Can children safely kayak in surf and rocks? Sure they can! If you answer yes to the questions below, then your kids are ready to begin a lifetime of adventure on the sea:
- Do your kids love and respect the sea?
- Can they can swim or at least tread water?
- Will you and other competent adults accompany kids in and on the water?
- Are your kids properly outfitted for kayaking in rougher conditions?
If your kids are highly motivated to get out in surf or rougher seas and comfortable in moving water that is over their heads, and you are right there with them, and they are wearing properly fitting helmets and PFDs and wetsuits, then go for it.
Start your kids out on flat water (ponds, for instance), and graduate to more difficult challenges as their desire, skills, and ability increases. Here’s a good path: pool to lake to river or bay—and then on to more challenging moving water.
Each time you take your kids out boating, ask them, “Do you kids want to do this?” Any kid who hesitates or says no should not go. When you take the eager beaver kids out on the water, end the kayaking excursion before they get really tired. In other words, don’t plan a one-day, 30-mile river trip through a gorge with kids. The last thing you want to do is end up paddling in the dark with whiny kids.
Also, never take kids on water that you do not feel 100% competent paddling in. And be sure that you are able to rescue your kids! In my book CONFESSIONS OF A WAVE WARRIOR, I tell a river canoeing tale where 4 kids (myself and 3 siblings) end up swimming in white water after a big capsize that never would have happened if my dad hadn’t taken a swift and narrow channel with a log across it. Luckily, my brother Marc and I were able to rescue our younger siblings while my dad saved the boat. What a scary adventure!
That terrible capsize in the river did not stop me from more canoeing, rafting and kayaking. Being a kid, I took it all in stride and continued on. My advice to parents is to give your kids an exciting but safe water adventure. The more competent and confident your kids get, the more they will cherish adventure kayaking. What do you think?
Excellent advice Eric. And I was one of those two siblings rescued when the canoe flipped when we hit the log.
Don’t remember if I eager to go, or if I started whining somewhere along the way…
Well, John, you seemed eager at the time. Of course you were what, 5 years old? After we capsized and you were discovered under the boat, you didn’t look worried, which I thought was remarkable, given the circumstances. Marc (at age 11) was a big hero when he swam out in the raging current, got you, and swam across the eddy to shore, where our sister Camille and I were waiting. Then the real adventure began…walking barefoot and barelegged through nettles to reunite with our dad, somewhere downstream.
This advice is spot on correct, I have been introducing my 12 year daughter to Kayaking first in a safe protected harbor, then on local rivers, such as Russian River and soon into rock gardens in gentle conditions. It has been alot of fun, increased her confidence and skills. We has the great fun of paddling and wading with 20-30 leopard sharks in the Half Moon bay harbor one sunny fall day. So I would say your advice is just what the doctor ordered for introducing children and families to the wonders of Ocean Kayaking!
I’m glad to hear she’s having a good time being in the great outdoors. It sure beats playing video games and tweeting (whatever that is). As for the leopard sharks, they are beautiful, and thankfully don’t munch on humans (as far as I know). I’ll be writing a blog on what to do about sharks (big ones) in about a month, so stay tuned to this station!
Yeah get the kids out there. But as Eric said, quit before they get tired. It’s always better to leave them wanting more. But that said, it’s hard sometimes to know when it is time to call it quits for the day.
I have had the best luck when leading groups of kids to remember not to “teach”. (With the obvious exceptions for safety). By letting them make lots of mistakes and just play they learn so much so fast. Just watch a group or even a couple of kids when they have kayaks to play with. Kayaks upside down with kids piled two or three deep. Self rescues. Bumper boats.(Paddle stroke get practiced). It builds their self confidence quickly. When they learn skills on their own they can really “own it”. I am constantly amazed at kids ability to paddle well when left alone to play.
When getting kids into the ocean environment it needs to be fun too. Challenge each other to jump off a rock and swim to your kayak. Do again in an area with a little surge. My kids love this. And remember its good for everyone to get sacred a some point. Talk about what happen to scare you\them, calm down and play.Try doing that or something challenging again when you are all ready. Watch how soon it happen.
OH YEAH! Don’t forget the treats. Hope I see you out soon. S
Thank you for sharing your experiences while kayaking with your kids. I know they sure have a lot of fun out there. I especially like your idea about letting them “own” their kayaking adventure. As a kid and now as an adult, I “own” my experiences and learning, whether it be kayaking or martial arts. That way it’s imprinted deep in my being.