I sail a Lido 14 with my young kids... there's a 260 in my future. Does anyone have ideas for fun activities for kids during the calms? I take soap bubbles out with us and they have fun with that... any other activities that you have come across to keep it fun? (Other than fishing and zodiac races!) I thought about making whip cream shapes on the water surface, that sort of thing. (It's fun to make a face and watch it distort! I have no idea, but it seems that whipped cream is more enviro-friendly than shaving cream. It also tastes better...) Any suggestions much appreciated. Regards, -Richard
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Jim Kolstoe
unbored kids
Richard, Your starting point is, what do they like to do at home or in the car? As our 3 have grown up (currently 9, 12, 14 yrs) we have stocked favorite books, crayons and coloring books(expect to clean crayon marks at least once), various toys, 12v tv, gameboys, fishing gear, walkmans, and travel game sets, to name just a few. Generally, we encourage them to pick toys, books, etc. before we leave for the boat, to suppliment stocks kept on board. Our kids love to swim, which is feasible in the lake we normally sail, but probably a bad idea on SF Bay. Our open water swimming requires anchoring, lifejackets, a flag to alert other boats to swimmers in the water, and a watchful parent on deck. Its helpful that both my wife and I have lifeguard training (she worked as a lifeguard), scuba and water search and rescue experience. Cruising salt water, my oldest daughter suprised me by becoming fascinated with monitoring the VHF, and all of them were interested in watching for wild-life and comparing where we were on the charts versus what the real world looked like. To sum up, stock up like you would for a long car ride, then show them the world to be seen from afloat. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Richard, Your starting point is, what do they like to do at home or in the car? As our 3 have grown up (currently 9, 12, 14 yrs) we have stocked favorite books, crayons and coloring books(expect to clean crayon marks at least once), various toys, 12v tv, gameboys, fishing gear, walkmans, and travel game sets, to name just a few. Generally, we encourage them to pick toys, books, etc. before we leave for the boat, to suppliment stocks kept on board. Our kids love to swim, which is feasible in the lake we normally sail, but probably a bad idea on SF Bay. Our open water swimming requires anchoring, lifejackets, a flag to alert other boats to swimmers in the water, and a watchful parent on deck. Its helpful that both my wife and I have lifeguard training (she worked as a lifeguard), scuba and water search and rescue experience. Cruising salt water, my oldest daughter suprised me by becoming fascinated with monitoring the VHF, and all of them were interested in watching for wild-life and comparing where we were on the charts versus what the real world looked like. To sum up, stock up like you would for a long car ride, then show them the world to be seen from afloat. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
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Sean Coerse
Kids happy
We have two ages 5 and 7. We give them responsibilities on the boat. The 7 year old helps stear. the 5 year old turns then winch handle on the empty winch as fast as she can when we need more speed. We keep an arts and craft box on the boat. No crayons or markers, color pencils come off easier. They use child safe scissors and construction paper, tape, ect. When we go on 2-3 day trips we take a TV VCR combo and let them use it at night to wind down before bed.
We have two ages 5 and 7. We give them responsibilities on the boat. The 7 year old helps stear. the 5 year old turns then winch handle on the empty winch as fast as she can when we need more speed. We keep an arts and craft box on the boat. No crayons or markers, color pencils come off easier. They use child safe scissors and construction paper, tape, ect. When we go on 2-3 day trips we take a TV VCR combo and let them use it at night to wind down before bed.
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Mark Sanford
Model Sailboats
Last summer I made a number of wood model sailboats which had a plastic sail and an adjustable rudder. I found the plans on the net. Children from 3 to 60 had many hours of fun with these simple & cheap toys. They were sailed from the wharf and while swimming at anchor. Kids also coloured them, added names and my son even experimented by adding a jib. Can keep kids and adults busy for hours!
Last summer I made a number of wood model sailboats which had a plastic sail and an adjustable rudder. I found the plans on the net. Children from 3 to 60 had many hours of fun with these simple & cheap toys. They were sailed from the wharf and while swimming at anchor. Kids also coloured them, added names and my son even experimented by adding a jib. Can keep kids and adults busy for hours!
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Michael Stuart
Bored on board
My daughter is now 8. We sailed in the BVI for a week last month on a Beneteau 351 -- plenty of space to store lots of things to do. Sometimes the fish were faster than us. "Daddy, I'm bored" was an oft heard and unwelcomed fog horn. That boat had plenty of space, so my daughter took out a book and read. She also started writing a journal. Drawing was also entertaining for a while. Food, including snacks and candy help sometimes for a while. Ultimately napping was great, too. My daughter now refuses to go on my 170 due to fear of boredom or unplanned swimming. So I sail alone, usually. One day she will want to learn to sail. Good luck.
My daughter is now 8. We sailed in the BVI for a week last month on a Beneteau 351 -- plenty of space to store lots of things to do. Sometimes the fish were faster than us. "Daddy, I'm bored" was an oft heard and unwelcomed fog horn. That boat had plenty of space, so my daughter took out a book and read. She also started writing a journal. Drawing was also entertaining for a while. Food, including snacks and candy help sometimes for a while. Ultimately napping was great, too. My daughter now refuses to go on my 170 due to fear of boredom or unplanned swimming. So I sail alone, usually. One day she will want to learn to sail. Good luck.
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Bob Knott
Kids on Board
We cruise a 380 with our two kids who are now 9 & 11 and they love it. They began on a 280 when they were 4 years younger, and have always had each other aboard to play with. They each bring a video tape or two for the VCR, books to read, and games to play (skippo is a favorite) as well as fishing poles. We have a dinghy for them to use in new harbors to meet other cruising kids, and also allow them to bring their friends aboard. Since we started them young, they know only a cruising & harbor type life in the summer and they love it. Kids become muh more fun when they are away from TV, Nintendo, and other distractions, it's one of the major reasons we cruise. The kids growth as human beings aboard a boat is phenominal. Best of Luck with your cruising kids! Bob Knott H380
We cruise a 380 with our two kids who are now 9 & 11 and they love it. They began on a 280 when they were 4 years younger, and have always had each other aboard to play with. They each bring a video tape or two for the VCR, books to read, and games to play (skippo is a favorite) as well as fishing poles. We have a dinghy for them to use in new harbors to meet other cruising kids, and also allow them to bring their friends aboard. Since we started them young, they know only a cruising & harbor type life in the summer and they love it. Kids become muh more fun when they are away from TV, Nintendo, and other distractions, it's one of the major reasons we cruise. The kids growth as human beings aboard a boat is phenominal. Best of Luck with your cruising kids! Bob Knott H380
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