Help my 3 year old hates my boat!

26searay99 · May 20, 2010

Any suggestions on how toget my 3 year to relax on the boat. He screams like someone is killing him whenever we take it out on the water. I can only drive at idle speed or he screams!
How do I make him enjoy the boat so we can enjoy the boat??:smt089

dpmulvey · May 20, 2010

Let him be the captain. Drive, throttle....

ChuckW · May 20, 2010

Spend a day idling with him in your lap at the wheel. Get him confident with driving and how fun it is to hold onto the wheel. Then the next day do the same thing, but let him (help him) work the throttle. Teach him to push the stick up and back. Let him speed it up a little bit, then slow it down a bit. Gradually build his confidence and teach him how to control the boat from his eyes.

I had the same problem with my littlest, especially in waves, he didn't like the bouncing... The more I let him learn to be the "driver" the more he got used to the motion and learned to love it quickly. Now we have boys days out and all have a blast!

Never force it on them though, it scare 'em away for a long time.

Good luck!!!

Four Suns · May 20, 2010

Get a divorce and don't try and get custody.

Get a new wife and have a new kid and maybe the genes will work out better this time.

charlg · May 20, 2010

Do you a tv with a dvd player? My 3 year old goes for the tv as soon as we board. A movie, snacks, a drink, and he is all set.

Ka1oxd · May 20, 2010

I just had my wife sit in the stern jump seats with the kids on her lap. this was because on that boat it was the calmest ride. do not put them up front. when my daughter was 6 she was getting zero gravity in 4 footers. Coming back in 7, she fell asleep in the stern jump seats.

26searay99 · May 20, 2010

Going to have to try having him help drive the boat. Maybe idling at the dock. Sounds like a good idea.

Summer Fun II · May 20, 2010

Get a divorce and don't try and get custody.

Gary thats funny. :smt043.

Let the little guy drive and it all works out in the end. :smt001

tdschafer · May 20, 2010

"Get a divorce and don't try and get custody.

Get a new wife and have a new kid and maybe the genes will work out better this time. "

LMAO:smt043

I was just going to suggest introducing him to the best part of boating......Cocktail Hour!!!!!:grin:

No seriously, I was lucky because my boys are always asking me to go faster.....I think the above suggestions are the way to go. Tv is always good and letting them explore the boat and get acclimated to it before getting underway may help. If that doesnt work you can always buy him a wake tube!!!! LOL Todd

Presentation · May 21, 2010

Please tell us more.

Does he have ear / hearing issues?

Does loud music or a loud TV bother him?

Do you participate in other motor sports like ATV’s or snowmobiles? Is he bothered by the noise and acceleration during other activities?

Any issues in the car with windows open?

ImpulseIII · May 21, 2010

Putting him/her up for adoption is a good option...I hear Madonna and Angelina are looking again.

Four Suns · May 21, 2010

You could probably make money on the adoption... not sure though. These things depreciate really really fast after about 2 years old but you can see... check out babytrader.com and see what your model is going for.

I also find this works:

and if that doesn't keep them calm, you can add this:

Your child may be a little young, but when they get to be about 10, these tools help with the "back talking" problem:

and

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Slippery When Wet · May 21, 2010

Four Suns said:
Get a divorce and don't try and get custody.

Get a new wife and have a new kid and maybe the genes will work out better this time.

:smt043:smt038:smt043:smt038
:thumbsup:

melida · May 21, 2010

StephenOvalle · May 21, 2010

Have you seen this website? Its purpose is to teach youth about safe boating practices but in a fun way with games, activities and contests. He may learn to associate having fun on the boat via something like this.

http://www.boatingsidekicks.com/kidsite/2010contest/contest800.htm

hemibird · May 21, 2010

Well, my friend had some good wisdom when my kids would go nuts down at the boat. He told me "Go out to the garden pick up a rock and rock them to sleep" lol

AKBASSKING · May 21, 2010

Teach the young guy to drive and work the throttles.......mmmm

Idling at the dock, little guy walking around while you are on the deck..

All of a sudden the throttles come up and the boat is on instant plane........:smt089

Alex F · May 21, 2010

AKBASSKING said:
Teach the young guy to drive and work the throttles.......mmmm

Idling at the dock, little guy walking around while you are on the deck..

All of a sudden the throttles come up and the boat is on instant plane........:smt089

The main idea is to get your kids involved in whatever provides the most interest for them. My kids had fun just sitting on my lap and stearing the boat. I only allow my son (5yr) touch the thurttles at idle speed (just to move them very little). The critical part is to educate the kids not to touch anything unless you're around. It's only a matter of time until he gets comfortable and understands how fun the boating is. Also, while planning your trip make sure to include some fun activities when you get to your destination. This will be a drive for the kids for something to look forward to. If the kids had a great time you can use this to your advantage and remind them that the same fun is waiting for them upon arrival. Bringing friends with kids is one of best helpers as well. If your child sees that other kids having fun while underway it will creat positive affect (most of the time) or at least kids can be occupite with something togeter.

melida said:
Let him communicating with marina and docking the boat
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Melida%20on%20Melida/Grnt1724.jpg
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Melida%20on%20Melida/Grnt1794.jpg

C'mon, not the 3 year olds. VHF is not a toy and sometimes adults forget about the fact that everyone hears the broadcast. No nead to be selfish. There're plenty other things that can keep kids busy.

skibum · May 21, 2010

This may not work in your situation, but...

One Sunday afternoon we were coming back across the Bay from Fairlee Creek in some real slop. The weather guessers were all wrong, and what was supposed to be a nice, sunny, calm, day turned into a day with steady 20kt + winds blowing straight up the Bay making 3 to 4 footers perpendicular to our intended route. I was able to take a diagonal course most of the way, but I had to go about a mile and a half with the seas on my beam. The admiral's 10 yo girl started wailing. She was screaming like a banshee. Since I have never been a parent, there is no expectation that I would handle such things in a proper "parental" way. I simply started matching her wail for wail. She'd scream, I'd scream the same way right back at her with a laugh at the end. After about a minute, she was so angry at me for screaming and laughing at her that she forgot that she was scared by the rough seas. Five minutes later, we rounded the island and hit some normal size waves. I looked at her an laughed. She looked back and said "Stop laughing. I'm mad at you.". I said, "That's ok. For the past 5 minutes you haven't been scared by the waves. I'm sorry.".

Now, she just yells at me to hit the "big waves" when I am driving...

ShamuToo · May 21, 2010

My wife beat ours with a belt. She's German. They give her no crap.

Me either.

Help my 3 year old hates my boat!

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