Young kids on holiday

[NBnutter]

hi all, well end of may myself, my partner, our best friend and our 2 young kids 5 and 7 will be boating out from Excellence afloat at Valley cruises for a weeks hol down to Banbury and back. My partner Mark and our best friend have boated for years and I have been out a couple of times but this is kids first time. They both seemed to enjoy helping at the locks yesterday for a single boater ( I thanked him so much for letting the kids help him ) . I am worried however that they may get bored with long stretches without anything to do? any tips would be helpful.

As we are hoping to liveaboard in a few years time this is like a taster for the children.

[Guest]

Firstly an excellent choice of hire company - lovely boats!

 

I would doubt the kids will get bored, but it depends really on how good they are at amusing themselves and much they need to be kept amused. our first time boating with kids was with older teenagers and we feared this too - but they loved it, it was unique to them at the time and they revelled in it.

 

Difference was of course they could do the locks and bridges on their own so little chance to get bored really, but no reason why as you have already discovered why they can't 'help'

 

You might want to arm yourself with a couple of cheap binos and some wildlife/bird spotting books to stave off any boredom on some of the more quiet stretches.

 

And avail yourself of the life jackets the hire co. provide - when we have youngsters on the boat the rule was normally - 'outside the boat life jackets on, inside you can take 'em off', especially important around the locks and bridges which is where most accidents seem to happen.

 

Enjoy your break

Edited April 28, 2013 by The Dog House

[Chalky]

We started cruising with young children and whilst they were interested in helping they got bored on the long sections between locks. What we did was:-

 

Find out where the canal side activities are.

Most boat yards have a shop that sells ice ice cream etc

Find out where the parks are -there's a park in Napton that's about 10 minutes walk from the canal. There's also one in Banbury - Spice ball park.

Find out where the swimming pools are. There's a leisure centre about 2 minutes from the canal in Banbury.

We had a TV on board so they could watch DVDs.

Craft activities...

Bird watching books etc so they can spot the different birds and animals.

Sweets and biscuits for bribes!

Depending on the time of the year I'd get them to walk along the tow path collecting blackberries etc so we could make a crumble for tea.

When we stopped I'd get them to help wash the boat and polish the brass work etc. Makes them feel part of the crew rather than passengers.

 

I used to put the tool box in the rear hatch (Trad stern) so they could stand on it and "steer" the boat. I would stand behind with hand on the tiller.

 

Have they read any Arthur Ransome (or had it read to them)?

[DeanS]

Sea Magnets are fun....off the end of a stick, and pull up nails and whatever from the bottom of the canal. Make them wear their life jacket though. Ours leaned over too far to see what he had caught. Splosh.

 

Create a game out of collecting kindling for firewood.

 

feed the geese/ducks etc

 

photography...cheap digital cameras nice for kids.

 

 

Luckily my teen can handle the widebeam as well as anybody, so in locks I leave him at the tiller and I do the paddles. Plus by now he knows all my little hand signals...like "the tv aerial is about to be ripped off under that low bridge..."

[hvdb]

Our children were about the same ages as yours when we had our first narrowboat holiday and they enjoyed it very much.

 

We did insist on them wearing life jackets, they are both strong swimmers from a very young age, but there was no helping at the locks if they did not wear them. When they were playing inside, we used to yell 'LOCK' to them and they rushed to put the jackets on.

 

Our daughter took it upon her to prepare lunch for us, some cup-a-soup, and sandwiches. She took great pleasure in cutting the sandwiches into quite a lot of tiny pieces, but who's complaining?

 

When you are to go to a pub, choose one with an children's play area so they can get rid off some energy.

 

We always had lots of paper and crayons to keep them busy, and books, as they like to read.

As said before, DVDs are nice as well.

And my Mum prepared a small case for them to take along, with small treats (some sweets, toys, games), and they were allowed one of those each day. She continued to do so for many years, and they loved that "Blue Case".

 

I'm a bit worried about your timing, to me it seems that your trip from Valley Cruisers to Banbury and back in a week is a bit optimistic. Canalplan says it takes 7 days, 4 hours when cruising for 7 hours a day. And that means cruising, and no time for swimming pools or other leasure activities during the day.

When hiring for a week, you'll have 6 full days for cruising, plus some hours on the first day after picking up the boat. Normally you'll have to hand in the boat round 9 in the morning on the last day.

