Children become bored very quickly. Any person who has been a passive third party during a paddling trip knows that sitting in the third seat of a canoe and doing, nothing, is akin to solitary confinement in the outdoors. There are a number of things you can do to keep active bodies and minds interested in paddling. Try to make the route interesting, stopping on sandbars and islands on the way adds to a special sense of interest on a canoe trip. Even young children can appreciate a remote location that is difficult to get to, and the adults will appreciate the, wow, we must be the only people who have ever been here, comments.
Children also enjoy moderate thrills.
Pushing beyond that may be asking for trouble and turning turtle in a Class IV with a five year-old can be down right traumatic to them. Don t let your desire to show them the thrills of whitewater scar their attitude on paddling for life. Letting your child paddle for a while is another way to break the boredom. If you are paddling in a tandem canoe, your child can be seated up front and assist, you in your paddling. The relative impact of the efforts of a child under ten while paddling will be minimal to your overall performance and course.