Why Every Parent Should Encourage Their Child to Surf

Why Every Parent Should Encourage Their Child to Surf

Some people see surfing as just another sport, a leisure activity that is one among hundreds you can choose to take up. For others, however, it means so much more. To them surfing isn’t just something undertaken to pass the time on sunny days but a way of life that helps define their well-being and very outlook on life.

For my friend, it is the cornerstone of the strong relationship that he now enjoys with his daughter 10 years after taking her out on the water for the first time. Even today he can still remember the look of excitement and accomplishment on her face when she caught her first wave.

“It’s something that stays with you always” he told me “and knowing that you were the one who helped put that look on her face was a great feeling. Surfing isn’t just about riding a board on water, it’s about being part of a community that every parent should encourage their child to embrace.”

The Benefits are Many

While surfing is fun it also offers so many practical benefits that your son or daughter won’t even think about once they’re in the water.

What a lot of people don’t recognize is that the sport is one of the best forms of exercise there is today. Consider for a moment the amount of paddling involved trying to battle the power of the ocean or the balance and dexterity required to master the art of riding and you quickly get a feel for just what a work out is involved.

By getting your child into the sport at an early you can pretty much guarantee a healthy lifestyle for years to come which is a blessing in itself if you consider modern rates of obesity in the West.

For one of the great things about surfing is that you can be doing it for what seems like 10 minutes, only to find out it’s been 2 hours. I don’t know about you, but I can sometimes be running for what seems like an hour only to realize it’s been 2 minutes (is there anything more depressing?). For me, this is why surfing will always remain a winner.

Mental Health and Serenity

As well as the physical challenges involved the sport also provides a welcome mental health benefit. Whilst the initial learning process, like most things, can be frustrating the pay offs are literally never ending.

To be in the water with friends, away from the stresses of modern life is to give your child a unique taste of tranquillity in our ever faster paced lives.

And Finally…

Most parents would tell you that they’re lucky to see their teenage child for 5 minutes at a time due to the heavy social lives that generally exclude embarrassing mums and dads.

Surfing, however, provides a compelling reason to spend more time together while offering the chance to build an even stronger relationship. This is something I have seen first-hand on many occasions. The opportunity to be silly together, to laugh together, to discuss and to experience together are the kind that will last a lifetime.

After many years spent surfing with his daughter, my friend is in no doubt that it remains one of the best decisions he’s ever made, and when I see them together, in and out of the water, I know without a doubt that he is right.

About The Author

Josh writes about beach life, surfing, travel and more. His passion for surfing takes him to amazing places around the World and comes through in his regular articles as he explores all aspects of the sport. He sells Havaianas Flip-flops and Animal Flip-flops to help fund his travels.