Because adults want to make a good impression on kids, fishing can become a real task. But it also can provide an excellent excuse for an adult to get out and do a little fishing. Recreational fishing is not about catching the big one, nor is it is about winning trophies and tournaments. It's about having fun. Just catching a fish is the idea, and too big of a fish, too big of a tussle might thoroughly scare and overwhelm a first-time angler.
Simplicity is fundamental in teaching.
Don't make it a big production because making fishing complicated is guaranteed to produce frustration. Anyone can break a rod, so it is important to teach a child a few lessons on how to protect and take care of tackle. When a young fisher decides that fishing is for him or her, help the child select gear. A child's attention span is short, so don't complicate things. To go fishing, a child doesn't need a boat.