that they can demonstrate their skills to your satisfaction. Having seen your child in action will give them a sense of accomplishment and pride and you a sense of security when they do take that row boat or canoe off on their own.