Fishing trips can be a wonderful way of spending a lot of quality time with the young ones. This way, they will end up enjoying the activity as much as you do.
However, you must always remember that children have certain special needs. This is why letting them on the boat from a covered floating dock will require a few extra precautions. Let us check out a few helpful tips to ensure that your children are both safe and happy on the high seas:
1. Make Sure That They Know All the Safety Rules
You should make sure that they know all the water safety rules long before you leave the floating dock. Some of the most important ones include:
- They should only take their life jackets off once they are on the boat dock
- They must always stay seated while the boat is on the move
- They must never jump into the water without adult supervision
- Absolutely no leaning over the rail
2. Make Sure That They Wear Comfortable Life Jackets at All Times
Life jackets come in many different sizes. If you make children wear adult-sized ones they might start feeling uncomfortable and refuse to wear them.
You should only use life jackets that fit perfectly and that have been specifically designed to support their weight. It is imperative to make sure that the children wear their lifejackets as long as you remain on the water.
An uncomfortable jacket will make them fidgety and they will want to head back almost as soon as you cast off from the floating dock. However, one that fits just right will be perfect and your kids won’t even feel it is there.
3. You Should Teach Them to Swim
Once you can trust them to wear their life jacket all the time, you can jump into the water with them. It is extremely important that you are always within touching distance of your kids, as long as they are in the water. You should teach them to swim while making sure that they have plenty of fun as well. If you feel that the high seas are a bit difficult you can also start off from your boat dock.
4. Teach Them to Operate the Radio on Your Boat
Your kids should be prepared for every eventuality. This is why it important that they should know how to operate your boat’s radio. You should make a small chart of the emergency frequencies and stick it to the console for ease of access.
5. You Should Know How to Deal With Seasickness
Young children are often susceptible to seasickness. In fact far more so than their adult counterparts. It is a good idea to pack some child-specific anti-nausea medicines just in case they start feeling queasy. You can also pack some of their favorite games to divert their mind off their discomfort.
The above tips on fishing trips can go a long way towards making your trip as safe, secure, and as enjoyable as possible. For more information on how EZ Dock Texas can help you, contact us!
