Many families are concerned about taking their small children out on the water in a kayak or a canoe. Often, parents will postpone paddling trips until their children are older, concerned about the challenges of kayaking with 3- or 4-year-old children.
Preschoolers can go paddling safely. Basic safety rules must be followed when kayaking with a 3- or 4-year-old. Children should always wear a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket on the water and should not kayak in cold or rough water. There should be no more than one child for each adult.
Read on to learn more about how to take your preschooler paddling, and how to make it a good experience for everyone.
How to Take a 3 or 4-Year-Old Kayaking
Taking a preschooler kayaking can be fun for everyone. Kids see kayaking as an adventure no matter how ordinary the location or smooth the water. Kids of all ages love boats and being out on the water.
When you bring your preschooler kayaking, make sure you follow the important rules, so everyone has fun and stays safe. Most importantly, put properly fitting life jackets on your children and yourself, and keep them on the entire time you are boating. The US Coast Guard requires children under the age of 12 to wear a life jacket unless your state has it’s own legislation concerning that..
You should also choose an ideal place to begin- no rapids, large waves, or cold water. Also don’t plan on taking a long kayaking trip with a preschooler. While they enjoy being on the water, they don’t like sitting still for too long and will get restless.
Should You Take a Child if You’re a Beginning Paddler?
If you’re a beginning paddler, you might not want to take your kids on your first padding trip. While it looks simple, you will need a bit of practice to figure out paddling and steering. If you don’t have a chance to practice sans-kids, take your kayak to a shallow beachy area in warm water for your first try. You will be able to practice without fear of getting cold or wet (you will definitely get wet, so plan for it.)
In a shallow area, you can practice paddling, get out to wade if you need, and you can all have some swimming fun at the same time. After you have all got to know your equipment and learned how to use it, you will feel better about venturing away from the shore a bit. Remember, stick to flat current-free water, and make sure everyone keeps their life jackets on.
Choosing Good Paddling Trails for Preschoolers
When you are taking a child paddling, you have to choose your trails more carefully. This is never truer than when that child is an inexperienced swimmer or a non-swimmer. When choosing paddling areas, consider the conditions of the water, the weather, and your own abilities. Also consider how to make the experience fun and enjoyable for everyone.
I wrote an entire article specifically about choosing good kayaking trails for kids, which you can read here.
What to Bring Paddling with a 3-Year-Old
Unless you are planning a long paddle or excursion, you won’t need to bring a lot of stuff with you. You will want to have some supplies and gear, however, and you will want to keep other items in your vehicle where you can access them when needed.
You will want to bring water and snacks on your kayak. Besides keeping them comfortable, snacking is a great way to stave off potential boredom from sitting still. You will want to bring some outdoor supplies like bug spray and sunscreen, as well as a basic first aid kit. Here is a list of items to consider bringing with you when you are going paddling. It is up to you and your common sense to decide which things you need in the kayak with you, and which you can leave in the car.
- Water
- Snacks
- Extra socks, pants, and other clothing (you will get wet!)
- Towel
- Sunhat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Bugspray
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight
- Survival items as needed (knife, lighter, emergency blanket, etc)