Idea for teaching aid for kids - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  Idea for teaching aid for kids

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Idea for teaching aid for kids

spotsnspecks posted 03-11-2003 01:10 AM ET (US)
Many of you have been exposed to Boston Whalers for a long time. I was extremely excited when my nephew took an interest in my newly aquired (albeit beat up) 13 sport. He asks about it every time I see him and wants to know what I'm working on next. He knows that Boston Whalers are the best boats to own. OK, that's what I have told him.
Can anyone recommend a book to give to an 8 year old to learn about boats and boating in general. He is entirely too young for this site and I want to encourage his enthusiasm. He will probably have full acces to the 13 in a few years and I would like him to be prepared. He comes with me when he can, but I would like him to have other viewpoints/facts to consider regarding boating. I plan to help his dad find a sailing program for kids as this helps to get the feel of boats in motion but he loves books and I want to encourage that as well.
hooter posted 03-11-2003 09:34 AM ET (US)
At eight, your nephew may still be a couple years young vocabulary wise t'read it on his own, but if he's precocious, or if you have time and access at night to read to him f'thirty minutes or so, Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is one incredible book. Short, clean and no “mature” topics. Have put a good hard copy in front of three o'mah own, each in turn between the ages of 10 and 12, and never failed t'see the spark go off.
hauptjm posted 03-11-2003 10:54 AM ET (US)
Don't worry about his vocabulary. It sounds like he's fairly smart and can only build his repertoire through reading above his current levels. What a great way for him to learn what a [i]gunnel, freeboard, half hitch, etc.{/i} is, by asking you and looking it up in the dictionary. It sounds old-fashioned, but it works better than any of the "new wave" psychobabble-teaching methods used in most schools today: besides the fact that he'll be applying it to something as wonderful as the sea.
jameso posted 03-11-2003 10:59 AM ET (US)
Whalers and Kids, gotta be two of the best things I have known!
My own experience, went to a used book fair bought a dozen or so nautical titles for a buck a piece or so. Even got one copy of Chapmans! The kids became interested in several and we read them together, my son carried the Chapmans to school several times and wore it dog eared.
Take the kid out in the 13 too. I have taught mine nautical terms, they know the anchor and rode go in the locker, what the norman pin is and port from starboard. Also know that if a rain storm is approaching and we are at a dock, we pull the plug and let her ride it out. That seems to be more than a lot of adults I read about know.
Enjoy the whaler and the lad.
Jim Armstrong
spotsnspecks posted 03-14-2003 01:37 PM ET (US)
Thanks guys. Great ideas! I got a copy of Old Man and the Sea, an old Nautical dictionary and am looking for a copy of Chapmans. I can't wait to show him the CD rom with those old pictures also!
andiamo posted 03-15-2003 12:59 PM ET (US)
As the father of an 8 and 10 year old I would also recommend tht you enroll them in a sailing school/camp. Most yacht clubs run such programs and they are usually open to non member children. The other suggestion I have is to buy him/her an Optimist sailing dingy. They are about 7 feet long and are specifically designed to be sailed by children 13 and under. New they are about $3,000 byt I picked up two used ones for about $700 each. Again look on the notice board at the clubs with junior sailing programs.
There is no better way to teach a child about the sea and seamanship than to teach them to sail first. It also provides them with a sence of independance that nothing else at that age can
andiamo posted 03-15-2003 01:08 PM ET (US)
I just did a quick web search of your part of the world. Check out www.pontyc.org/junior.htm or check with the United States Sailing Association to see who runs a camp in your area. It is a life skill that every child should have IMHO
5 mi E of Milwaukee posted 03-15-2003 05:36 PM ET (US)
If you’re going to put “boats” and “kids” in the same sentence, you’re remiss if “Swallows and Amazons” doesn’t come quickly after.
The “Swallows and Amazons” series by Arthur Ransome is probably within your nephew’s reading ability if he’s only the littlest bit precocious. (I’m sure I read them for the first time in third grade.) Great kid stories, and the boating aspect is quite realistic. I think I taught myself how to sail a dinghy primarily from reading those books.
They were pretty hard to come by here in the states for a while; but, if your library fails you, an arty printer has started reissuing them, in paperback no less, and I’ve seen several of them at my local Borders.
