Admittedly, it’s not easy to teach others how to surf. It is a technical sport that requires a lot of practice. On top of that, now you’re presented with the task of teaching a kid how to surf. It will be challenging for sure, but it will also be a lot of fun.
Fortunately, kids are known to be more resilient in learning new stuff and facing new challenges compared to adults. So, it is up to you to teach your kid how to surf as efficiently as possible. Don’t worry, it won’t be too difficult. All you need is a surfboard and wetsuit if you’re in the UK from Wetsuit Centre or somewhere similar to get started.
With my tips in this article, you can make sure your kid will learn to surf in no time.
Make them interested in surfing
Obviously, you need to make sure your kid is interested in surfing first before you go ahead with the lesson. It will be so much easier to teach someone to surf if they are interested in it. If your kid is interested in surfing, it will increase the chance of them succeeding and not giving up during practice.
To make them interested in surfing, you can start by taking them to the shore with you. The more they watch surfers in action, the more likely they will want to try it themselves. Furthermore, now that surfing is an Olympic sport, you can show them some videos of professional surfers having fun and competing at the highest level.
Another way, which is also effective, is by showing them yourself. When a kid sees their parents surf, they will usually want to learn how. All in all, you should never force your kid to surf because they will end up hating it later.
Get your kid used to water
Before you go ahead with the lesson, let’s go all the way back to the basics: getting used to the water. It is the same as when you’re teaching your kid how to swim. You can’t expect them to swim when they are still afraid of water.
You can start this process from the time your kid is a toddler. Many parents do this by holding their toddlers on top of the water. Just make sure your kid is relaxed when they are in the water. Slowly but surely, they will get familiar with the feeling of being in the water.
The more comfortable your kid is with swimming, the more confident they will feel. This confidence will surely help them learn how to surf and receive lessons from you.
Start on land
Every beginner should always start on land, including adults. Surfing is about how you use your surfing board to the fullest. There is no better place to learn the basics than on land.
Teach your kid the basic manoeuvres by showing them the moves yourself. You can treat this like a game to make it more fun. Practice pop ups together and whoever can do the most pop ups in one minute wins.
Choose the best spot to practice
By the best spot, I mean somewhere with gentle waves and without too many people. Don’t scare your kid with big, crashing waves. Big waves could give your kid trauma and they will never want to try surfing again. Bumping with other people can ruin the experience, too.
So choose somewhere with gentle waves and less crowded. If they can stand on their board and enjoy the wave they catch, they will feel more confident tackling bigger waves later.
Surf in warm water
If you have access to warm water, you should take your kid to surf there. Surfing in warm water is an enjoyable way for anyone to improve their surfing skills.
Beginners are often still not used to the ocean. The cold water could discourage anyone from surfing. The worse thing that could happen is your kid will think surfing is not fun and give up on their lessons.
If you can teach your kid to surf in warm water, you increase the odds of them falling in love with the sport. Places like the Philippines, Bali and Hawaii are perfect for beginners. However, if you don’t have access to warm water, you can buy your kid a suitable wetsuit for cold water.
Conclusion
Learning how to surf is always tricky and takes patience. From cold water to scary waves, many things can deter kids from continuing their lessons. As a parent, it is your responsibility to keep the lessons fun and exciting. Patience is a must when teaching a kid how to surf. Most importantly, try to show them how fun surfing is by letting them see how much fun you have surfing.
