Taking Kids On Your Next Boat Adventure

Boating can be the perfect way to celebrate a lovely day, and it can be a great family bonding opportunity, as well. But kids have their own unique needs, and bringing them can present some unique challenges. We here at Collins Marine want to make sure you and yours have fun and stay safe on your next boating adventure, so we’ve put together some tips for boating with kids. If you have any questions, or you just want to see the boats we have for sale, contact our store in Tonawanda, New York, today!

Safety First

Obviously, your first priority needs to be safety for everyone, kids included. Make sure all passengers, no matter their age, are wearing personal floatation devices that fit well. Younger kids might need vests that include crotch straps to help keep them securely in place. All passengers should also have basic swimming skills, including how to stay afloat. 

Before you ever get onto the boat, run the children through your rules. Those should include:

• No running.
• No dangling limbs or heads over the side.
• No climbing.

Add additional rules as you see fit. You should also walk them through the boat’s layout so they know where everything is, particularly emergency supplies.

Pack Drinks And Snacks

We’ve all been hangry before—it’s easy to miss a meal and start getting snippy. Children, however, have few emotional regulation tools, so they’re much more susceptible to being grumpy if they aren’t fed. Dehydration also presents a serious risk to their health, so make sure to pack a cooler with bottled water, juice, and cold snacks like yogurt, fruit cups, sandwiches, etc. Non-perishable snacks like granola is also good.

Insulating Gear

The temperature is always lower on the water than at the shore, and kids are more likely to feel chilly than adults. Make sure to bring some blankets and a few changes of clothing to help keep them toasty. Layering can also help, so jackets, sweaters, and other extra layers can make a big difference.

Plan Activities

Whether you go boating to relax or to find some thrills, kids aren’t great at sitting still for long periods of time. Make sure to plan ahead for activities to keep them busy and entertained, including but not limited to:

• Binoculars.
• Clay.
• Magnetic travel board games.
• Coloring books.
• Movies on a laptop.
• Making music playlists.

Keep them engaged and they’re more likely to remember these boating trips fondly, which means you can take them out more often!

Ready for some maritime family fun? Contact us at Collins Marine for more ways to keep your kids entertained and safe, or to see the boats we have in stock. We proudly serve the people of Tonawanda and Buffalo, New York—let us serve you today!