Abridged from Simplify Your Kids Lives...Take Them Fishing.
By Stef Kenyon The 1998 Official Guide to Bass Fishing

Courtesy of eAngler.com

Wouldn't it be nice if there were an activity where both you and your children could just relax and be together without the noise and frenzy of video games?  And while your dreaming, how about making it an activity that would even help the kids learn about the meaning of life? Well, there is and always has been. We just forgot! 

Going fishing with your kids could be the answer. There are many reasons why fishing is good for kids. Certainly, they learn to appreciate the value of nature. But there's much more!

Baiting a fishing hook, casting the line, waiting for a bite, and reeling it in are all procedures that require adherence to rules. This is a fun way to reinforce the need to accept and follow rules based activities correctly. Since rules based activities permeate our lives from cradle to grave, why not teach this to your children in this totally positive way?

In the world of instant gratification that our children live in, imagine teaching them PATIENCE! Waiting for a fish to bite requires patience and sometimes lots of it. There are so few opportunities for children to learn patience in today's world. What a great lesson in preparation for the PATIENCE required to raise their own children someday!

Don't forget the concentration in a quiet environment. Although, our children learn concentration and good hand/eye coordination from video games, they are blasted with noise from computers, stereos, radios, TV's, arcades, screaming siblings and more just about everywhere they go! All this creates a world of constant noise. We need to give our kids some time to be quiet. To learn to savor quiet time and the peace that goes with it. As life gets more and more complicated for them, they are going to need time to recharge their batteries in order to cope.

And most important of all, quality time spent with their parents is the best benefit of all! This is the stuff that makes good, strong, healthy, and happy children who will pass this legacy on to their own children and ultimately, the world.

One major misconception that today's parents have is that their children must be involved in an overload of activities. Keep them busy and they'll stay out of trouble. However, this could be a dangerous path to take. It creates stress, inability in children to entertain themselves, and teaches children that they have to always be going at full speed. And where are mom and dad throughout all this? Your child could end up spending more time with the coach than his parents.

And what about misplaced priorities? Where does your child learn to place homework, reading, and family activities in their lives? At the bottom of the list?

Fishing, on the other hand, forces you and your children to shift gears. Tell them to put down the electronic fishing game for a while and carry them off for a day of the real thing.

Studies have shown that children who participate in outdoor activities such as fishing and wildlife watching not only know more about the environment but they develop a deep understanding of ecology that cannot be taught in classrooms and books. They have to experience the real thing.

85% of today's freshwater anglers started fishing when they were children. Fishing with your children today, will give them a lifetime of enjoyment. Most adult anglers remember fishing with their dads as one of the highlights of their childhood.

When taking your kids out to fish, keep in mind that the reasons they like to fish are different from what motivates you. Adult anglers fish primarily for relaxation, to be with friends and family, and for the sport.   Kids are different. They want action. The thrill is in the CATCH!

Make sure to take your kids where they are catching something, anything, to keep them interested until they are old enough to want specific species and to learn the techniques required for the catch.  Teaching kids the importance of catch and release shows them that the enjoyment is in the sport and not to take more than the family can eat.

Although fishing does teach patience, don't expect more than your kids can, by their nature, deliver. Take frequent breaks. If by land, let them run around catching butterflies. If by sea, move the boat to different spots. Can the kids jump in for a swim? Take the time to instruct them on other wonders of nature. Fishing can't be beat for teaching respect for nature, ecology, the food chain, and species of fish, insects and other marine creatures, and a whole vocabulary of fishing terms.

And don't forget to let your children help you clean and prepare their catch. Think how rewarding it is for your child to contribute to the family well being and support by providing a meal with their catch! What better training for providing for a family of their own someday!

As always, safety first, especially with kids. Life jackets are a must on boats and docks. Bring a first aid kit. And teach your children caution and care around dangerous objects like hooks and line.

The most important goals when taking your child fishing are to have fun with them and spend TIME with them. Let your kids know how much you love them by blocking out a day to be only with them. Ask any kid and he/she will tell you there's nothing better than just being with mom and dad.

Tight lines!

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