Can boating be relaxing and enjoying…..

[Andrew_Fanner]

Mine have all boated since they were tiny tots, youngest's first night on board was when she was 2 weeks old. I fully agree with the car seat option. I found that its either access to familiar toys or being able to see what's going on that diverts, as well as talking to them and involving them as much as possible. A 2 year old can "help Daddy with this rope" and feel a part of the process.

Where the problem lies is attention span, a sea passage where all they can watch is waves for 5 hours is not that thrilling for them. An hour "across the bay" followed by some activity at their level works quite well. We took (and stand by) the pragmatic decision that in cases when focus on boat work is required then the junior crew can reasonably be sent/confined below to the benefit of all, even if it results in short term yelling.

 

[EugeneR]

we love boating because it IS a family activity -just plan each trip carefully and don't ask too much of them.

I could not have said it better. The kids experience it as time with mom and dad, regardless of what they / we are doing.

 

[Searush]

I agree with most of the above, ours used to be put below (we could see them from the cockpit) with a stack of toys on a passage (colouring books work well later), passages were kept short & I have always had boats that dry out so I can dump 'em on the beach until they are thoroughly tired, wet & cold & ready for food & sleep.

Make sure they have a few spots that they like & give them the choice of where you go. Kids kicking up usualy means they want attention; We would tell ours "NOT NOW - we'll sort it out in 5 mins" if the boat needed attention, but be sure to give them the attention in 5 mins & take the time to explain why you couldn't help them.

Finally, I found my son had brilliant eyesight for picking out the bouys & landmarks & spotting other boats. OK, some of it relates to older kids, but the sooner you get them understanding what is going on, the sooner they will be able to respond & later get involved themselves.

 

[strakeryrius]

They can't seem to keep their hands off the various levers and buttons and won't sit still for very long.

We cured this for a long while by getting one of those toy car steering wheels with the rubber sucker to fix it onto the nav console, so that our little ones could "help Daddy steer". It worked a treat!

 

[nickcred]

Luckily for me my kids are now older, youngest being 12, but hang in there it does get easier. As we are Thames based we were lucky to be able to simply moor up within 20 mins or so of the boredom setting in. Took me a while to learn that the journey was more important than getting to the destination I had in mind. We always had a DVD/TV on board and the Play Staion Portable, a guitar for the eldest one and plenty of books. The joy for me came from seeing them both abandon every electronic gadget in sight, including the fixed to his ear mobile phone of my eldest and climb tree's, muck about in Dingys and playing football and ball games on the bank. Real kids stuff.

The 12 year old is starting to get a bit bored now eldest is around less so we try and take a friend along for him, especially one who has not been boating before, keeps him entertained and involved as he wants to show his friend how everything should be done on the boat. Nothing beats the smile on a kids face when he is allowed to steer the boat for the first time.

The eldest is actually now 18 and is coming on the boat with his best mate this weekend for the fist time in ages, girls and nightlife having entered his live the last couple of years. Have to say I am really looking forward to him buying me a pint

 

[AndieMac]

Luckily for me my kids are now older, youngest being 12, but hang in there it does get easier. As we are Thames based we were lucky to be able to simply moor up within 20 mins or so of the boredom setting in. Took me a while to learn that the journey was more important than getting to the destination I had in mind. We always had a DVD/TV on board and the Play Staion Portable, a guitar for the eldest one and plenty of books. The joy for me came from seeing them both abandon every electronic gadget in sight, including the fixed to his ear mobile phone of my eldest and climb tree's, muck about in Dingys and playing football and ball games on the bank. Real kids stuff.

The 12 year old is starting to get a bit bored now eldest is around less so we try and take a friend along for him, especially one who has not been boating before, keeps him entertained and involved as he wants to show his friend how everything should be done on the boat. Nothing beats the smile on a kids face when he is allowed to steer the boat for the first time.

The eldest is actually now 18 and is coming on the boat with his best mate this weekend for the fist time in ages, girls and nightlife having entered his live the last couple of years. Have to say I am really looking forward to him buying me a pint

Totally agree with all the above, worth every minute because its valuable family time spent together.

 

[CMJ]

THANKS!!

Hi All,

Many thanks for sharing your experiences and also for offering words of advice and encouragement. I think it can only get easier and I’ll try many of the suggestions here when he’s a few months older - in the meantime I’ll try the car seat idea out…..fingers crossed!

 

[CMJ]

IT WORKED!

Well, after all the great advice from you guys I trundled down the other week to Gosport for one night then Beaulieu for the 2nd night with the little toddler and missus on board……and for the 1st time ever with him on board, we had a fab trip

I made two fundamental changes as follows:

1) Strapped his car seat onto the cockpit seating for when mooring etc, and then onto the F/B when underway. That made a massive difference as instead of having a wriggly little worm to deal with, he was content as he is when in the car. We anchored for a bit outside Bembridge and let him out for a stretch etc and then he was calling to get back into the car seat!!!!

2) 2nd change was I made a cot (in the cabin with bunks) to look like his own at home and again for the first time, instead of the room spooking him out, near his bed-time (7:00pm) he was saying ‘bed – bed’ pointing his little finger at his custom cabin. Wow – he actually was calling to sleep in there! And to top it all off, he slept in ‘till 9 the next morning!! (normally wakes up on the nail at 7)!

Hopefully all of this wasn’t a fluke and simply a sign of things to come

So again, a big thanks for all of your help, advice and words of encouragement.
CHEERS!