Boat Safety for Kids

If you have a boat and children it is immensely important to teach them boating safety. These safety tips are easy to remember and will ensure they stay safe when you're out on the water during family fun time.

Every child who is going to be boating needs to know that they should always wear a life jacket. The best PFD for smaller children is the one that comes with a loop and a pillow that sits behind their head. If your child is bigger, then a standard PFD for their size is perfectly fine. Instill in them the importance of never taking their life jacket off. Get them into the water to show them that their life jacket will support them in the water and keep them from sinking. Explain to children that their ability to swim in a swimming pool does not mean they are not in danger of sinking in lakes or oceans. Wakes, waves and wind can make swimming in larger, natural bodies of water a challenge - and sometimes impossible - even for adults. Teach them that each and every snap, tie or whatever keeps their life jacket attached to them is always clipped into the proper place. Also make sure that it is tight enough so that the life jacket does not float up over their chins or heads.

When you are in rough water or just driving around, teach your child the importance of staying seated at all times. Let them know that if they are standing and you hit a large wave, wake or unforeseen obstacle in the water, they may fall overboard or get hurt on the boat itself. If you have a houseboat or a boat with a cuddy, never leave your child unattended in these areas while the boat is in motion. If they are in an indoor area of the boat, still teach them the importance of sitting in rough waters and make sure they understand that they still need their life jackets on.

Some parents and adults will let children help them drive the boat. This is fine, however, teach your child to never touch the steering wheels, throttle or any other buttons or levers on the boat without your supervision. Teach them what each thing does in case of an emergency, but please emphasize the importance of them never touching these if you are not around.

There are many boat safety Web sites, and some are more children oriented. These sites can help you teach your child important safety rules. These sites can also help your child more easily understand some procedures.

Make sure your family's boating memories are all happy and exciting ones by teaching your children these important safe boating lessons so that they can teach their children the same rules some day.