One fabulous option for spending quality time with your family is to take everyone kayaking. Kayaking is a fantastic sport the whole family will enjoy! You can even take the family on a kayaking vacation, which is a relatively inexpensive active way to spend the weekend.

Before you jump on the kayaks there are some important things to remember:

• It’s all about location
• Kayaking builds coordination and strength
• Get familiar with water
• Accommodate smaller children
• Always follow safety precautions

Pick the Right Location

White-water rafting seems like a lot of fun for the whole family, but, chances are, a ten-year-old will be scared out of his wits, flying down a river with the waves pelting the boat from all directions.  This is why you should pick the kayaking adventure with a lot of care. There are so many places to choose from, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages.  Select the one that will suit everyone involved and kayaking allows you pick a calm area such as a lake or river, rather than rapid. And remember: location, location, location!

Helps Build Coordination and Strength

There are a bunch of physical activities to choose from, and each has its own benefits.  Kayaking is no exception, and there are two main advantages you and your family will gain from this activity.  First, it helps to build hand-to-eye coordination.  Second, it helps to build strength.  Even if it seems like a simple task at first, the repetitive motion can become very tiring after a while.  So, your body will learn this motion, and build endurance over time.  And, the hand-to-eye coordination learned from kayaking will take you much further than playing a video game, on top of all the health benefits that fresh air and sunshine provide.  Plus, this will strengthen bonds with entire family, because you’re doing it together.

Helps Build Familiarity with Water

So many children (not to mention adults) are truly afraid of water, and for many different reasons. First, they are not familiar with water. By taking on this activity, your children will be able to build positive associations with water. Exposure is the first step toward the end of the fear. But, in order to do so, it’s best to pick a location where the body of water is calm, so as to not scare the child.

Smaller Paddles for Children

Kayaking is also a child-friendly sport partly because the paddles come in a variety of sizes. You can therefore find the perfect one for everyone in the family. It is important to never let a child use a paddle that is meant for an adult. If you are renting the equipment instead of bringing your own, check to make sure the outfit has child-size paddles.

Safety First

Whether this is your first time kayaking, or your family is made up of kayaking pros, you still need to take all the necessary precautions. One mentioned earlier is about selecting the right spot for everyone in the family. Next, you need to make sure that you have all the supplies needed for a safe trip. Here is a short list of the items that you need to have with you in the kayak:

• Personal Flotation Device (PFD)—for everyone
• Paddle float for every adult
• Throw-bag for every adult
• Towline for every boat

It’s important to have all these items in case of an emergency. Everyone should have a PFD on at all times while in the water. Never allow a child in the kayak without proper adult supervision. Also, it is not safe – contrary to popular belief – to tie or tether a child to the kayak. It’s quite dangerous, and the consequences could be very serious. However, if you have these items with you, and you follow the rules, you should have a safe and fun excursion.

Do Your Research

There is more to planning the perfect kayaking trip than finding the right location and gathering all the safety supplies. However, at least that is half the battle. The other half is making sure you’re absolutely ready for the trip. Of course, you need to pack food and supplies, but you might also need to do some training before the trip. It is highly recommended to take a class or a training session before getting in a kayak for the first time. No matter how calm the water is, accidents happen, and you and your family should be prepared for any mishaps. After you’ve taken all the steps, create quality family activities that last a lifetime!