One of the best things about fishing is that it provides an opportunity for families to spend some quality time together out in the nature. Fishing is a peaceful and relaxing way to spend the day and detox from technology and the use of screen and devices.
Kids of all ages can go fishing, as long as you match the trip to their age: focus on the fun of the day, and not on catching the biggest fish.
Fishing together is a good idea to pass your children the love for spending time outdoors. Introducing your little ones to fishing will create memories that will last a lifetime and it’s a wonderful chance to teach them about nature and conservation.
Too many kids aren’t going out as often as they should, so prepare to bring them on your next fishing trip, you have plenty of reasons to do so!
Here are some great lessons for your kids to learn, if you take them out fishing.
Patience
Patience is a skill that every kid should learn. Life is full of boring situations that your kids will need to face; lacking patience can make these events even more frustrating. Teaching children how to wait for something will instill the idea that acting out impatiently isn’t the way to get what they want. It can take minutes to hours to catch a single fish: this will help them learn the art of patience and how to control their emotions. It is a key skill they will need for school, sport and in life.
Fishing encourages problem solving
There are a lot of aspects to consider when you go out fishing: the type of lure and bait, the weather, water temperature, the time of the day you go fishing, and so on. Fishing with your kids gives you a chance to teach them problem-solving skills. Demonstrate your best tricks and encourage them to come up with alternatives if you catch no fish, such as trying another bait or changing location. Catching a fish thanks to a new solution or idea will be the best reward. Fishing is never an exact science and it provides the perfect opportunity to test problem-solving skills in the real world.
Love for nature
Unfortunately, children spend too much time inside and have little opportunities to go out in the nature. Fishing provides them with a great chance for a different entertainment. Not only they will take a break from the screen, but they will learn more about the natural world. Encourage your children to ask questions and enjoy the environment, and teach them to identify the local trees and the names of the fish species you see. You can teach them about the species you’re after or you catch that day and give a little backstory, such as what they eat and how big they grow.
Learn survival skills that schools don’t teach
Every parent should be able to teach basic survival skills for kids to keep them safe. Fishing is one of the most basic skill that all kids should possess. You can also push yourself further by teaching them how to prepare an animal to eat if the need arises. On a fishing trip, your kids can also learn how to tie different knots, which is a critical ability to have in potentially dangerous situations as well as how to make a fire, swim or the proper use of a knife.
Learn where the food comes from
Fishing is one of the best activity to open your kid’s eyes about where the food comes from. This will help them understand food preservation and where the food that is served at their table originates. If your child doesn’t like to eat fish or seafood, it’s the perfect opportunity to make him or her curious about it.
Fishing teaches perseverance
A fish doesn’t just bite on a hook immediately. Getting a fish takes determination and perseverance. You can’t give up after only a few minutes. You must wait until you finally get the fish, sometimes for hours. The whole process can last a while and your kids will learn to persevere for a long time. Fishing can teach your kids that they need to keep trying and trying to get what they want. When they finally get the fish, they’ll understand that every success comes from hard work and never giving up. This is an invaluable lesson that will be very useful in your kids’ life, during school and for their future career.
Improves confidence
A kid that gets confidence by succeeding in one activity will carry it in other aspects of his life such as school, sport or friendships. Once your kids see that they can catch a fish, it will boost their self-esteem. But try not to make catching a fish the only goal of the day: focus on the process and the fun of the activity instead. No one can catch a fish at every cast, not even professional anglers: teach your children that not getting any fish is also part of the experience, this way, they will learn that they can’t always win, but they can still find great enjoyment in the process.
Conservation
When you’re out fishing, you can teach your son or daughter about protecting natural resources. Tell them about regulations that prevent fish that are too small from being taken and the fishing limits for different species. It’s very important to teach children that certain wildlife needs protection. This way, they will know that it’s important to live in balance with nature and respect our environment.
What to bring when going fishing with your kids
When you go out with children, preparation is key. Bring plenty of snacks, water, blankets and chairs for the kids to sit down if you’re fishing at a pond or lake. Fishing with your kid doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Bring the essential equipment and you’re good to go.
If your children have been with you on fishing trips already and seem to enjoy it, you might think about buying them their first fishing rod, or a small tackle box. Imitating the adults is both fun and educating for children.
Also, be sure to make safety a priority. Bring sunscreen protection and make sure to apply it often. Don’t forget your fishing sunglasses and consider getting your child a good pair of polarized glasses too. The light reflected on the water is stronger than in normal conditions and can damage your child’s vision as well as yours. Go together to the store to choose the perfect fishing equipment for your little ones. They’ll feel like a true fisherman and will be more excited about going out on your trip!
Conclusions
Bringing your kids out fishing should be a fun end entertaining activity. Try to keep it short for the first time you go out: you children will hardly enjoy many hours fishing, especially if they’re really young and you haven’t planned other activities for the day. Focus on the fun of the experience to make sure they’ll want to go again. Few things are as exciting as the smile on your sons’ or daughter’s face when they enjoy nature or catch their first fish. So pack up your fishing rods and tackle box and get ready for a memorable trip.