Why Kayaking Is A Great Family Activity
One of the great things about kayaking is how accessible it is to practically anyone. Regardless of your age or experience level, you can have fun on the water. Of course that’s just one reason why kayaking is a great family activity.
Taking kids kayaking is an excellent bonding experience, and one that helps them gain confidence on the water and an appreciation of nature. Kayaking is also one of the safest and most popular paddling sports, and one that countless families enjoy every year.
If you’re thinking about taking a kayaking trip this summer, here are a few reasons to consider bringing the whole family.
Gets You Away From Screens
Screen time can become excessive for anyobody, and every family needs quality time away from phones, TVs, computers and tablets now and then. That’s especially true in our post-pandemic world, in which more and more people are working or taking classes from home.
Kayaking as a family provides that much-needed escape from the digital world and into the natural world. The mental and physical benefits of getting out of your computer chair and onto the water are immeasurable.
Builds Kids’ Confidence on the Water
It’s understandable that younger children might be nervous about being out on the water, but kayaking is actually one of the best ways to get them feeling more comfortable and confident. Kayaking is easy to learn, and the ability to pilot one’s own personal craft can be a huge confidence-booster for kids.
With good instruction (and, of course, proper personal flotation devices) kids of almost any age can learn to kayak. Small children can also start out riding on your lap in a kayak until they’re old enough to start paddling their own.
Wondering how old kids should be before they can go in a kayak? While all children develop at their own rate, experts tend to agree that most can ride in the front seat of a tandem kayak by age 3 or 4, and can paddle their own kayak in calm waters by age 6 or 7.
Low Impact Exercise
You can certainly break a sweat while paddling a kayak, but it’s not usually an exhausting workout. That’s one reason why it’s a great option for young kids who may not yet have the strength and stamina for more intense exercise, but can still benefit from learning coordination and hand-eye focus.
Kayaking is also well-suited for older adults who may be suffering from joint pain or mobility issues. It’s a low impact form of exercise that gets you moving without subjecting you to the bumps and jolts of running or walking.
Though paddling a kayak certainly provides an upper body workout, it requires relatively little physical strength to get moving. That makes it an ideal outdoor activity for grandkids and grandparents alike!
Encourages Teamwork and Family Bonding
Families who kayak together often discover that the activity deepens bonds and creates a sense of togetherness. It’s a shared experience that creates some unforgettable family memories, all while improving teamwork and coordination.
Despite not being a “team” activity in the traditional sense, kayaking nevertheless requires good communication between everyone involved, and the experience has a way of making groups of people feel more connected. This is something that kids can learn a lot from (as can plenty of adults!)
Modest Financial Investment
Although getting started in kayaking does require a financial investment, it’s also a very affordable activity. Purchasing kayaks, paddles and other related equipment is not terribly inexpensive, and renting them is even more affordable, making kayak rentals a great option for anyone who is just getting started.
Creates a Connection With Nature
Many of us have fond memories of our earliest experiences in the natural world, whether it was kayaking, canoeing, camping or fishing. Those early memories have a big impact on who we become as adults.
Engaging kids in activities like kayaking at an early age will help forge a stronger connection between themselves and nature. Feeling the resistance between paddles and the water, getting to see birds and wildlife up close—these are the kinds of experiences that leave lasting marks. And getting to experience them together as a family only makes them more powerful.
Relieves Stress
Few things help stress melt away more effectively than paddling on calm waters, accompanied by sunny skies and a light breeze. Kayaking is both a form of exercise and a form of relaxation, and one of the best activities that combines the two.
This is something folks of any age can benefit from. Modern day life is often accompanied by all sorts of stresses and anxieties, and it’s amazing how quickly they disappear while on a family kayaking trip. Kayaking with a group can be even more stress-relieving than a solo paddling trip, because of the added benefits that come with deepened relationships.
Combine with Other Activities
A kayak trip doesn’t have to be just a kayak trip. Kayaking can also be merged with activities like fishing, camping and bird watching, making it a great way to bring together a group of people with diverse interests in the great outdoors.
Share the Experience
There’s an old saying that happiness never decreases by being shared. And while there’s certainly something to be said for the peace and solitude of a solo kayak trip, it can also be very satisfying to share the experience with family.
Many paddlers find that being able to talk and laugh with their family while paddling only deepens the experience, making it into a great social activity. Paddling as a group is also a good way to make less experienced kayakers feel more comfortable in the company of someone who really knows their stuff.