Since ALL kids are islands unto themselves, nurturing a young love affair with surfing starts with you, the teacher. The key is patience, patience, patience. Don’t rush your little one into the water and on to a board. If he just wants to hang on the beach and build a sand castle then so be it. If your child feels frustrated or scared, this will only set your whole plan back a few steps.
A Little Subliminal Priming Never Hurts:
1. Bring a board along every time you go to the beach, and your kid will eventually want to try it out.
2. Show him some surf movies and go to the local surf shop every once in a while
Keep your Child Safe:
If your child is between 3 and 8 years old, I would recommend you suit him up with a thin life preserver. It will help build confidence and help you feel a little better when the inevitable wipeout holds your precious one down for a few seconds.
Also, a soft board is an invaluable tool in helping build confidence. They run about $300-$400 new. Ask your local surf school or surf shop if they have used soft boards which can go for very cheap. Also, they are often rented at most bigger surf shops. They are very wide and buoyant, made of soft bodyboard material, and have dull flexible fins. All of these designs are geared towards bruise-free and blood-free surf sessions.
