10 Tips for Keeping Kids Entertained on Your Boat

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In general, a boat is a one-stop entertainment shop, providing endless opportunities for family fun and excitement. But occasionally—a long excursion down the coast, your 17th trip to the same lake this summer—circumstances require you to mix things up a little to ensure younger crew members stay happy. Here are 10 tips for keeping your kids entertained on your boat:

1) Enlist your child as a “first mate.” Depending on age, ask your child to provide hands-on assistance—tying cleats, sitting on your lap and steering, tracking your course on a GPS, looking for buoys, washing the boat and more. You can even set up a ranking system and award “skill badges” for mastering certain activities.

2) Turn your boat into a marine science lab. Tap into a child’s natural sense of curiosity and bring gear that encourages aquatic exploration, such as a magnifying glass, hand net, snorkeling mask, note-taking journal and waterproof binoculars. Then, direct your boat to an area such as a remote beach where kids can freely explore the animal- and plant life that resides there.

3) Take them geocaching. With this fun and educational activity, kids get to play treasure seeker and learn how to use a GPS in the process—and you might be surprised what hidden booty lurks right around the corner. Getting started is as simple as choosing your cache, grabbing your navigational device, and searching for hidden treasure. (Read our guide to geocaching.)

4) Throw a boating birthday party. Get creative and host a nautical-themed party for your child. From mermaids to pirates, sea creatures to jungle explorers, there are plenty of options. For younger kids, you might cruise to an island and let them run off steam and partake in some birthday-themed activities; for older children, incorporate snorkeling, fishing or watersports depending on your kid’s interests.

5) Get wet. Few things break up the monotony better than a quick dip, so use your boat as a launching pad for getting into the water as much as possible. A few tubing, water-skiing or wakeboarding runs are great, but if that’s too time-consuming, just letting the wee ones splash around for a few minutes can work miracles.

6) Make it an overnighter. Whether you’re beaching your boat and camping nearby or anchoring and sleeping on the deck, boat camping is a fabulous way to enjoy nature. Make a camping gear checklist, cook and freeze food in advance, and create a comfortable sleeping area using a combination of air mattresses, egg crates, blankets and/or a battery-powered fan. (8 boat camping basics to get you started.)

7) Teach them something new. Even if your kids are fishing, watersports and/or cruising veterans, consider the possibilities:

• Fishing: Take them offshore; fish for a new species; try ice fishing
• Watersports: Teach them new tricks; try an advanced watersport; go snorkeling
• Cruising: Have them research a new destination; teach them navigation basics; point out or stop at landmarks along the way

8) Bust out the electronics. In addition to the aforementioned GPS, don’t leave home for an extended cruise without the following:

• Portable DVD player: An essential time-passer; get nautical with Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid.
• FRS Radios: Endless fun for communicating with the “small fries.”
• Smartphone: Choose from marine-themed kids’ apps such as “Where’s My Water,” “Underwater Wonders” and “Planet Fish.”

9) Break up the trip. While running full throttle from Point A to Point B might get you there faster, this approach can lead to an acute case of no-fun-itis. Consider making the journey part of the adventure, stopping along the way for an off-the-beaten-path picnic or a short sightseeing jaunt ashore.

10) Make it social. Consider cruising with another family and mixing and matching kids during the run—having a peer to share in the adventure can make a big difference to little ones. And remember: MarineMax hosts a ton of family-friendly getaways, complete with kids’ activities, that can keep the little ones entertained and take some pressure off parents.

What are your favorite ways to keep the boating experience fresh and fun for the kids? Share your tips in below.