You can do this trip in a week, but it will mean longer days (say 9 hours a day), and I'm not sure if this is liked by young children. We found it easier for them (and us) to do shorter days when the children were young and to allow plenty of time for playing in parks or on the towpath.

(Sorry to end in a pessimistic mood, just making sure you have a wonderful holiday)

 

Helen

 

 

 

 

[NBnutter]

Firstly an excellent choice of hire company - lovely boats!

 

I would doubt the kids will get bored, but it depends really on how good they are at amusing themselves and much they need to be kept amused. our first time boating with kids was with older teenagers and we feared this too - but they loved it, it was unique to them at the time and they revelled in it.

 

Difference was of course they could do the locks and bridges on their own so little chance to get bored really, but no reason why as you have already discovered why they can't 'help'

 

You might want to arm yourself with a couple of cheap binos and some wildlife/bird spotting books to stave off any boredom on some of the more quiet stretches.

 

And avail yourself of the life jackets the hire co. provide - when we have youngsters on the boat the rule was normally - 'outside the boat life jackets on, inside you can take 'em off', especially important around the locks and bridges which is where most accidents seem to happen.

 

Enjoy your break

we went with this company as Mark has hired this boat from them twice before and found it fabulous.

Yes the rule will be life-jackets on if outside at all times.

ah good idea I have a couple of little binos in the wardrobe somewhere I will hunt them out x

thank you xx

 

We started cruising with young children and whilst they were interested in helping they got bored on the long sections between locks. What we did was:-

 

Find out where the canal side activities are.

Most boat yards have a shop that sells ice ice cream etc

Find out where the parks are -there's a park in Napton that's about 10 minutes walk from the canal. There's also one in Banbury - Spice ball park.

Find out where the swimming pools are. There's a leisure centre about 2 minutes from the canal in Banbury.

We had a TV on board so they could watch DVDs.

Craft activities...

Bird watching books etc so they can spot the different birds and animals.

Sweets and biscuits for bribes!

Depending on the time of the year I'd get them to walk along the tow path collecting blackberries etc so we could make a crumble for tea.

When we stopped I'd get them to help wash the boat and polish the brass work etc. Makes them feel part of the crew rather than passengers.

 

I used to put the tool box in the rear hatch (Trad stern) so they could stand on it and "steer" the boat. I would stand behind with hand on the tiller.

 

Have they read any Arthur Ransome (or had it read to them)?

thank you for your reply!!

I have got on my list craft stuff, drawing things, books, dvd's and DS for boy and teddys for girl!

Mark is going to let them try a bit of steering and they can help at locks.

Good to know there ids a park at Banbury!!

 

Sea Magnets are fun....off the end of a stick, and pull up nails and whatever from the bottom of the canal. Make them wear their life jacket though. Ours leaned over too far to see what he had caught. Splosh.

 

Create a game out of collecting kindling for firewood.

 

feed the geese/ducks etc

 

photography...cheap digital cameras nice for kids.

 

 

Luckily my teen can handle the widebeam as well as anybody, so in locks I leave him at the tiller and I do the paddles. Plus by now he knows all my little hand signals...like "the tv aerial is about to be ripped off under that low bridge..."

thanks for the reply!!

um magnets sound fun but think my 2 would both be sploshers!!

the idea of little cameras is a good one!!

 

hahahahaha like the hand signals message!!

 

Our children were about the same ages as yours when we had our first narrowboat holiday and they enjoyed it very much.

 

We did insist on them wearing life jackets, they are both strong swimmers from a very young age, but there was no helping at the locks if they did not wear them. When they were playing inside, we used to yell 'LOCK' to them and they rushed to put the jackets on.

 

Our daughter took it upon her to prepare lunch for us, some cup-a-soup, and sandwiches. She took great pleasure in cutting the sandwiches into quite a lot of tiny pieces, but who's complaining?

 

When you are to go to a pub, choose one with an children's play area so they can get rid off some energy.

 

We always had lots of paper and crayons to keep them busy, and books, as they like to read.

As said before, DVDs are nice as well.

And my Mum prepared a small case for them to take along, with small treats (some sweets, toys, games), and they were allowed one of those each day. She continued to do so for many years, and they loved that "Blue Case".

