Canoeing with kids is a great way to spend time outside, exploring and exercising. If going on a canoe trip with kids sounds fun, but intimidating or overwhelming, we’re here to show you just how much fun (and easy) it can be. Today, we have outdoor adventurer and mom of two, Brianna from Adventure Families, here sharing the best beginner tips for canoeing with kids. With her practical advice and packing tips, you’ll be expertly paddling your way across the water before you know it!
Adventures in canoeing
As we pushed off the shore for our first family canoe trip of the summer, I held my breath. Our one-year-old daughter had protested loudly when I strapped on her life jacket, making me think we might be in for a miserable afternoon. While our son, Talon, had dozens of canoe trips under his size 4T belt, Lyra hadn’t yet been afloat as a busy toddler. We were not quite sure what we were getting into.
Luckily, Lyra’s screams turned into delighted coos as our boat skimmed across the green water. She bounced between my legs, pointing at the birds and trees. From his perch in the center, Talon picked up his small paddle, proud to help propel us across the lake.
Got water? Just add kids
My husband and I are water people. We’ve sailed across the Pacific Ocean, snorkeled around the Caribbean, paddled through the Everglades, and rafted down plenty of wild rivers. Once we had kids, we began integrating them into our adventures from the get-go.
Canoes have been the perfect way for us to introduce our children to the water.
Two years ago we bought a used 15-foot Coleman to explore lakes and rivers near our home in Montana. We’ve since added a small outboard motor and a sail, too. Sometimes we go out for an hour, and sometimes we pile in the camping gear and head out for a week.
Reasons to canoe with kids
There are so many amazing benefits of canoeing for kids and families. From spending time outdoors together to learning a skill, canoeing with your children is a great way to get active on the water at any age. Canoeing is something my family has enjoyed through many phases/seasons with (hopefully) many more years of canoeing in our future. Here are my top reasons why I’d recommend canoeing for your family, too.
Low-risk and low-investment
Canoeing is a low-risk and low-investment sport to try out. You can buy a good used canoe for ~$300, or rent one for ~$50/day to try it out first to see if it’s something your kids and family would like. Canoes come in a wide range of sizes and styles, ranging from sleek wooden boats (which tend to be very expensive) to wide plastic boats and even inflatable versions. (Hint: these are the cheapest options and easiest to transport, but they don’t last as hard-shell canoes and require more time to inflate/deflate.) Some canoes are specifically-designed for speed or to handle whitewater, but all canoes will work on any calm water bodies you want to float.
Tough and transportable
Canoes can be stored in or outside, and are virtually maintenance-free! They’re also easy to transport, which means you can take them nearly anywhere. Most canoes only weigh 50-80 pounds, which is totally manageable for 1-2 adult(s). They can be placed upside-down on top of your car, no trailer needed.
Pro tip: Use foam pool noodles to protect your vehicle’s roof/paint if you don’t have a roof rack.
Aluminum and plastic boats are particularly good for kids and families. They are tough, washable, and more stable. When choosing a good canoe for kids, look for boats with flatter bottoms, which feel less “tippy.” As you might expect, it’s possible to tip over in a canoe, especially with squirmy kids around. Test the stability near the shore, wiggling hips and moving around in the boat to see how much side-to-side leeway you have before it feels uncomfortable.
Pro tip: You can purchase stabilizer pontoon floats for your canoe, which make it super safe and allow you to walk around the boat or stand up to cast for fish.
Beginner tips for canoeing with kids
It doesn’t take long to learn how to paddle a canoe, even for young kids. You can watch videos online to see the basic steering strokes and rowing positions. Or if you’re a hands-on learner, play around in a small pond to figure it out on your own.
Ready to try canoeing out this fall? Here are some helpful tips for beginners when canoeing with kids:
1. Get excited!
Your happiness (or crankiness) is contagious to your children. Kids love seeing their parents get excited about things, particularly things that involve spending time with them. If you’re thrilled to be on the water, your kids will be, too. Spark excitement for this adventure in them by talking about your canoeing trips, the things you’ll do/see, the reasons why you love it and how much fun canoeing will be for them. Let them help plan the trip and help pack the canoe so the whole family is invested in the outing.
2. Offer clear safety rules and rewards
Before you launch, set a few clear safety rules: (1) don’t stand up without asking, (2) no leaning or jumping over the side, (3) keep life jackets on at all times, (4) no whining (ha! good luck with that one). Spending time together outside in a canoe is a reward in and of itself, but if your little ones need a bit of extra incentive to follow the safety rules, try offering a reward at the end of the day, such as a sweet treat or a movie.
