Bodyboarding is considered to be one of the most fun activities that both parents and their children can enjoy, although learning how to bodyboard can be pretty tricky for kids. However, with a proper mindset and determination to learn, children will be able to bodyboard in just one or two training sessions with a parent or a trainer. Teaching children how to bodyboard as a parent can be easy, as long as you know the steps to keep them interested and motivated in learning. To help you know how to teach your children to bodyboard safely, we are providing you with several pointers and teaching tips to remember while training your child to perform the activity.
They Must First Learn How to Swim
Of course, you wouldn’t be able to bodyboard without learning how to swim, as you would have to be in the water at the beach at all times while learning how to bodyboard. Teaching kids how to swim is often hard for parents to do, so the best option is to enroll them in swimming lessons, wherein children will be able to learn how to swim during the summer season. Once your child has learned how to swim, he or she will be more comfortable in the water, thus making the bodyboarding lessons much easier.
Know the Suitable Beach for Learning
Not all beaches are suitable for children that are learning how to bodyboard, as some beaches will have waves that are too high or currents that are too fast for kids. To know the best beaches to learn bodyboarding, search the internet for several surf camps near your area. If there is a particular beach where these camps are held, then that means that the beach is suitable for children. In addition, you should also pick the beach that is not that busy or full of people so that your child won’t get shy or embarrassed from being a beginner at bodyboarding.
Get the Perfect Bodyboard
Bodyboards have different sizes, and since your child is just learning how to bodyboard, you should pick the one that is suitable for his or her size and not the ones that are used by professionals. If the bodyboard is too big, your child may have difficulties maneuvering the bodyboard on the water, and it may even be hard to carry since it would most likely be heavy. However, if the bodyboard is too small, then it might not fully support the weight of your child, thus making the balancing aspect of the activity difficult. If you are buying a new bodyboard, make sure that you bring your child with you to the store so that you will have a more accurate measurement of the best boogie board for 7 year old kids or the perfect bodyboard for your child.
Get a Wetsuit
The wetsuit is another important piece of equipment to have other than the bodyboard, as it provides protection for your children against harmful elements in the sea, including the ones that can cause hypothermia and wounds. In addition to providing protection, the wetsuit also gives children confidence to bodyboard, as wetsuit usually symbolizes professionalism for them since most of these children have seen professionals wear wetsuits during tournaments.
Teach Paddling and Catching a Wave Effectively
The most important aspect of teaching kids bodyboarding is for them to understand the basics of paddling and catching a wave. For paddling, the child must learn to paddle parallel to the waves, as this will allow the surfer to get back to shore after the waves reach the shore. Secondly, the child must also be able to know how to read a wave, which means that they should know the right wave height that is perfect for bodyboarding since not all waves are suitable for surfing. To bodyboard safely, the child’s body should be centered on the board, and his or her chest must be raised while catching the wave. It is more effective to show your child the basics of bodyboarding first by performing it so that he or she will have a better idea of what to do.
Remain in the Shallow Parts of the Beach
Children should not be in deep parts of the beach or the sea, as most of them are not capable of swimming back to shore from far away in case something bad happens while bodyboarding. As such, they should learn how to bodyboard only in shallow parts of the beach so that they can still stand up or swim safely if they didn’t perform a bodyboarding move correctly. Furthermore, practicing to chase waves is also easier for children in shallow water, as the waves are not as big near the shore.
From reading the tips mentioned above, it could be seen that teaching children how to bodyboard is relatively easy, although it can be pricey since you will have to buy a bodyboard and a wetsuit for your child, and it also requires a lot of patience since your child may not learn how to bodyboard right away. If ever your child takes quite some time to learn, you shouldn’t be frustrated since the frustration can also rub on your child. Instead, you should just enjoy the moment of being with your child and teaching him or her one of your favorite hobbies. Have fun, and your child will surely enjoy the learning process too.