 

I'm a bit worried about your timing, to me it seems that your trip from Valley Cruisers to Banbury and back in a week is a bit optimistic. Canalplan says it takes 7 days, 4 hours when cruising for 7 hours a day. And that means cruising, and no time for swimming pools or other leasure activities during the day.

When hiring for a week, you'll have 6 full days for cruising, plus some hours on the first day after picking up the boat. Normally you'll have to hand in the boat round 9 in the morning on the last day.

You can do this trip in a week, but it will mean longer days (say 9 hours a day), and I'm not sure if this is liked by young children. We found it easier for them (and us) to do shorter days when the children were young and to allow plenty of time for playing in parks or on the towpath.

(Sorry to end in a pessimistic mood, just making sure you have a wonderful holiday)

 

Helen

thanks for your wonderful reply!

I hadnt thought about letting them help prepare for meal times!! they could be the runner for the flasks of tea for the driver!!

you have now got me looking at pubs where we intend to stop each night to see if they have play parks!!

As for the timing, thre big boys say they have done this trip in the alloted time before so I am taking their word for it x

[Jerra]

As for the timing, thre big boys say they have done this trip in the alloted time before so I am taking their word for it x

I have no doubt they have done the trip in the allotted time before but have they done it in the allotted time and allowed time for the young ones to visit/take part in activities off the boat to prevent boredom?

 

A number of posters have pointed out the need for visiting parks baths etc.

[Starcoaster]

I know this isn't exactly relevant to the topic that you are asking about, but I'd like to make a plea to you as boaters with kids, and all people who boat with kids- teach the kids about why it is important to keep their hands inside of the body of the boat.

We went on a short trip a couple of weeks ago of less than a mile and then back through the fairly busy stretch by Calcutt locks, and twice on that trip with different boats, when sharing a lock and when breasted up waiting for a lock, one of the young-ish children aboard sitting in the bow well deck put their hands between the two boats to vaguely try and push them apart when we were close or touching.

Both times I tried to explain to them not to, ie, they would never be able to push the two boats apart and could quite easily end up with a crushed hand, but I think that both times they didn't really get what I was saying and (quite rightly in some respects) were a bit alarmed that a stranger was speaking to them, and so did not really understanding what I was saying or why.

I found it a bit alarming as one of them could have been injured so easily from something so small and simple, and neither family had left the children unsupervised or poorly managed so it certainly wasn't down to the parents not being sensible about things.

 

I totally get why kids are apt to put their hands out between boats to (try to) push off a boat that is coming at them and potentially going to knock them (as when side by side in a lock) I imagine it is almost instinctive, but it would be so easy to crush a small hand by doing so.

[DustyDave]

I've got young kids the same age. They rarely help with locks....preferring to stay inside the boat until we stop. Once we've stopped they jump out and find things on the towpath to play with. If it wasn't for the things we have on the boat they would get very bored. They've got books, colouring stuff, toys, balls, lego, etc. We've also got some throws on the boat which I use to make little dens for them. We've got all the tech stuff as well but we have usage limits at home so they don't expect any more on the boat.

The main thing we've found with the kids is that 8am-6pm cruising is out of the question. We tend to set off at about 10am and finish at around 4pm (actually that's a long day for us). It probably sounds like a hardship to do such short days but we've come to enjoy them as much as the kids.

If we get good weather then the kids love ice cream. They normally follow that with a good session with some bubble machines on the front of the boat (outside). Picnics and BBQ's go down very well. Despite all the non boat type things we do they still love being on the boat.

 

Enjoy the trip but don't forget to do it at the kids pace rather than adult pace. Ignore those who are racing around the canals. It's about enjoying the trip....not about how far you get. The kids may love doing 10 hours cruising a day....but mine don't.

 

Drop me a message if you've got any other questions about kids on boats (as I said mine are almost exactly the same age - and I've got a third who's slightly younger).

 

Cheers,

 

Dave

Edited May 1, 2013 by DustyDave

[ditchcrawler]

hi all, well end of may myself, my partner, our best friend and our 2 young kids 5 and 7 will be boating out from Excellence afloat at Valley cruises for a weeks hol down to Banbury and back. My partner Mark and our best friend have boated for years and I have been out a couple of times but this is kids first time. They both seemed to enjoy helping at the locks yesterday for a single boater ( I thanked him so much for letting the kids help him ) . I am worried however that they may get bored with long stretches without anything to do? any tips would be helpful.

