Boating with children: our best boating tips
A boating holiday with children is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend time together. Days on the water unfold slowly, while screens are (mostly) forgotten and even simple moments, such as spotting wildlife, helping with the ropes, and sharing breakfast or lunch on deck, become treasured memories.
It’s natural for parents to have safety boating at the forefront of their minds. The good news is that with the right preparation, it won’t feel stressful or restrictive, but rather an empowering, confidence-building, and genuinely fun shared experience!
In this article, we will bring together our best tips for family-friendly boating to help you create a secure environment on board. Remember, our boats are designed with families in mind, with safe decks, enclosed seating, and user-friendly equipment so even the youngest crew members can enjoy their Le Boat adventure! Whether you’re new to boating or returning for another family holiday, read on for useful tips that will help everyone relax and make the most of their journey.
Lock and mooring safety: how to manage the biggest boating risks
Locks and moorings are often where families feel least confident, and for good reason. These are the moments when boats are closest to hard surfaces, lines are in use, and water levels can change quickly. As we said, the key is preparation, and for added peace of mind, some families choose to have their children wear safety harnesses or leashes while on deck to help reduce the risk of accidental falls.
Here’s how to keep children safe during locks and moorings at every stage of the process.
- Before approaching a lock or docking spot: explain to your children what’s about to happen in simple terms and ask them to move into a pre-agreed “safe zone” on the boat. This is often inside the cabin or seated in the centre of the deck, where they are well away from the edges, ropes, and any moving parts.
- While tied up or waiting in a lock: children should never lean over railings or sit with their legs outside the boat, even when it feels still, as water movement and passing boats can create sudden shifts. Make it a routine for everyone to stay seated or hold a secure handhold during these moments.
- Getting involved in docking or going through a lock: older children can absolutely be involved, and many love having a job to do. Simple tasks, such as passing a rope to an adult, holding a line from a safe position, or calling out distances, can help them feel part of the process without putting them in risky situations. What’s important is that their role is clearly defined and always supervised, turning what could be a tense moment into a shared activity.
Age-specific boating tips: what children need at each stage
Of course, children are not all the same. Depending on their age, they will experience boating holidays in completely different ways, so boat safety works best when it’s adapted.
Below, we break down the main age groups.
Toddlers aged 0-4
Supervision is constant. Well-fitted life jackets should be worn whenever they’re outside, along with physical measures like stair gates, closed cabin doors, and designated play areas where they can move safely. Many families create a “boat safe zone” with cushions, toys, and books, so little ones have somewhere that feels like their own space while the boat is underway.
“Our ‘Dancer’ range of boats is especially popular with families who have younger children. These models feature a lounge/diner at the front of the boat that opens onto a high-sided, outside seating area. Kids love watching where the boat is going while playing safely indoors, and parents appreciate the added peace of mind that comes with a more contained space.”
Amandine Jimenez, Southern Europe Regional Marketing Manager at Le Boat
Young children aged 5-10
At this age, rules start to make sense, making it a great time to introduce simple ones like “no running on deck” or “ask before helping” to give them structure. You can also begin gentle man-overboard awareness by talking through what would happen, rather than acting it out dramatically. Sun safety becomes important here, too: hats, regular water breaks, and applying sunscreen together as part of the daily routine.
Pre-teens and teenagers
They often want more independence, and boating with this age group works best when they’re given responsibility within clear limits. They can help check maps, keep an eye out for signs, assist with fenders, or even steer under close adult supervision once you’re cruising steadily. This helps them build practical skills and feel trusted and engaged. It becomes less about “managing” and more about sharing the boating experience.
Learning from the Le Boat experts
Strong safety habits are built on experience, and there’s reassurance in knowing that the advice you’re following comes from people who work with boats every day.
Cédric Vidal Berenguel, Regional Manager at Le Boat, has been with the company for over 25 years and regularly supports families preparing for their time on the water. His advice is simple and practical: “always stay vigilant, make sure children are in a safe position during every manoeuvre, never allow them to handle ropes, and if someone or something falls into the water, children should be taught not to try to retrieve it, but to call an adult immediately.“
Panagiota Tsounaka, Inventory Manager and former Base Manager at our Thames Base, has been with Le Boat since 2022 and has a wealth of experience with families boating with children. She says: “River and canal boating holidays are a big adventure for little captains! Even when waterways are usually calm, children still need extra care: lifejackets should always be worn on deck, little hands kept clear of ropes and the helm near locks and bridges, and cruising days planned with shorter distances. By slowing down, following the flow, and enjoying the journey, families can turn every trip into lasting memories.”
Florent Courbez, Regional Manager for Northern and Central France, highlights how excitement can sometimes make children forget about potential risks on board. That’s why he strongly encourages families to make lifejackets a non-negotiable habit on deck and to only let children try steering in wide, open stretches, always with an adult right beside them. He also advises planning regular stops along the way, giving children and teenagers a chance to explore and reset. And finally, he reminds families that a boating holiday is a great opportunity to switch off from screens and reconnect with nature, scenery, and wildlife.
Learning from our experts helps families feel confident on the water; if you ever need advice, our Base Teams are always happy to help, making it easy for everyone to enjoy the adventure safely.
How to turn safety into an adventure: create a “Captain’s Watch”
One of the easiest ways to make safety a more enjoyable aspect of your holiday is to give it a name and a purpose. Instead of simply assigning supervision, try designating a Captain’s Watch, transforming it from a rule into a game.
How does the Captain’s Watch work?
During key moments, approaching a lock, docking, or setting off, one adult is “on duty,” fully focused on what’s happening on and around the boat. Children can be invited to join the Captain’s Watch in simple, age-appropriate ways, turning supervision into something they feel part of rather than something happening around them.
Lookout roles for kids
Lookout duties are always a favourite. Younger children can help spot birds, bridges, or signs, while older ones might watch distances or alert the captain when another boat is approaching. It keeps them engaged, observant, and aware of what’s happening on the water!
From watching to helping
As children grow more confident, their role can naturally expand. Simple jobs, such as fetching fenders, checking doors are closed, or reminding everyone about life jackets, make them active participants, reinforcing safety messages in a natural, positive way.
As these routines become part of life on board, you might rotate who joins the Captain’s Watch or create a simple checklist that the family runs through together. Many parents find that boating with kids becomes easier, not harder, as children grow into these shared habits and begin to look out for one another.
What are the everyday habits that support safe boating with children?
Beyond locks and manoeuvres, safe boating with kids is supported by many small, everyday choices. In our experience, here are the best tips for family-friendly boating holidays:
- Keep decks clutter-free to reduce trips and slips.
- Encourage children to wear non-slip shoes on deck.
- Ensure children wear life jackets, especially in destinations where it is mandatory.
- Promote moving rather than running to build body awareness.
- Make hydration and shade breaks a routine to help prevent fatigue.
- Involve children in general boat care, including wiping down surfaces, helping tidy the cabin, or checking that personal items are stowed before moving off.
All these habits reinforce the idea that the boat is a shared space with shared responsibilities, which gives children a sense of ownership.
Finally, remember that confidence grows from calm leadership! Kids take their cues from adult behaviour, so when instructions are clear, voices are steady, and time is taken, they feel secure. This is the secret ingredient for family boating holidays that feel not just manageable, but genuinely special!
A safer boat means a happier boating holiday
Ultimately, boating with youngsters is about knowing where extra care is needed and building habits that help everyone feel protected and involved. With the right mindset, safety doesn’t sit alongside the adventure; it supports it. And when children feel confident on board, they’re free to do what they do best: explore, imagine, help, and enjoy every moment together on the water!
Ready to enjoy all of that as a family?
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