Six Safety Measures to Remember When You SUP with Kids

We all want to pass on our love for paddleboarding to our children, and it is possible to start them young with the right attitude to safety. SUP with kids can be a great family experience, provided you follow these six measures to keep your children out of harm’s way.

Ensure Your Board Is Suitable for Two

Paddleboards are not one size fits all, and while your current board may be suitable for your weight, adding a child onto the front can make things unstable. Ride the Tide stock a wide range of larger SUPs, including boards designed for more than one rider. A board is a long term investment, so consider how quick your children grow when making a purchase.

Find a Safe and Calm Place to Start

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t head to a choppy beach for your child’s first SUP experience. Find a calm expanse of water where motorcraft are not permitted to start with, and choose as quiet a section of water as possible. If your children are very young, get them comfortable with sitting centrally on the board when on land, to make it easier for them when you do get out on the water.

Make Sure Your Child Wears a PFD

While it is your right to choose whether you wear a personal flotation device yourself, young children learning to SUP must have a PFD on at all times. While you are likely to be within arms reach of them if they end up in the water, there are a multitude of hazards that could befall your child at any time. Think about the possibility of your child being accidentally knocked unconscious by the board or paddle, and you will understand why a lifejacket is a must-have every time you take them out on the water.

Teach Them to Swim First!

Preliminary attempts to SUP with kids often end up with the child underwater, so make sure they are comfortable in water and able to swim before you start SUPing. As reliable as personal flotation devices are, remember they often cause your child to float face down, so make sure they know how to get out of this situation if they end up beyond your reach for whatever reason.

Explain the Basics

Before you SUP with kids, it’s best to explain as much as possible to them about safety. Make sure they know that sudden movements can send you both tumbling. You might want to consider them wearing a leash with a quick release if they are concerned about going underwater, but consider the risk of very young children getting tangled in them and not knowing how to release quickly.

Sit, then Kneel

When preparing to get your child on the board for the first time, make sure they climb on before you. Give them time to get used to the motion of the ocean before getting them to sit centrally on the front of the board. Once they are happy, it’s your turn to get on. Start out on your knees for a lower centre of gravity - you’ll likely have to situate yourself a little further back than you normally would. Once balanced, start paddling slowly and make sure your child is comfortable. If you haven’t both fallen in yet, you can stand up on your board and continue making progress.

Start Your Family SUP Adventure with Ride The Tide

Ride the Tide stock a wide range of boards suitable for SUP with kids. Our ‘Find Your Board’ tool can help you identify the right board for your weight requirements. We have been proudly providing Australia with the best boarding products since the summer of 2013, and are happy to help with any questions about our range. Email us at dean@ridethetide.com.au or call 0403 549 702.