As we are hoping to liveaboard in a few years time this is like a taster for the children.

I can't see you getting that far unless you do long days and no stops, which with small children could well be a mistake

[Barry]

Things to do while travelling between locks....

 

How about small reference books that helps young-uns to identify trees, wild flowers, and other plants. The boat will be going slow enough to give them time to look them up - or they could photograph them and then save the photos to look things up on the internet.

 

Use passing boats to your advantage - make games like allotting points for boat colours. 10 points for common colours like green but 50 points for rare colours like purple. Consecutive boats with the same colour doubles the standing score. Carry the score over to the following day or begin again and try to beat the previous day's score

 

Help your kids to take an interest in boats by giving different numbers of points for design features like trad, semi-trad, and cruiser sterns. Tug deck or well deck. Chimneys that identify solid fuel stoves, numbers of chimneys, portholes.

 

Deduct points for Rosie and Jim on display

 

Make up stories up incorporating boat names and the characters driving the boats according to what they are wearing or what they can read from body language

[NBnutter]

I have no doubt they have done the trip in the allotted time before but have they done it in the allotted time and allowed time for the young ones to visit/take part in activities off the boat to prevent boredom?

 

A number of posters have pointed out the need for visiting parks baths etc.

my kids have always been bought up in the countryside so I have no doubt that they will find things on the towpaths to keep them amused, we have scheduled a couple of stops at parks.

 

I've got young kids the same age. They rarely help with locks....preferring to stay inside the boat until we stop. Once we've stopped they jump out and find things on the towpath to play with. If it wasn't for the things we have on the boat they would get very bored. They've got books, colouring stuff, toys, balls, lego, etc. We've also got some throws on the boat which I use to make little dens for them. We've got all the tech stuff as well but we have usage limits at home so they don't expect any more on the boat.

 

The main thing we've found with the kids is that 8am-6pm cruising is out of the question. We tend to set off at about 10am and finish at around 4pm (actually that's a long day for us). It probably sounds like a hardship to do such short days but we've come to enjoy them as much as the kids.

 

If we get good weather then the kids love ice cream. They normally follow that with a good session with some bubble machines on the front of the boat (outside). Picnics and BBQ's go down very well. Despite all the non boat type things we do they still love being on the boat.

 

Enjoy the trip but don't forget to do it at the kids pace rather than adult pace. Ignore those who are racing around the canals. It's about enjoying the trip....not about how far you get. The kids may love doing 10 hours cruising a day....but mine don't.

 

Drop me a message if you've got any other questions about kids on boats (as I said mine are almost exactly the same age - and I've got a third who's slightly younger).

 

Cheers,

 

Dave

thanks for that, early starts wont be a problem as my 2 are always up and raring to go by 6 am!! insomniacs!! we have taken the kids for walks along the towpaths and they have become great at helping single handed boaters to do the locks, loving every minute. I have got quite fit chasing them from lock to lock!!

 

they have sorted a rota of whos doing locks and whos helping to drive on what days, so just think it is the long stretches inbetween locks that will be the boredom test. drawing and DVD seem to be high on their list of things to take!

 

My son is interested in buildings so we are going to go slow through the towns so he can look up names and what they are and write them down for investigatipon at a later date.

 

thank you and if I get stuck I will certainly be back to you for ideas!!

 

Things to do while travelling between locks....

 

How about small reference books that helps young-uns to identify trees, wild flowers, and other plants. The boat will be going slow enough to give them time to look them up - or they could photograph them and then save the photos to look things up on the internet.

 

Use passing boats to your advantage - make games like allotting points for boat colours. 10 points for common colours like green but 50 points for rare colours like purple. Consecutive boats with the same colour doubles the standing score. Carry the score over to the following day or begin again and try to beat the previous day's score

 

Help your kids to take an interest in boats by giving different numbers of points for design features like trad, semi-trad, and cruiser sterns. Tug deck or well deck. Chimneys that identify solid fuel stoves, numbers of chimneys, portholes.

 

Deduct points for Rosie and Jim on display

 

Make up stories up incorporating boat names and the characters driving the boats according to what they are wearing or what they can read from body language

Fantastic Ideas!! I have written them down and will talk to kids about how to put this in to practice!! going to go buy a book on trees an a moment!!

have thought about getting a little camera for them so they can take pics of their travels and see how many different things they can spot of interest!

thank you for a fab response!!

