When you have the possibility to strive paddle boarding with children however are questioning whether it is appropriate for youngsters then you definately’d not be alone. I had my reservations too. Would they be continuously falling off? Would it not be secure? And would they get chilly and depressing?
Giving it a go rapidly put all my issues have been put to relaxation. Discover out why by studying our important paddle boarding suggestions on this submit which incorporates our expertise from our first three years of paddle boarding with youngsters.
There’s recommendation concerning the practicalities like what to put on and which paddle boards are greatest in addition to security suggestions and a few paddle board video games your children will love.
*This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks*
Our expertise paddle boarding with children
‘We could take the boards to the seashore?’, just isn’t a query I might have anticipated to listen to within the Tin Field family earlier than July 2019. You’re extra prone to discover us exploring within the woods or constructing sandcastles than doing something remotely like a water sport.
However there we have been, on the cusp of summer time, packing two loaned inflatable paddle boards into the again of the automotive and heading off to seek out some water.
Since then we’ve not appeared again.
Right here’s what we learnt as paddle boarding novices and a few suggestions for different households considering of attempting paddle boarding for the primary time.
Are you able to paddle board with a baby?
Sure!
This can be a water sport so this isn’t an exercise to do and not using a little bit of analysis. However it’s completely doable to paddle board with a baby or two.
Under you’ll discover our suggestions for having enjoyable and conserving secure whereas paddle boarding with children.
Is paddle boarding simple?
In simply 4 weeks we have been completely received over by rise up paddle boarding and the brand new perspective it gave us on the South Coast of England.
Plus, it didn’t take in any respect lengthy to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of paddle boarding. Even I – a wobbly and uncoordinated, train dodger – was capable of rise up and benefit from the journey.
The children have been naturals – their decrease centre of gravity in all probability helped!
Each six-year-old Tot and four-year-old Child rapidly took to standing up and paddling successfully, even on full measurement boards. So don’t be afraid to begin children younger, with shut supervision.
We discovered it nice enjoyable to go driving collectively. On one journey on the River Dart, each ladies have been very blissful to be chauffeured on the entrance of the boards and watch the world go by; taking part in video games and recognizing jelly fish and different attention-grabbing river sights.
It’s a very thrilling expertise being on the water and seeing the world from a special angle.
So sure, I’d say it’s simple to get began and so addictive. We’re certainly not execs however had enjoyable and certainly that’s the lion’s share of what it’s all about.
What are a number of the greatest paddle boards?
The worth vary of paddle boards varies quite a bit from tens of kilos to 1000’s.
The distinction clearly comes all the way down to the standard of the fabric and the way they’ve been put collectively.
When you’re new to paddle boarding however undecided if it’s one thing you need to do usually it’s in all probability greatest to purchase one thing on the cheaper finish. Nevertheless, do additionally see in the event you can borrow another person’s costlier board to see what variations there are in the way it sits in and strikes by the water.
We have now had the possibility to check out two paddle board manufacturers: Purple Paddle Co and Sandbanks Type – each made within the UK.
Right here’s our overview of the Purple excessive finish inflatable rise up paddle boards we borrowed and the Sandbanks mid-budget paddle boards we have now purchased since so you may see the variations.
Please bear in mind that there’s extra to paddle boarding than getting the boards. You want the fitting security equipment too. See level 6 beneath about buoyancy aids and private flotation gadgets.
Suggestions for paddle boarding with children
Like all adventurous exercise or water sport, doing it security is paramount.
We’re fortunate that Mr Tin Field has some expertise main teams in outside actions. So he made certain we have been secure paddle boarding with our then six and four-year-old children.
Right here’s his seven prime suggestions for ensuring you might be secure on the water when paddle boarding with children:
1. Know your staff (household)
Figuring out what you are able to do and what your children are comfy with will at all times be a private judgement. Earlier than beginning, ask your self if what you might be about to do is inside your potential and that of your children.
Don’t be tempted to repeat others or suppose it’s secure simply because another person is doing it. You don’t know their expertise or urge for food for threat taking, so make your personal name.
Equally, publicity to managed threat is a good factor for a child to expertise, so don’t be afraid to get them out of their consolation zone.
2. Speak your children by it
Whether or not you might be simply splashing round off a seashore or going additional afield, it’s value speaking by some fundamental guidelines along with your children. How far can they go from the seashore? What do they do in the event that they fall in or one thing sudden occurs?
Troublesome conditions are at all times simpler if these concerned stay calm. By having the dialog earlier than it occurs children (and adults) usually tend to react in a secure method.
