How to make your children share your passion for surfing?
Sharing the passion for surfing with your children undoubtedly fills you with excitement. However, achieving it is equally satisfying for both you and them. It is essential to share hobbies and have fun together.
When adolescence arrives, whether it’s problems or both, those emotional bonds foster coexistence and conflict resolution. Surfing is a perfect activity to enjoy as a family. It not only unites, connects, and creates bonds but also helps alleviate stress, relaxes, and excites.
Sebas, founder of Mundo-surf, enjoying with his eldest son Daniel in Tarifa
Is surfing an activity for children?
The answer is resounding: YES, without a doubt. From the age of two or three, young ones can start in this discipline. Surfing for kids is extremely fun, stimulating, and educational.
Even from their baby stage, it is advisable to familiarize them with the sea, waves, and foam boards. Without forcing them but with consistency, children and surfing always end up getting along. Especially when they have the example and reference of their parents or siblings at home.
What are the benefits of surfing for children?
When you try to pass on your passion for surfing to the little ones, remember all the advantages this activity provides:
- Improves balance, concentration, motor skills, and coordination.
- Reduces problems such as stress and anxiety.
- Increases self-confidence.
- Helps assume responsibilities and work as a team.
- Enhances socialization.
- Creates connections with the natural environment.
Whether in childhood or youth, activating the practice and passion for surfing is positive. Practicing it as a family also results in a fantastic combination to bond the group and strengthen the emotional relationships among all its members.
An appropriate introduction
We will soon give you good advice on connecting children with surfing. However, it is important to adapt the introduction and initial learning of surfing for children to their age and maturity.
Daniel, 9 years old, with his father’s assistance
In general, although each child is different, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Up to two years old: Allow their passion for surfing to flow naturally through contact with their parents and siblings.
- Between two and three years old: The process should be an introduction to the water, helping them overcome fear and feel comfortable in it. Use games and activities that excite and encourage them. Make sure your child has fun and doesn’t get cold. Use a good wetsuit for children to achieve this.
- Between four and seven years old: You can start using a softboard surfboard to push them on the shore and catch their first waves. As they gain confidence, you can gradually move away from the shore and help them stand up. You can also both surf on the same board, using a large foam surfboard or a stand-up paddleboard. The process should be gradual and without surprises. The goal is for the child to have a good time, get used to the waves, and above all, not develop fear.
Sebas sharing waves with his 4-year-old son Martin on an inflatable Stand Up Paddle board
- Between eight and ten years old is the best time to start receiving specific training in this sport, delve into the technique, and learn the rules of surfing. You can enroll them in a surf school to learn with other children and a specialized instructor. Another option is to continue teaching them yourself. If you choose this second option, you will need a lot of patience and suitable equipment. At this age, it’s a good idea for them to have their own wetsuit and their first surfboard to start practicing alone or accompanied by an adult and gain more autonomy.
Useful recommendations to ignite your children’s passion for surfing
Here are two main blocks of information. If you apply these recommendations and principles and regularly practice surfing, it’s highly likely that your children will follow in your footsteps.
What not to do to encourage surfing for kids:
Avoid these behaviors, as they will generate a rejection effect and other equally negative consequences:
- Forcing them to engage in an activity they don’t feel like doing.
- Pressuring or coercing the child.
- Unless you are an expert with excellent teaching skills and patience, avoid giving them the most important introductory lessons.
- Setting unattainable goals or demanding that they become the next Kelly Slater.
- Focusing on the negative and criticizing instead of emphasizing the positive.
- Turning the relationship between children and surfing into a nightmare due to excess or impertinence.
What you should do to foster passion for surfing in children:
Here are the actions that will help you promote and nurture the passion for surfing that you desire:
- Be a constant example for your children. If they see you enjoying, having fun, and feeling fulfilled in your relationship with surfing, that message will resonate with them.
- Seek qualified instructors and reputable companies to teach them. Specialists have more resources, knowledge, and experience to introduce the kids to surfing.
- Act as a mentor. Having experienced instructors doesn’t exempt you from sharing your experiences, lessons, and perspectives with your little ones. It’s advisable to get them a neoprene wetsuit and a foam surfboard to start the process.
- Always present it as a game. The goal is to make them enjoy, have fun, and share laughs every time you engage in surfing with children.
- Watch good surf movies together. “Surf’s Up,” a highly entertaining animated film, is a good starting point. From there, adjust the movie choices according to the age of the children. “Point Break,” “Chasing Mavericks,” and “Soul Surfer” are good options for older kids.
Daniel, 9 years old, surfing alone on the face of the wave!
In conclusion, when you genuinely want to instill your passion for surfing in your children, communication is key. Just as important is spending quality time with them, uniting children and surfing through your presence. Start today rather than tomorrow! And don’t forget to visit our blog to discover more interesting articles about surfing, bodyboarding, shaping, and surf culture.
