Tips for Boating with Children
With summer comes the family boating season, which you’ve likely been eagerly waiting for. Boating trips provide unique experiences that last a lifetime, and you can cherish every moment of being on the water with your loved ones. However, boating with children is very different from boating with adults as you need to be extra cautious and plan well in advance for such outings. At Club Royale in Waterford, Michigan, our experts have rounded up a few tips to help you make your next boating trip with kids successful. Head to our dealership for more tips and to browse our collection of boats for sale. We are happy to welcome our customers in Rochester.
Establish Ground Rules
Before you take the kids to the nearest body of water, it’ll be useful if they can learn a thing or two about floating, swimming, and safety practices. The children should be comfortable being in the boat and able to support themselves if they fall in the water. Familiarize them with basic safety practices, such as no running on the deck, keeping hands and feet inside the boat, and not throwing things into the water.
Make them wear their life jackets and headrests and let them know why these pieces of gear are important.
You’ll want to give them a full tour of the boat before departure, so that they know where to find the first-aid kit and throwable life ring. A tour will also help them to avoid tripping and injuring themselves on the outing. Positive reinforcement and gentle reminders will help the kids remember these rules. They will also be more likely to follow them when they see the adults doing so, too.
Pack Essential Supplies
With kids, you’ll need more snacks and supplies than you’ll need for an adults-only group. Pack extra snacks and juice boxes to make sure that the kids aren’t hungry and cranky. You may also want to take a few blankets and extra clothing to keep them warm and dry in case swimming is on the agenda. The temperature on the water will be lower than on shore and extra clothing will help keep them comfortable.
Don’t forget to take a well-stocked first-aid kit and motion sickness medication, an emergency radio, flashlights, and a fire extinguisher. You’ll also want to pack sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, and sun hats.
Make It Fun!
Children tend to get bored easily. To keep them occupied and entertained, plan activities that they enjoy. You may want to include board games, art projects, and even let them use a compass and a map to navigate. You can also encourage them to compile a playlist of their favorite songs. To make them feel included and carry home memories from the trip, teach them some marine vocabulary and tell them pirate stories.
Boating experiences with kids can be extremely enriching and fun. You’ve just got to be extra cautious, plan ways to keep them engaged and entertained, and ensure that they will learn positive life skills from such outings. If you need more tips, head to Club Royale in Waterford, Michigan, and talk to our experts. We are happy to serve our friends in Rochester.