Consider it like working your children by a fireplace drill at residence or college.
3. Perceive the surroundings
Even on vivid summer time days with numerous individuals round, the water will be harmful. Having an appreciation of wind, tide and your personal potential is crucial to ensure you don’t find yourself in a scenario you may’t management.
An off shore wind can rapidly carry you out to sea, so search for inshore or sheltered areas that present higher situations.
Equally, sturdy tides and currents will have an effect, so time your exercise appropriately. For instance, on tidal rivers, an hour earlier than and after excessive or low tide offers a interval of slack water the place tidal stream is slower.
Learn our suggestions for paddle boarding in winter.
4. Achieve expertise and coaching
Every time we took the boards out we elevated in confidence and talent. Our journey down the Dart River was nice enjoyable however solely as a result of we knew it was inside our capabilities.
We discovered the shallow waters off Knoll Seashore in Dorset, North Sands in Salcombe and Oxwich Bay within the Gower Peninsular have been splendid for gaining confidence paddling. The women have been additionally capable of have a go whereas we stood beside the board to supply help.
As we progress on our paddle board adventures we can be trying to get some skilled tuition.
Till then we’ve discovered some actually useful SUP tuition movies on the Purple Paddle Co web site. There may be nothing like some useful recommendation from the consultants to rapidly enhance your expertise.
5. Put on acceptable paddle boarding garments
Getting chilly and moist is rarely enjoyable. Investing in some moist fits or acceptable clothes will ensure you and the youngsters keep comfy and might keep within the water longer.
We’d additionally advocate getting some altering robes to make use of after your adventures.
Right here’s our equipment checklist together with what to put on when paddle boarding together with SUP gear for summer time and winter.
6. Put on the fitting security equipment for paddle boarding
Taking care of youngsters in a probably hazardous surroundings like open water will be disturbing. Making certain you could have the fitting equipment and tools will stop this and make the entire expertise higher for everybody.
One thing that we didn’t have earlier than we have been loaned the paddle boards have been buoyancy aids for the youngsters.
We picked up a Gul Garda 50N buoyancy assist from Go Open air for £40 and a Circle One children buoyancy vest for £45 from a surf store. There’s extra obtainable on Amazon*.
It’s a good suggestion to speak by the varied choices with store workers or search recommendation from knowledgeable to ensure you get an acceptable buoyancy assist to your child.
Purple Paddle Co additionally equipped us with two Airbelt private flotation gadgets for myself and Mr Tin Field to put on.
Consider these life jackets they use in security demonstrations in planes however tucked away in a waist belt that you may rapidly put over your head and inflate must you get into bother.
These have been specifically designed for Purple to provide the reassurance of carrying a buoyancy assist with out it getting in the best way.
We have now since purchased two Restube Basic buoyancy aids*, which act as fast inflating floats ought to we lose our boards.
We even have a coil leashes that hooked up to the again of every board and mounted round our ankles so there was no likelihood of shedding it if we got here off.
7. Get recommendation on secure locations to paddle board
Seashore life guards or seashore facet water sports activities rent outlets will concentrate on native hazards and may have the ability to provide some recommendation on particular places for paddle boarding.
The RNLI are the life saving consultants and have a improbable collection of guides for staying secure on the water. Earlier than embarking by yourself paddle boarding journey it’s a good suggestion to learn and heed their recommendation on paddle boarding.
8. Make it enjoyable – paddle board video games
As soon as paddle boarding grew to become the norm for our children they began to get a bit fidgety about coming for a journey. So this is the reason we have now began to introduce some paddle board video games to our outings.
Right here’s a number of:
- Pirate ship – see above – that is one we learnt on a journey to Dorset. You want three boards – two going through entrance and one laid excessive. The adults stand on the again of the 2 boards going through the entrance whereas the youngsters sit on the one throughout the center and, often, shout orders.
- Stroll the plank – an grownup holds a single board at a 90 diploma angle to the shore. The children climb on on the shallow finish and leap in on the deeper finish.
- Rock the boat – two individuals stand going through one another a single board with their ft on both facet. They then rock the board backwards and forwards and see how lengthy they’ll keep on.
- Stepping stones – you want two boards in shallow water for this one. Two individuals maintain the boards, one on the entrance ends and the opposite on the again ends. Different members of the family then see if they’ll step throughout the 2 boards with out falling off.
These are all enjoyable video games for constructing confidence within the water too.
Right here’s a mash up of our first few occasions out with the boards:
Disclosure: This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. When you click on on certainly one of these and make a buy I could earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.
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