Kids love exploring the world of canals
You've told them you are taking them somewhere special...and the next thing they know, they're experiencing the wide-eyed freedom of a forgotten world that's totally new to them. A very special space to grow, breathe, live. Explore.
Long gone are the days when children were just cheap labour on the cut - today's waterways provide a fantastic open air experience. There are so many ways for kids to have fun safely on the waterways (or back at home):
Baking duck-shaped biscuits, designing a bandana, planning routes, learning about the canals, steering boats, spotting wildlife, walking, cycling, crewing a boat, duck races, waterways' museums, spooky tunnels, Santa boat trips, working locks...
Fun before you go
Spark the kids' imagination:
- Learn how locks work
- Bake & make canal-themed fun food
- Plan & draw a map of your walking or boating route, with points of interest along the way...
- Make a waterways' nature/wildlife file
- Learn how to paint 'roses & castles'
- Learn all about the different types of boats on canals
- Find out what it's like to live on a narrowboat
- Learn new words and make a waterways' pictionary
- Start a collection of canal-related items
- Learn some special songs
- Make a traditional boatman's bandana to wear (and one for your family dog if they're coming too!)
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On the towpath
Canals are a great place to take kids walking. There is so much to see, do, sense, explore, and you'll get all the sparkle of seeing the canals through their eyes.
Older children can get a buzz out of 'how many miles can I walk in a day?' and rise to the A to B challenge, while younger kids will focus better with staged points of interest to explore as they walk along...
Cool Canals tips to keep them interested, and have fun on your walk:
Kids' backpacks
Don't be fooled by them... whatever they pack into their rucksacks, you'll end up carrying eventually - so a little manipulation is called for!
Younger kids can revel in the sense of ownership that packing their own bag brings, yet if steered with steely subtlety, big Ted stays home and little Ted gets to come instead...
Cool things for kids to carry:
Their own drink
Piece of fruit
Spare socks
Some tissues
Camera
Breadcrumbs to feed the birds
Map (perhaps one they've made themselves before the walk)
Writing/sketch pad & pencils
And of course, little Ted or rag dolls Rosie & Jim!
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- Allow time to stop off & explore
- Plan for plenty of snack breaks
- Don't be afraid to change the day's itinerary if it seems over-ambitious
- Set the pace with your youngest child in mind
- If your kids have made their own map of the route before the walk, it's great to let them navigate...
- Vary the walk: take turns to lead, mix up the pace, hop on a boat
- Kids' walks can include wheels - buggies & bikes
- Collect things along the way: photos, drawings, diary notes, new words...
- Sing songs or play 'I spy'
- Mix it up for extra fun - hop on a narrowboat.
Boats can be hired for the day or even part of a day, and there are plenty of trip boats for a special experience...
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Canoes, inflatables, cruisers, narrowboats and barges - lots of ways to get afloat.
Boating holidays are great fun.
(But watch out Dad, the kids might take to the tiller like ducks to water!)
Canals by boat >>
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WOW
Wild Over Waterways is the British Waterways website for 7-11 year old children and their teachers, offering curriculum resources, useful information and interactive games.
Take the WOW Waterside Safety Challenge - developed by British Waterways, this set of five interactive waterside safety activities teaches the importance of the SAFE message:
Stay Away From the Edge
Health & safety
The waterways' environment is a safe space for children to explore and play, but it is sensible to be aware of the potential dangers always associated with water...
Before you go, it's a good idea to read the Waterways' Code leaflet
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