Stand Up Paddle Boarding or SUP is the new trending water sport. It is a lot of fun; you get to spend time outdoors on the water and you can do it with the entire family. But many parents are hesitant to let their kids get on a SUP because of safety concerns. At the same time, others don’t know enough about safety requirements and rules for stand-up paddle boarding with kids. So, in this article, we would like to take a detailed look and give you some safety tips for stand-up paddle boarding with kids.
This article is not meant to scare you – just to prepare you. Most accidents that happen could be prevented if paddlers were better equipped and had thought about the hazards beforehand.
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Is stand-up paddling with kids dangerous?
Maybe you have heard in the news about SUP accidents or are just generally worried about how to practice this sport safely. First of all, it is important to realize that stand up paddle boarding with kids is overall a safe water sport. When you look at statistics, accidents and fatalities of stand-up paddling are lower than for other water sports.
Nevertheless, it is important to follow a couple of rules to keep your kids and yourself safe when you go on a SUP adventure. As with every water sport, it can go south quickly and you need to know which steps to take and how to react to stay safe. When you follow these rules and come prepared, you will be able to enjoy stand up paddle boarding with kids safely.
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Always wear a PDF (Personal Floating Device)
This is key to stand up paddle boarding safety: Always make your kids wear a PDF. Even if you are just going in for a minute or the water is very shallow, it is crucial that they have a life jacket or a PDF. The life jacket might be the thing that gives you precious minutes in case anything happens – they might fall off and not be able to start swimming immediately, hit their head, or something similar.
Make it a rule early on and lead by example – wearing a PDF should always be mandatory for your water adventures. We like this model, but make sure whichever one you chose fits your kids perfectly.
Stand-Up Paddling Safety – Use the leash
Maybe you think it is not necessary to use the leash to attach the board to your kid’s ankle if they do not surf waves, but it actually is crucial to do so. If they fall off the board, the waves from the plash, the wind, or the current might make the board float away. This is a big issue if you are in open waters and attaching the leash will prevent it. If your kids are attached to the board, they can at least hold onto it, even if they might not be able to immediately climb back on.
Usually, the leash comes with the board. If this is not the case, you can get one like this to use on your SUP adventure with kids safely.
Related: Stand Up Paddling with kids
Check the weather before you go adventure
This is specifically true for thunderstorms. You do not want to be on the water when a thunderstorm hits.
Avoid going out in the afternoons on very hot days if there is a possibility of a thunderstorm.
Have a designated watcher
Watch your kids, whenever they are in or on the water. This sounds super basic, but it is extremely important. If anything should happen you do not have a lot of time, so it is crucial that you have an overview of everything that is going on.
Especially if you are a group of adults, it is key that you decide who is the designated watcher. If you do not define one person, everyone might think the others are watching, when in the end, no one is watching. Take turns if necessary, but make sure that someone is always keeping an eye on the kids.
I stress this so much because I almost had a horror story related to this. We took a cruise on a sailboat and were 5 parents and 5 kids. The kids were playing with a smaller boat by the shore and we were anchored in the bay. I was talking to one of my friends and did not pay any attention to the kids, and suddenly we realized they were gone. After some frantic moments of searching, we realized they tried to get back to the sailboat in the smaller boat, but were carried away by the wind. Luckily, I jumped into the water without thinking twice and made it there just in time – my daughter was about to go under as I got there because they had jumped in the water to move the boat. I will never forget that feeling of guilt and panic – we were 5 adults, but everyone thought someone else was watching.
Make sure your kids are familiar with the board
A great way to make sure your kids are familiar with the board and the water when stand-up paddling is to approach it with play. Start your paddle board adventure with kids by kneeling, then slowly standing up. Make them play games where they have to keep the balance on the board, so they get a feeling for it. Make them fall off as well – the more used they are to the feeling, the smaller the shock will be if they fall off accidentally. Practice with your kids how to get back on the board and how to hold onto it. The more times they have done it under supervision, the easier it will be for them when they actually need it.
Dress for the weather
When the temperatures are cold, make sure kids wear a wetsuit and a dry jacket. Also, remember that often the water temperatures are much colder than the air temperatures – especially in spring. Be prepared for the conditions that you will encounter.
Take enough water and snacks when Stand-Up Paddling with kids
Make sure your kids stay hydrated when on the SUP – often we forget to drink when we are on the water… The same goes for eating. It might be so much fun to play that your kids forget to take their lunch, but it is important. Especially when you just start out, Stand-Up Paddling with kids is exhausting and they need to fill up on energy.
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SUP safety with kids – chose the right trip
When you start out, chose trips that are easy. No waves, no current, no unexpected weather changes, close to the coastline and shallow water. This way, it is not only safer for your kids but also much more fun. They will be able to play and goof around and develop a love for this sport through play while also learning how to navigate the boat and get comfortable with it.
These are our safety tips for stand-up paddling with kids. Do you have anything to add? Do you have experiences that you would like to share? We would love to get your feedback!