Can I Take My Kids Kayaking?
Kayaking is for everyone. We often get questions about whether taking kids kayaking is a good idea, and the short answer is: YES!
For the long answer, keep reading…
5 Reasons to Take Kids Kayaking
We could go on and on about all the ways kids can benefit from going on kayaking trips. But we’ll keep it brief! These are the top 5 reasons why we believe any child can benefit from learning to kayak.
Kayaking Teaches New Skills
Kids always benefit from learning new things, and kayaking teaches them a whole array of useful skills, from using a paddle and balancing on the water to directional awareness. It also teaches them a bunch of more intangible skills, like how to make quick decisions, experiment, and respond in an emergency.
Kayaking Creates a Connection with Nature
A meaningful relationship with the natural world is something kids can take with them as they grow into adults, and kayaking is a great way to build that relationship. Exploring rivers, lakes, marshes and estuaries creates a connection with nature, and kayaking also helps one develop a healthy respect for nature’s power.
Kayaking Is Great Exercise
With modern technology, kids today have a lot more ways to stay occupied indoors than many of us did when we were growing up. That makes getting outside and staying active more important than ever. Kayaking is great exercise, and just as importantly, it’s fun exercise, which helps kids learn that staying active and being physically fit can actually be enjoyable.
Kayaking Can Be a Bonding Experience
Kayaking is a great family activity that parents and kids can do together. It’s real, quality time that builds lifelong memories, making it the ideal activity to share.
Kayaking Builds Self Confidence
Few things are more difficult than fostering self-esteem, and learning to kayak is an activity that really helps kids build confidence and learn that they can rely on themselves. After a day spent paddling their own kayak, dodging trees and stumps, navigating wind and current, kids are likely to walk away with a fresh sense of accomplishment.
At What Age Can Kids Start Kayaking?
Many parents are surprised how early many children can start kayaking. We’re not talking about newborns of course, but as a general rule kids can start to ride in a kayak somewhere between the ages of 2 and 5. All children are different, so it’s largely dependent on your kids’ development and maturity level.
In most cases, young kids usually start out as duffers, meaning they ride in the center console of the kayak but don’t paddle until the age of 7 or 8. That gives them a chance to get a feel for what it’s like to be in a kayak before learning to paddle their own.
Many kids can sit in the front of a tandem kayak at a younger age if they’re able to sit still for long periods of time, and can start to learn to paddle with a child-sized paddle, which also helps them build up some skills before advancing to their own kayak. Again, these guidelines all depend on your kids’ development. Usually, most youngsters can paddle their own small kayak by age 10.
Tips for Kayaking with Kids
Bringing kids along on a kayaking trip requires a few extra considerations to make sure everybody has a fun and safe adventure on the water. Keep a few things in mind when you’re kayaking with kids:
Start with Fundamentals
Before putting kids in a kayak and letting them shove off, begin by teaching some basics. Start in shallow water close to shore, and work on foundational skills like how to stay balanced, how to use a paddle, and what to do if a kayak tips over. Start slow, and be straightforward about laying out rules and instructions.
Choose the Right Location
When paddling with kids and inexperienced kayakers, it’s always important to choose a place that isn’t too challenging, but still offers beautiful scenery. Calm waters with minimal current that are sheltered from the wind are ideal. There are a lot of perfect places for beginners to kayak in the Hilton Head area. Broad Creek, the saltwater estuary that runs through the heart of the island, is a prime example.
Decide on the Length of the Trip
If your kids are born adventurers who want to paddle all day, that’s great! But most parents find that shorter kayak trips are ideal when young kids are along for the ride. If it’s your first time taking your kids kayaking, plan on a short trip lasting an hour or two. Longer excursions are great when your children have gained more kayaking experience (though you’ll still want to plan out some snack and bathroom breaks!)
Consider the Adult-to-Child Ratio
When you have young, relatively inexperienced kayakers in your party, it’s important that there are also enough adults around to keep an eye on everybody. One adult for every child is a good general rule, though you can probably loosen up that guideline a bit as your kids get older and become more competent on the water.
Have the Right Safety Gear
Safety gear is essential, especially when you’re kayaking with kids. And having personal flotation devices (PFDs) on hand isn’t just good advice; it’s the law. Broadly speaking, each kayak must carry one, and in South Carolina the law states that all kids under the age of 12 must wear their PFD at all times while in a kayak.
Check the Forecast
A little rain doesn’t have to spoil your kayak trip, but winds and rough waters can be too much for kids to handle, and lightning is a definite no-go. In any case, it’s important to check the weather forecast so you know what to expect. Keep in mind that kids might not be as eager as you are to paddle all day if it’s cold or rainy, so even if the weather doesn’t pose a safety threat, consider adjusting the duration of your trip based on everyone’s comfort level.
Go with a Guide
Going on a guided kayak tour is a great option for kayakers of all ages and skill levels. Having all the necessary gear provided for you takes a lot of the stress and guesswork out of planning a family kayak trip, and an expert guide ensures a fun and safe adventure for all. Plus, you get to choose a trip in a beautiful location with a duration that works for your family. It’s a win-win all around.