Kayaking with Kids

Like many of you, I have children that participate in all of my outdoor activities. Since they were big enough to hold a paddle, I have had them on the water with me. When they were still young and learning, we made each excursion into a lesson, with a specific topic and objectives linked to the day's activities. For example, one day would be PFD day, or water rescue day, or first aid day. We would start with short lessons at home and on the way to the put-in, then work through examples and real-life situations on the water. The goal was to instill a culture of safety, while still having fun in the process.

For those of you who kayak with children, or plan to introduce kids to the sport, I have a link to a nice article that will help you get started. If any of you have any good ideas or stories about kayaking with kids, feel free to email me kayaksportsman@gmail.com), contact me via Twitter, or leave a comment below. I'll be sure to share the best ideas right here on the blog.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Sportsman