Water Sports For Kids

Information on Water Sports For Kids

Are water sports for your kids?

Keeping your kids active is important to their growth. Aquatic sports and other activities for kids will give them many benefits that are essential to their development.

• Physical Fitness
  Getting involved in kids activities like water sports can improve their endurance and strength, among other skills.
• Family Quality Time
  Water sports can be a family activity. Choose the sport that can be enjoyed the whole family to experience some nice bonding time together.
• Awareness
  Underwater activities will help kids develop awareness of underwater flora and fauna, as well as the habitats. This will teach them to value and preserve the environment.
• Confidence
  Getting your kids to learn something new helps develop their self-confidence. By learning how to swim, they will be more comfortable in the water. By acquiring new skills they can do more things.

Among the aquatic sports listed above, only some of them are safe and easy to learn, thus considered as kids water sports.

• Swimming
  Swimming is one of the most basic water activity that kids can learn. If they know how to swim, all the other water sports will be easier for them to learn. If your kids are not interested in extreme water sports, or if they are too young for those, you can enrol them first to a swimming lesson. Kids as young as 6 weeks old can attend swimming classes with the supervision of their parents and specialist teachers. There are also classes for both parents and their kids.
• Surfing
  Most surfing schools teach surfing to kids age 6 and above; but there are also some that teach kids starting 4 years old. Beginner?s classes take place in waist-deep water. If you want your kids to just stay in shallow water, boogie boarding and body surfing are good alternatives to surfing. Some of the most popular places to go surfing and other water board activities are Western Australia (Margaret River) and Sydney.
• Snorkelling
  Take your kids to the Great Barrier Reef and let them explore marine life by snorkelling. Most Australian tours have packages that include supervised snorkelling programs where kids as young as 5 years old can participate. Snorkel kit for kids is very affordable and costs about $50 to $200.
• Sailing
  Most kids dream of becoming a sailor, mostly because they love watching The Popeye Show. If your kids are not 100% at ease in the water they may like to be sailing on a boat. Still, it is better for them to first start learning how to swim for safety reasons and to help them be comfortable in this environment. Rent a boat and take them to an educational trip about different bodies of water, marine life, the weather, and boat safety. Sailing clubs accept kids starting 8 years old.
• Kayaking
  For older and more adventurous kids, kayaking can be an ideal water sport. They can enjoy this sport not only on the ocean, but also on rivers and lakes. It is safer if they practise in calm waters first before going into the currents.
• Scuba Diving
  Agencies like Scuba Schools International (SSI) and professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) offer scuba diving courses to kids 5 years old and above. These supervised programs gives certification when they finish the course and are available in local resorts and water parks that offer scuba diving. A session can costs around $100 and the scuba diving gear set can costs around $600.
• Canoeing
  Another water sport that the whole family can enjoy is canoeing. Most canoe clubs require kids to be at least 8 years old and can swim a distance of 50 metres for them to be able to join.

Whatever water sport your kids may take an interest in, the most important thing is safety. Make sure they are oriented with the proper use of water sports equipment. Wear appropriate clothing and always have extra life jackets. Apply sun screen to protect their skin from the harmful UV rays. Supervision of an adult or a professional is also a must. When you are going sailing, carry extra safety supplies like first aid kit, a mobile phone, and bottles of water. It is also important to let people know where you are going so they would know where to look for you in case you get lost. Always be aware of the weather conditions of the area and follow the rules and regulations of the beach or water park. You can browse our ActiveActivities Directory for more fun water activities and other helpful tips.

If you think these types of activities would not be interesting for your kids, you can still make them enjoy the water by playing water games! You and your kids can play water basketball and volleyball. For younger kids, they can play tag and relay races.

Spend the summer by taking your whole family to water parks or beaches and go on a water adventure that everyone will surely enjoy. Keep your kids healthy and active by learning a water sport!