It’s hard to think of a nicer way to spend time with your family than to board your boat and go on a day cruise. However, if you’ve got children or preteens, you may be wondering about how to prepare them and your boat for the journey. Here are some helpful tips so that your family boat trips go off smoothly.

Teach Your Kids How to Swim

Knowing how to swim will be a boon for any child who boards a boat. Teach children how to swim as early as you can: formal lessons can start as early as the age of four, while introductory water classes exist for toddlers. Your children will be more confident on the water if they’re already comfortable being in it.

Pack Lots of Snacks & Games

Kids can’t just sit and gaze at the sunset like adults can. You’ll need to keep them well-fed and hydrated and entertained for the duration of the boat trip. Pack a cooler full of boat-friendly snacks, like cheese and crackers, sandwiches, applesauce, fresh fruit, and granola bars, along with bottled water or juice boxes. Bring some coloring books and travel games, too. One way to keep the kids entertained is to let them create a playlist of songs to play on a Bluetooth™ speaker.

Review Safety Rules

All children should wear life jackets on the boat at all times. Aside from this, you’ll want to teach your kids that running around the boat, jumping, climbing, or dangling their feet or hands over the railing isn’t safe. Neither should they bother the operator while the boat is in motion. Show your children how to use various pieces of safety equipment, and encourage them to monitor the way ahead for obstacles or other problems.

When you’re ready to buy a used boat, stop by our dealership in Harrisonville, MO, to see what we’ve got. Midwest Marine Boat Company is proud to be your Missouri preowned boat dealer, serving the city of Raymore.

How to Boat With Kids

It’s hard to think of a nicer way to spend time with your family than to board your boat and go on a day cruise. However, if you’ve got children or preteens, you may be wondering about how to prepare them and your boat for the journey. Here are some helpful tips so that your family boat trips go off smoothly.

Teach Your Kids How to Swim

Knowing how to swim will be a boon for any child who boards a boat. Teach children how to swim as early as you can: formal lessons can start as early as the age of four, while introductory water classes exist for toddlers. Your children will be more confident on the water if they’re already comfortable being in it.

Pack Lots of Snacks & Games

Kids can’t just sit and gaze at the sunset like adults can. You’ll need to keep them well-fed and hydrated and entertained for the duration of the boat trip. Pack a cooler full of boat-friendly snacks, like cheese and crackers, sandwiches, applesauce, fresh fruit, and granola bars, along with bottled water or juice boxes. Bring some coloring books and travel games, too. One way to keep the kids entertained is to let them create a playlist of songs to play on a Bluetooth™ speaker.

Review Safety Rules

All children should wear life jackets on the boat at all times. Aside from this, you’ll want to teach your kids that running around the boat, jumping, climbing, or dangling their feet or hands over the railing isn’t safe. Neither should they bother the operator while the boat is in motion. Show your children how to use various pieces of safety equipment, and encourage them to monitor the way ahead for obstacles or other problems.

When you’re ready to buy a used boat, stop by our dealership in Harrisonville, MO, to see what we’ve got. Midwest Marine Boat Company is proud to be your Missouri preowned boat dealer, serving the city of Raymore.