How to Boat With Children

Outfit each child with a life vest, also called a personal flotation device, that fits properly. The life vest should fit snugly, and the top opening should not allow the child's chin or ears to slip through. Choose a vest with a collar that turns a child face up in the water. Most children need a new life vest each year.

Review safety rules and procedures with the children before anyone gets on the boat, and do this before every outing. Insist that everyone, even grownups, wear their life vest at all times. Adults set a great example this way. Involve the children in the safety review by asking questions and requesting demonstrations of safety procedures. Kids are usually eager to show off what they know.

Assign an age-appropriate job to every child who is old enough, and emphasize that together your family and guests are a crew. Even very young children can help stow gear such as jackets and towels. Other good jobs for kids include raising and lowering the flag, tending and stowing dock lines and fenders, standing watch and adding entries to the logbook, such as who was on the trip and where you went.

Bring a lunch or snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, a change of clothes and a swimsuit, if appropriate, for everyone on the boat. Consider the planned length of your outing when packing refreshments and bring along some extra supplies. Even a "three-hour tour" can go wrong. A dry set of clothes will keep enthusiastic splashers comfortable, and a jacket is a good idea if there's a chance temperatures may drop before you return to the dock.

Plan activities to keep children happily occupied on board and at your destination. Kids need quiet pastimes to help them sit still while the boat is underway. Young children may enjoy looking at vinyl books, while older ones can play boating versions of travel games such as Twenty Questions or I Spy. At your destination, kids might swim or snorkel, fish or build sand castles, depending on what's available at the site. Older children can also learn to water ski or ride a knee board.

Make sure your children do their assigned jobs when you return to the dock. Give them the chance to remember on their own, but be ready with a reminder if necessary. If the children are tired, they may need your help to accomplish their jobs safely, but don't let them off the hook completely. Pitching in reinforces their position in the boat's crew and helps them learn responsibility.