Kayak trip with kids – Kayaking with a kids
The most important rules for planning a trip with a kid.
How to prepare for a kayak trip? What to bring? Where to swim?
The most important rules for planning a trip with a kid.
How to prepare for a kayak trip? What to bring? Where to swim?
Kayaks with a child – can it be? Sure!
It might seem that kayaking is a sport only for adults, but isn’t true.
The kids also feel great in a kayak. If you infect them with your passion, you will spend every vacation with your family on kayaking adventures;) However, it’s good to be well prepared for it …
Kayak trip with a kids is one of those attractions that gives a lot of fun and joy, but also teaches and experiences. Parents a wanting to spend time with their kids, often resort to various methods of activity. One of them is kayaking, we also recommend it as an active way of spending time outdoors. However, with such a trip there are many questions that we will try to answer by presenting a set of the most important rules for planning a kayak trip with a kid.
There is no specific age limit. You can take a several years kid on the kayaking on the lake but on a mountain river – we recommend even the calmer one to swim with an older kids. A 10-year-old kid will definitely be able to row. Of course, the parent or guardian must be a person with extensive experience on a mountain river It is worth thinking deeply about your kids have predispositions. The youngest kids swimming a mountain kayak are 7 years old and are doing great. Every parent knows their kid and is able to assess how it will behave during the kayaking.
Before a parent assesses a child’s predisposition, it is also worth focusing on their experience. If I don’t have it – I don’t go into deep water. In this case, it’s worth starting with a lesson on kayaking for yourself, and then taking your child on it. If you don’t feel confident, We recommend have a the instructor so that the kayaking takes place under the the care of an experienced person who knows how to behave properly in a given situation on the water. The basis isn’t overestimating your skills!
First of all you need to choose the route in terms of difficulty and length, and plan it. At the beginning we recommend to start with easy and short routes. Because the kids must get used to the kayak and the parent will be able to check his reactions. As we mentioned before, it’s worth choosing the option of the kayaking with the instructor at the very beginning. In addition you should also look for information about the route, read about it, to know what to expect after a specific section of the route.
When planning a trip for a kayaking, it is also important to check the weather conditions to be on the day of the trip. If it is a rainy day, then of course nothing will happen, but will it be pleasant for the kids? It’s worth choosing warmer days, but don’t necessarily hot 😉 We must remember that for a child it should be pleasure, not torture on a hot day, in full sun. If it’s going to be a short trip, then it’s worth going in the afternoon. If a storm catches us, make it to the shore and wait it out!
Depending on the nature of the river, at the beginning we recommend more stable kayaks if it’s a mountain river are pneumatic kayaks – inflatable. Such a kayak is as durable as traditional polyethylene. It is made of durable synthetic materials resistant to mechanical damage. It is more stable, making it perfect at the very beginning of the kayak adventure.
These are the most important elements of a kid’s equipment – remember that they must be perfectly sized. If you don’t have a vestcoast and kask, make sure that the kayak rental have a the right size. It’s important that the life jacket will be is also adapted to our weight. The kask and vestcoast on the kayak are obligatory, don’t take them off during the trip, and also make sure that all buckles in the vestcoast are fastened! It is important that the kid also has appropriate footwear with a stable sole – we recommend special water footwear. In the water and edge we can often find roots or broken bottles. So it’s better to protect your feet from unnecessary cuts. If your child is able to paddle independently, we recommend a smaller and lighter paddle, which he can easily cope with.
Basic equipment: dry bag! Thanks to it, we can be sure that everything we need during the trip – will be dry, securely closed. Make sure you close the dry bag tightly, otherwise everything will be wet. What else to take with you? It’s important to use a sunblock to protect your child and yourself from excessive sun and bring with you water supply, proper hydration is essential. Nutritious snacks will come in handy if someone’s stomach starts to grunt. Also take extra clothes, because a wet child should be changed immediately after the trip so that he does not catch a cold!
The kid’s clothing must be loose and comfortable so that nothing restricts him. On warm and hot days you will need airy clothes, preferably quick-drying, and in the hottest hours, a breathable long-sleeved T-shirt to avoid excessive tanning. When it’s cooler, it is worth dressing warmer, thermoactive clothing is recommended. If it’s a rainy weather – then a lightweight raincoat and thermoactive underwear are the key. Let’s remember that water, and especially a mountain river is don’t warm, and we can get wet. Because, on cold or cold days we put on neoprene clothing: neoprene foam, neoprene shoes, a swimming cap, a kayak jacket. Suitable clothing and equipment is half the success of a successful kayak trip with a kid.
Each parent thinks what to do if the kid starts to get bored during the trip. It’s impossible to turn back or stop the trip in a place that cannot be reached from the mainland. Dear parent, we will advise you how to make your kid’s time in the kayak easier. The will great fun is the one with fishing. All you need is a stick with a piece of fishing line attached and the fun is ready! The kids will be able to catch fish. The second option is wading on the water, under the watchful eye of a parent. You should also familiarize yourself with the legends and curiosities of where the kayaking takes place so that you can take an interested in your child.
Remember! Always plan your trip in advance you will be must have plan B. The second alternative option if something goes wrong. Kids are usually impatient and doesn’t like affected by stress that you don’t have a good organization. First of all If the trip for some reasons beyond your control doesn’t take place, look for another attraction at this place, if the weather is unpredictable, always be ready for any weather conditions, if the tent will not be possible , find accommodation options in a hotel or guesthouse. Plan the time of departure, getting to the place including stops (for toilet, ice cream or other see ;-)), check the parking space right at the finish line and look for transport to start so that you don’t have a problem back to the car. Take a charged phone with you so that you can make an emergency call.
If you are going the kayaking with your family, you should think to extend your trip by organizing a camping. Everyone knows that kids love to sleep in tents. It will be a great adventure for them, which they will definitely remember for a long time. Take a tent, sleeping bags and flashlights. Know in advance where you will find a place to pitch a tent nearby, or accommodation if the weather caused a mischief 😉
Contact with nature, water and kayaks is the best way to spend time with your own kid. It’s always a lot of laughter, fun, gaining experience and physical activity. It’s worth going on a weekend somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of cities, where you can experience an unforgettable adventure together. The kids will be love to be active and to be in the bosom of nature. This article will help you plan the trip. Don’t be afraid of adventures and show a beautiful world to your kids!
And if you are interested in the subject of kayaking and are looking for information about the Dunajec River, we invite you to read our article: rafting on the Dunajec. If you like physical activity, you can easily take your kids on rafting.