Every summer when I was growing up, we took a family cruise. The destinations varied, and most were pretty cool. But I distinctly remember my brothers and I having certain responsibilities onboard. Looking back, it’s the smartest thing my parents could have done. It kept us busy, entertained, and we took ownership in the vacation.
Here’s a list of some of the responsibilities your kids can share:
- Docking the boat (usually a team effort anyway)
- Cleaning (a part of the boating experience)
- Tying knots (and using them)
- Driving (ain’t nothing better)
- Cooking (the galley is where I invented my famous Corn, Spinach, Cheese and Shrimp Scramble)
- Fishing (always a competition)
- Set the Waypoints on the GPS (they probably could teach you a few things about some of the electronics)
- Use the Cruising Guides (let them plan the trip)
- Set the Anchor (from dropping it to cleating it off and pulling it back up)
- Row the boat ashore (a dinghy is a great first boat)
- Hoist and set the sails (get involved with the strategies of sailing; learn the points of sail)
- Clean the bottom (kids love to swim)
- Watch for Buoys (and other boats)
- Tidy the Toys (from skis to snorkels, a boat is a great place to teach the importance of organization)
- Read the Charts (they’re complicated, it helps to have a second set of eyes)
- Use the gadgets (lights, bilge pumps, VHF Radios, Radar, etc.)
- Learn Cloud Formations (so many lessons in the clouds)
See Also: