Once in the water, help your child get comfortable and gain kayaking confidence. Let them explore a little bit so that they become comfortable and confident. Reinforce what you taught them while still on land. These first moments will be very telling to see if you child is calm and under control while in your kayak or if they will be wild and out of control. Keep a hand on them during this time. The back of the pfd is a good way to hold them while you see what they do. Letting them touch the water is good also. Remember, we want them to love this sport as much as we do. Part of paddling of any boat is the feeling of being on the water and in nature. It is our hope that our kids learn to love this experience also.