3. Designate a special spot for everyone
Having a plan is half the battle. Before you get started, decide which adult will be in the stern (back seat) steering. This person will have less leeway to help manage the kids. The adult in the bow (front seat) can help paddle forward when needed, but can also take breaks easily. If you have a toddler, stand them between the adult’s legs in the bow where they can be the lookout and move around a little. Babies can be worn in a soft carrier. Older kids can sit on the center crossbars or a middle seat (if the canoe has one) to help paddle. Or kids can hunker down to play in the bottom of the boat. Letting the kids know exactly where they’ll be and what their “job” is, helps manage expectations.
4. Take your time
Like most outings with children in tow, the trip will probably take longer than you think. While you and your partner might want to race across the lake, the kids will enjoy it more if you take plenty of breaks. In fact, much of the joy in canoeing is playing on shore! Stop often at interesting spots to swim, have lunch, and explore islands or beaches you couldn’t get to without a boat. And don’t expect (or force!) the kids to add much (any) horsepower. Paddling is simply a fun diversion for them.
5. Just remember, it gets easier
As with any new activity with kids, canoeing as a family might be tough at first until everyone learns the ropes. This is doubly true if your kids are very young. But don’t give up! Remember that even if canoeing isn’t quite as fun as you’d hoped the first couple of times out, you’re building skills that will last you and your kids a lifetime. You’re creating wonderful bonding opportunities for years to come. And trust me, eventually, it will get easier!
Canoeing trip packing list
I’ve also put together a list of necessary, helpful and optional items that you may want to include in your bag on your first/next canoeing trip with kids. All of the items below should be placed in a waterproof bag since the bottom of the canoe usually gets wet from everyone’s shoes and dripping paddles. If you don’t have a dry bag, wrap your backpack or tote in a sturdy trash bag. Buckets also make for great storage in a canoe.
Life jackets
Everyone in the canoe needs to wear a life jacket. Even if the grown-ups are stellar swimmers. You’re the role models for your kids and safety starts and stops with you. Have kids practice wearing theirs before you get in the boat, so they get used to them.
Pro tip: If you can’t find a comfortable jacket for your kiddo, try U.S. Coast Guard-approved water wings that are less bulky.
Clothing
Certain clothing will help out on your canoe trip with kids. Here’s a shortlist of must-pack clothing items.
- Sandals with straps or waterproof rain boots.
- Sun hats and sun-protective clothing.
- Rain gear, which can double as windbreakers.
- Extra outfit for little kids who will likely get wet and muddy playing.
Food and drinks
Like all outings with kiddos, make sure you pack lots of easy-to-grab snacks to keep them occupied, fueled, and happy. We like to bring “special” drinks for the kids to make sure they stay hydrated in the sun: lemonade powder in their water bottles is a favorite.
Gear
- Toilet paper if you’re not near public restrooms
- Umbrella or pop-up tent for shade in the boat or on shore—perfect for passing rainstorms, too!
- Seat pads or stadium-style folding seats
- Rope to attach to the bow to help pull the boat on shore
- Maps of the area you’re paddling
- Tarp or blanket for picnics or for “beds” for kids in the bottom of the canoe
- Extra paddle(s) for the kids: emergency paddles that are adjustable and light-weight work well
Fun stuff
- Binoculars (monoculars work best for you young kids—we love ours!)
- Field guides
- Fishing rod
- Frisbee
- Bubbles
- Chalk (to draw on rocks or the inside of the boat—it washes right off!)
- Bucket (have the kids fill it with rocks/sticks/leaves on shore, then throw them overboard one at a time while you paddle)
Have you ever gone canoeing with kids?
What tips would you recommend for beginners?
Brianna Randall of Adventure Families is a mother of two, writer, dancer, traveler, and nature-addict. She owns a small communications business, and her articles have appeared in The Washington Post, BBC, Outside, Backpacker, Mamalode, Scary Mommy, Working Mother, and High Country News. Her husband Rob is a photographer, adept outdoorsman, and all-around Mr. Fix-It. He works for Trout Unlimited conserving rivers and streams. They’ve made a pact to keep adventuring as a family, with the kiddos in tow.
You can find Brianna in the following online locations:
Website: adventurefamilies.org
Instagram: @exploreoutsidewithkids
Facebook: @adventurefamilies.org