Tips to Plan a Nice and Safe Hand Paddle Boat Trip With Kids

It can be a great idea to take your kids out on your hand paddle boat in the inflatable swimming pool. But with fun and frolic comes the question of safety and responsibility. As a parent, it is your duty to ensure that your children have a nice and safe trip.

How do you do it? Here are a few tips for your help to plan a aqua boat trip with kids.

Teach them to swim. And, if possible, enrol with them too. It will be enjoyable. And it will also help your kids learn something essential before they go out in the waters. Don't make it into a lesson. Make it a fun activity.

While you are at it, teach your kids the emergency positions such as HUDDLE or HELP. But, again, don't turn it into a lesson. Little ones will soon lose interest if you emphasise on the learning part; turn it into a game and they will learn it without fuss.

Buy appropriate lifejackets. The personal floatation device (PFD) suitable for enclosed waters such as lakes may not be appropriate for open waters such as seas. Find out the details about the right type of lifejacket that your kids need to wear in the area.

Make sure the PFDs properly fit, are comfortable to wear and in good condition. Your children may need to wear them at all times, especially when they are in the open areas of the boat. Check out the regulations in this regard too.

Stock up on sun protection essentials. Comfortable long sleeve tees, pants, hats and such items protect your little ones from the harsh sun. Don't forget to pack in an appropriate sunscreen. Smother it at times on their skin for added protection.

If it's cold, opt for layers of clothes to keep your kids warm, instead of one thick piece of garment. And don't think that the sunscreen isn't necessary for winters. It is, at all times of the year! Also, stock up adequate potable water.

Show them around the boat. Get your kids acquainted with your vessel. Show them areas to sit and sleep. Also, teach young adults how to use equipment such as radios, flares, EPIRBs and stress on when to use them too.

Help them understand the way a boat's stability is affected at loading and unloading times. Teach them how to get in and get off from the vessel without a hitch. These little things will come in handy when you take them on the trip.

Let them understand how to behave onboard. You cannot predict when your toddler gets cranky onboard; but it's possible to make things a little better if you have a talk about this before you go out on your boat trip.

Don't let it sound like a warning. Instead, explain to your kids the necessity of behaving appropriately onboard. It also helps if you can keep the little sailors engaged. Why not let your elder one be a navigator? And your younger one helps you clean the deck?

Talk to them about what to do in emergencies. But don't frighten them. While you have to be extra cautious before you go out in the waters with your kids, you never know when something may go wrong.

Explain to your kids the meaning of an emergency. And also what they should if something goes wrong. Teach them to stay with the boat or with some big object, if they fell overboard, so that they are easily visible.

But, again, never frighten them. Or, they may not wish to go on the boat trip at all.

It's fun to take your kids out on a boat trip from the hand paddle boat manufacturers. But it's a better idea if you opt for a short trip at first. This will help you find out how you and your little ones feel about it before you go out for a bigger adventure!