Give your child a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach your child to fish, and you not only feed him for life, but you also create a lifelong habit that you can enjoy together. At Twin Cities Kids Club
, we are all about finding creative ways to bond with your child. Fishing is a great one!
Spending quality time with your child is by far the best reason to take him or her fishing. We want to offer up a few others for your consideration. Fishing is one way to teach your child valuable life lessons and skills that he or she will find useful for the rest of his or her life.
Let’s get started!
1. Patience
It is hard for even the most mature of us to sit still and quiet for long periods. That goes doubly for children. Keeping a child quiet and calm is no easy feat. Fishing can be a great way to demonstrate the value of patience efficiently.
In our day and age, instant gratification is almost a way of life. Our kids can have pretty much whatever they want, whenever they want it. They spend way too much time in front of a screen, pointing and clicking away at whatever strikes their fancy. Too many of them never learn the joy of anticipation.
Taking your children out on the water for an afternoon of fishing will force them to slow down and wait for the thing they want. They need to learn that it is the struggle that lends sweetness to achievement.
2. Respect For Mother Earth
It’s easy to forget, in our sheltered and modern lifestyles, that Mother Earth can be a cruel and formidable mistress. Our arrogance can lead us to believe that we are masters of our environment. How easily we forget that we are but a tiny part of a carefully balanced ecosystem.
When you take your children fishing, point out all the beauty and majesty that Mother Nature has to offer. But also try to teach them how dangerous she can be. A healthy respect for the awesome power that is Mother Nature is an essential trait for everyone.
3. A Love Of The Outdoors
The next logical step after respect is genuine love. Even sadder than people not showing respect for nature is for them to forget how to love our planet.
Earth is magnificent. Those who can appreciate the gift we have been given are lucky enough to find beauty all around them. There is so much to experience and enjoy; so many climates and landscapes and natural wonders to share.
Teach your children to feel awe in the wonder all around them. Point out the calm tranquility of the water. Have them observe the grace of the swimming schools of fish. Foster their love for everything our planet has to offer.
4. Creativity
Kids love puzzles and games. They are a great way to exercise the brain. Anytime you can teach your child the importance of innovation while having fun; you should consider it a win.
When you fish, you must use your wits. Fish are cunning and crafty, and the water can be tricky as well. Teach your child to view fishing as a puzzle that needs to be solved, and they will be hooked.
5. Imagination
When you follow the path of creativity, the next logical step is imagination. As previously discussed, kids these days spend way too much time staring at screens. One of the more unfortunate side effects of this practice is the loss of imagination experienced by modern children.
Ask anyone over the age of 35, and they will tell that they spent the majority of their childhood outside. Odds are, a good portion of that time they spent on the water with a fishing pole in hand. Fishing requires patience and endurance, but it also allows you a chance to stretch your imagination muscles.
The more time your child spends outside, unencumbered by modern technology, the better able they will be to rely on their imagination to entertainment. It’s like anything else; if you don’t use it, you lose it.
6. Satisfaction That Comes From A Hard Day’s Work
In the everyday lives of children, they don’t get too many opportunities to experience the pleasure of seeing a job all the way through to its end. It’s hard for them to understand the satisfaction that comes from knowing you completed something and did it superbly.
Even if the ending is less than stellar, the accomplishment is still sweet. Fishing is an excellent way for children to follow a task through from beginning to end. Sometimes it’s as easy as a quick bite and a smooth reel. Other times it’s a real struggle, and you go all day with only a few little nibbles.
Try to help them understand that the only way to fail is to give up.
7. Preparedness
Fishing is not an overly complicated exercise. If you are adequately prepared, it can be a breeze. Unfortunately, the relative ease of the process is no guarantee of success. So much depends on the luck of the draw.
While you can’t do anything to force the fish to bite, you can teach your children the importance of preparedness. The success of your fishing trip will depend on your ability to properly prep your gear and supplies. Have your children help you get everything ready. Don’t forget to include them in both the setup and cleanup process.
8. Fun!
Don’t forget, the rest of this stuff only matters if you are having fun! Fishing is supposed to be a time to bond and enjoy being together. If you turn it into a chore or a task that needs to be accomplished, you will miss out on the best part of it all.
Fishing is a great way to teach your children how to enjoy the little things in life. Successfully baiting a hook, achieving the perfect cast, laughing together at jokes shared; these are the real rewards that fishing has to offer. Try not to let those moments pass you by without notice.
For tips on preparing for your family fishing trip, check out this list from Take Me Fishing
Head on over to Twin Cities Kids Club for more great ideas for family fun!