Making Memories

Heading out on the water with your children is one of life’s joys, but there are things to consider

Kids and boating are a heady cocktail mix that, like most cocktails, are great fun and potentially dangerous. If you were lucky enough to have a childhood on the water, as I was, you will never forget the magic of endless sunny days with friends and family — swimming, snorkelling, fishing, and water skiing. It’s the perfect way for a family to bond together away from outside distractions, and for siblings to enjoy each other’s company with a myriad of activities to keep occupied. At the end of a busy, watery day there is nothing better than to fall exhaustedly into a deep and happy sleep. The memories of family boating on the water last a lifetime and build a healthy attitude towards an active lifestyle outdoors.

SAFETY FIRST FOR WATER BABIES

There is no argument that a life vest is an absolute must for little ones on the water — being the best level of protection, it’s a no-brainer! Life jackets have changed a lot in the past decade. Once upon a time they were cumbersome, bulky, and hot — not the ideal thing to impose on a child on a warm sunny day. Now, it’s possible to buy a safe and comfortable lightweight life jacket for a reasonable price (anywhere between $30 to $100).

It’s important to do your homework and read reviews on life jackets — don’t just buy the cheapest thing on the market. Your child’s life is priceless, and their safety is paramount. Do not rely on a child’s judgement to decide whether to wear a jacket or not, so make it a non-negotiable part of getting aboard. For older children, store jackets in an easily accessible area. Have two jackets for each small child, one for when they are swimming and a dry one for when they get out — it’s not comfortable sitting in a wet jacket. Write their names on the jackets so they can find them easily. 

SAFETY FOR BIG KIDS

Always have handy a jacket with a length of line attached, so you can quickly throw it to any older child in the water, if needed. Make sure jackets are properly fitted and adjusted — children are unable to do this. 

It is a very sobering fact that there were 25 drowning deaths in Australia in children aged 0–4 years in 2021, which was a staggering 108 per cent increase on the previous year. Seventy-five drowning deaths occurred in rivers and creeks, a 53 per cent increase on the previous year and 136 drowning deaths occurred on coastal waters. Of course, not all these were boating accidents, but it is a stark reminder that we need to be far more vigilant. 

SOBERING THOUGHTS

It’s easy to become distracted after a few drinks and lots of conversation, so it’s very important that one or more adults are allocated to keep an eye on a gang of children at all times. Rotate the watch so everyone gets a turn — don’t take the risk of children being responsible for their own safety. A child can fall overboard in a heartbeat and often the gap between the accident and children reporting it is critical and not timely enough. One adult should always remain sober in case of emergency! 

It’s also important to teach children to sit in a safe place and stay there while the boat is moving and keep arms, legs, and fingers inside the boat, especially while docking and around piers. When children are swimming near the boat, always take the key out of the ignition switch — propellers and kids don’t mix. 

It goes without saying that it is enormously beneficial to teach your children to swim. If you don’t have the time or patience, there are many swimming teachers at local pools who are experts in making this essential lifelong skill both fun and easy.

Make it a priority to have a comprehensive First Aid kit in an easily accessible location and include some sea sickness medication, just in case. 

SUN SMART

UV damage during childhood significantly increases the risk of skin cancer as an adult, so make sure your children develop good sun protection habits right from the beginning. 

The harmful rays of the sun are divided into two types: UVA and UVB. UVB was long thought to be the most harmful because it is the type of UV radiation that causes sunburn and is also responsible for the longer-term effect of skin cancer. However, UVA has also proven to be harmful and its deep, penetrating rays cause ageing of skin over time — it’s responsible for the leathery, wrinkled appearance that typifies many older sailors.

A broad-spectrum SPF will protect against both types of radiation and, obviously, if your children are swimming, a water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF30 is recommended — just remember to reapply every couple of hours for proper protection. 

When you are boating, it is important to choose an eco-friendly sunscreen that doesn’t contain ingredients like oxybenzone or octinoxate which can damage marine life and precious reefs. Better still, a lightweight sun protection shirt will block almost all harmful rays. Opt for a breathable fabric that will dry quickly and is comfortable to wear and the child will forget they even have it on. 

Hats, glasses, and an SPF lip balm will complete the kit and your kids will be ready for action! 

ACTION TIME

There are so many activities for kids to enjoy on boats. Apart from water skis, there are plenty of things that you can drag behind a boat for kids to sit, lie or stand on. From wakeboards to surf mats or even an old tyre tube, kids just love the thrill of being pulled along in the water. Make sure you have an experienced, licensed driver and a spotter that can alert the driver if a child falls off. Teach the other children to stay on until you can come back around for the fallen child. 

