Boating With Teenagers

Plenty of guides will tell you how you can make boating more fun for your kids, but most of these pieces will focus on very young preschool and school-aged children. None of these tips are going to be very useful when it comes to creating a welcoming boat environment for your teenagers, who have different needs and priorities. 

In order to help you keep your teens engaged and to prevent them from becoming surly or skipping boat outings all together, we’ve gathered up some teen-specific tips. Nobles’ Marine in Crystal River and Leesburg, FL, is proud to be your local boat dealership. Read on to learn how to have a successful and enjoyable boating adventure with your teens!

Let Them Make Decisions

Developing autonomy and the ability to make one’s own choices is a crucial part of growing up. Children of all ages need to be given options and allowed to decide for themselves what is preferable, but those choices are more limited for younger kids. Older kids and teenagers have much more of an awareness of the world around them and are yearning to express themselves and have control over their environments, which is why they focus on clothing, music, and decorating their rooms so much.

In order to transfer those choices to boating, you’ll need to give your teen some options, rather than setting a course and forcing them to go with whatever it is you want to do without any input. Let them determine where you’ll go for a meal at the marina, or allow them to develop a playlist for the journey. Have your teenager assist you with navigating and choosing what direction to go. Giving your teenager some choices will make them more involved in the journey and more engaged in the experience. You’ll both be much happier for it. 

Allow Them To Bring Friends

Teenagers are especially social and seek the camaraderie and support of their peers. If you take a lone teen on board a boat with only adults or younger kids, they’re going to feel out of place and at odds with the situation. But if they get to bring a friend or two along, they’ll automatically be more engaged and less likely to spend their time in the corner of the boat, frantically texting out of boredom and frustration. Instead, they can take selfies and make jokes and enjoy their friends’ company.

Plan Teen-Friendly Activities

While an adult might be happy to gaze upon the horizon and a young child might be content with some Play-Doh on deck, a teenager is going to need something more engaging and age-appropriate to do. Bring a projector on board or a laptop and show a movie. Hold a dance party with their curated playlist. Order pizza at the marina to eat on the boat while you’re docked. Get some inner tubes to tow behind the boat. And ask your teen what they think might be fun! Maybe they’re interested in learning to fish or perhaps they want to learn how to water ski. The only way you’ll know what they want is by soliciting their feedback and incorporating it into your boating plans.

If you’re looking for a boat with excellent features to accommodate the entire family, including your teenagers, come down to Nobles’ Marine. Our inventory includes boat models from the top manufacturers at the best prices around the area. We have dealerships in Crystal River and Leesburg, FL. Visit us today!