[Barry]

Fantastic Ideas!! I have written them down and will talk to kids about how to put this in to practice!! going to go buy a book on trees an a moment!!

have thought about getting a little camera for them so they can take pics of their travels and see how many different things they can spot of interest!

thank you for a fab response!!

 

Its a pleasure.

 

Actually the game using points for colours and types of vehicle came from the long journeys my family made when I was a child and we drove from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to Cornwall in an old Dormobile caravan that cruised at 50mph. We used to make words out of car number plates too

[Jerra]

One day I will work out why I sometimes can't post underneath the quote!

 

Following Bazza's idea I-spy books can add the touch of game/competition by having points for what they spot.

 

http://www.ispymichelin.com/

Things to do while travelling between locks....

 

How about small reference books that helps young-uns to identify trees, wild flowers, and other plants. The boat will be going slow enough to give them time to look them up - or they could photograph them and then save the photos to look things up on the internet.

[Stephen Sugg]

When I was a nipper on boat holidays, we would spend the weekend before we went making small woooden boats out of off cuts of wood, we'd then tow them alongside the boat when we went, quite old fashioned, but fun.

 

The "spotting" thing is well worth it, boats with the same name as members of the family etc. One that I still do now in my canoe is tennis ball spotting. See how many you can spot in a day (the Medway is a hotspot for ball spotters).

 

I'm also going with Excellence Afloat, weekend of 17 - 20th May on their little one. I'm glad to have read so many positive things about them.

 

Have fun!

[NBnutter]

Its a pleasure.

 

Actually the game using points for colours and types of vehicle came from the long journeys my family made when I was a child and we drove from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to Cornwall in an old Dormobile caravan that cruised at 50mph. We used to make words out of car number plates too

the kids have decided they want to try to spot the 3 different types, trad, semi trad and cruiser. plus will be trying to write down boat names to see if we can look them up and if they blog!!

 

When I was a nipper on boat holidays, we would spend the weekend before we went making small woooden boats out of off cuts of wood, we'd then tow them alongside the boat when we went, quite old fashioned, but fun.

 

The "spotting" thing is well worth it, boats with the same name as members of the family etc. One that I still do now in my canoe is tennis ball spotting. See how many you can spot in a day (the Medway is a hotspot for ball spotters).

 

I'm also going with Excellence Afloat, weekend of 17 - 20th May on their little one. I'm glad to have read so many positive things about them.

 

Have fun!

you will really enjoy the week on their boat, they are well fitted and clean and so easy to steer.Have a great weekend and let me know how you get on!! Where are you planning on going?

[Grace and Favour]

OP :

 

I think the posted responses have given some excellent ideas - - (I can't see your kids being bored)

 

Just one further suggestion...

 

With all the photo's., logs, lists, samples (etc) that the chillen will be creating - have you considered the youngsters assemble all this material and create a 'project' for their school/classmates

[Barry]

Ooh Yeah!

 

"What I did on my holidays"

 

Should be a cracker

[Richard T]

There is a very good guide to canals aimed at younger users - can't remember what is called at present but am going to our boat later today so will post again. Its published by the RYA.

[Richard T]

Book is Go Inland. ISBN9781905104413

[steven wilkinson]

what an uplifting thread! One of the most positive I have read for ages!

[Janet S]

what an uplifting thread! One of the most positive I have read for ages!

 

Agreed....I can't wait to get my little grandson on board.

 

Janet

[NBnutter]

OP :

 

I think the posted responses have given some excellent ideas - - (I can't see your kids being bored)

 

Just one further suggestion...

 

With all the photo's., logs, lists, samples (etc) that the chillen will be creating - have you considered the youngsters assemble all this material and create a 'project' for their school/classmates

 

 

Ooh Yeah!

 

"What I did on my holidays"

 

Should be a cracker

Thanks for the idea the kids have been and bought scrap books to make a visual record of their adventures aboard!! Im sure it will get well looked at at school and everywhere else they take it!!

 

a quick update......the kids now are proud owners of baseball hats with the word CREW sew on to wear on the holiday and have canal art to colour in, Mucky waters books to read and have even bought a canal DVD to watch!! they have gone narrowboat crazy!!

 

All I have ot do now is guess the weather for that week and try to pack enough clothes but not too much!!