One of the best inventions of late is the floating water mat. It seems as if everyone has one now and there is good reason for that. They are terrific for hours of fun — running, jumping, or just lying on in the water. They roll up and stow easily on board, but if you don’t want to deal with it permanently, you can just hire them. 

Blow up water toys and floaties fold up and store in very little space. Try to find ones that take more than one child at a time so they can play and share together.

Stand up paddle boarding is great exercise and even if your child is too little to paddle, sitting on the front is equally as fun. Kayaking is also great and makes it easy to get to the shore to search for precious shells or enjoy a picnic on the beach.

QUIET TIMES

Not all fun activity needs to happen in the water. Make sure you take along a waterproof tub of favourite toys, books, and pencils for quiet times. Purchase a ‘how to’ book and teach the kids how to tie boating knots — start with a very simple one and progress as they do.

Music is a great way to set a happy mood, take their favourite tunes along and get them to take turns to play DJ.

For stationary times, a snorkel and a pair of goggles will keep a child amused for hours, exploring a whole new watery world. A fishing line and some simple bait is another idea — just make sure you teach a child the safe way to bait the hook or do it for them. If you are staying overnight, take a net and a torch and see what you can scoop up out of the beam of light playing on the water. Take a set of binoculars and ask children to draw things that they can see, like birds and boats. 

Set a good example by staying off your phone as much as possible and keep devices as a last resort if, by any remote chance boredom sets in. Make sure you have a safe and quiet place for little children to rest or snooze if they are tired. 

FUELLING UP

It’s not just boats that need fuel for the day — kids burn up lots of energy swimming and playing, and need to replenish their energy regularly. Food on board doesn’t always have to be basic, and can be fun, healthy, and tasty. Ask the kids to help you prepare the meals and make it an interesting part of the boating experience. If you have an oven, homemade pizzas are a great favourite and will supply plenty of energy. Just use a ready-made base and get the kids to create their own with their favourite toppings. They can also help to make healthy sandwiches and cut up fruit.

Most boats have a barbecue these days, which are just fantastic for feeding a hungry hoard — a sausage in a fresh roll with tomato sauce is an easy, quick, and fuss-free meal. If you don’t have the facilities to cook or prepare, sushi makes a healthy and filling meal.

Make sure you bring plenty of drinks and snacks so there is always something on hand. For a hot day, icy poles are a good source of hydration and cool them down at the same time. If you have time the day before, you can make your own healthy version with some crushed up fruit and fruit juice. 

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

Don’t wait to teach your kids about safety and boating until you are out on the water. The best time to teach them is before you venture out, making sure you set aside enough time to calmly show them the working features of the boat and how the whole family can stay safe.

Show them where fire extinguishers and life jackets are and teach them how to use an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) and the radio in an emergency. Have a person overboard procedure and point out that when swimming, there are certain areas to avoid, like swimming under the boat or near the propeller.

Children like to be useful and included, and also like to be part of a team. Boating together means working together — when your kids learn how and when to help out, it helps them build valuable teamwork skills and feel important. Younger children can still be assigned tasks, like stowing things away in their proper places. As experience and age increases, the duties can range from tending the fenders and lines to acting as a radio operator. By assigning tasks, you help to educate your children and create a sense of pride in being an important member of the crew.

For little children, there is a funny YouTube series called Blippi Explores Boats, which is terrific for explaining the basics of boating.

BE PREPARED

Even with the best planned trips, the weather can sometimes take us by surprise. It’s a good idea to have a lightweight rainproof jacket with a hood, for each child, permanently onboard. 

Take a change of clothes and a warm jumper for each child. Even in summer, long hours in the water can lower body temperature significantly. Plenty of towels will ensure everyone stays dry and comfortable. For little ones, bring enough nappies, wipes (they are good for big kids too) and lotions.

There’s no doubt that one of the most magical things you can do on a boat is to stay out overnight, rocking on anchor in a quiet bay somewhere, gazing up at a majestic sky full of stars. After a busy day on the water, snuggling up in a warm bed and listening to the waves gently lapping on the hull while you rock gently to sleep is one of life’s treats. 

However you do it, get out there on the water with your kids. It incorporates everything good about life — family time, fun with friends, bonding with siblings, exercise, and appreciation of the great outdoors. They won’t forget it.