--scott
Bill C posted 03-15-2003 06:51 PM ET (US)
Spots - Great that your nephew is so interested in boats. I grew up in the caribbean and gulf coast area and don't remember not having a boat. By the time I got into a summer sailing program (prams) at about eleven I was already proficient in sail and power. Five years at a naval military school also helped. Minimum age for the summer program here in St. Pete is eight. If your nephew gets into one of these programs he will develop skills and friends for a lifetime. The previous suggestions are great. Keep him reading. Most importantly keep it fun. Many of the kids I sailed with am still friends with. Some went on to fame (certainly not fortune) in international and olympic competition.
andiamo posted 03-16-2003 10:03 AM ET (US)
Bill I know what you mean I raced 420's 470's and Lasers all over North America from about the age of 14. (J24s and Int 14's later on) Took a break when my son was born 10 years ago but would love to get back into it. I met and know sailors from all over it is a great life.
The Optimist is a class type of "pram" that Bill refers to and has a large international class association if the kid wants to get into racing. In my view it is not worth getting any other kind of pram as Opti's are what everyone else will be sailing.
Swallows and Amazons is in print, at least here in Canada and I have read the first 2 to my guys. The 10 year old is now working on the third. They were writen in the 20's I believe and in England so the language needs some translating but I think that is a good thing to expand our childrens' use of language.
andiamo posted 03-16-2003 10:06 AM ET (US)
Just to keep this topical I do think that an 11 or 13 foot Whaler is the perfect kid boat when they are ready. It is what we all grew up on when I spent my summers on the east coast.
spotsnspecks posted 03-16-2003 04:36 PM ET (US)
Wow! Thanks for the great responses and ideas. I will email this to his dad and we will start looking for some programs and literature that you all have described. He came over this morning and helped me work on the mahogany seats and console for the 13. He really just watched and asked a ton of questions. Some of which I will have to do a little researchon this site and elsewhere to get answers. It really makes me feel good that he has taken an interest in something that I have a great passion for. Its amazing to see the world through a youngsters eyes. I asked him which boat he liked better out of my old 17 Outrage or the "new to me" but older 13 and he said the 13! He said he liked the way the wood looked an I had to laugh when he said it had furniture in it. I guess he meant the console as I helped his dad restore an armoire last year (using almost the same techniques). Anyway, Thanks for the great recommendations and once again proving that this site is a great resource for things Whaler.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Idea for teaching aid for kids
spotsnspecks	posted 03-11-2003 01:10 AM ET (US) Many of you have been exposed to Boston Whalers for a long time. I was extremely excited when my nephew took an interest in my newly aquired (albeit beat up) 13 sport. He asks about it every time I see him and wants to know what I'm working on next. He knows that Boston Whalers are the best boats to own. OK, that's what I have told him. Can anyone recommend a book to give to an 8 year old to learn about boats and boating in general. He is entirely too young for this site and I want to encourage his enthusiasm. He will probably have full acces to the 13 in a few years and I would like him to be prepared. He comes with me when he can, but I would like him to have other viewpoints/facts to consider regarding boating. I plan to help his dad find a sailing program for kids as this helps to get the feel of boats in motion but he loves books and I want to encourage that as well.
hooter	posted 03-11-2003 09:34 AM ET (US) At eight, your nephew may still be a couple years young vocabulary wise t'read it on his own, but if he's precocious, or if you have time and access at night to read to him f'thirty minutes or so, Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is one incredible book. Short, clean and no “mature” topics. Have put a good hard copy in front of three o'mah own, each in turn between the ages of 10 and 12, and never failed t'see the spark go off.
hauptjm	posted 03-11-2003 10:54 AM ET (US) Don't worry about his vocabulary. It sounds like he's fairly smart and can only build his repertoire through reading above his current levels. What a great way for him to learn what a [i]gunnel, freeboard, half hitch, etc.{/i} is, by asking you and looking it up in the dictionary. It sounds old-fashioned, but it works better than any of the "new wave" psychobabble-teaching methods used in most schools today: besides the fact that he'll be applying it to something as wonderful as the sea.
jameso	posted 03-11-2003 10:59 AM ET (US) Whalers and Kids, gotta be two of the best things I have known! My own experience, went to a used book fair bought a dozen or so nautical titles for a buck a piece or so. Even got one copy of Chapmans! The kids became interested in several and we read them together, my son carried the Chapmans to school several times and wore it dog eared. Take the kid out in the 13 too. I have taught mine nautical terms, they know the anchor and rode go in the locker, what the norman pin is and port from starboard. Also know that if a rain storm is approaching and we are at a dock, we pull the plug and let her ride it out. That seems to be more than a lot of adults I read about know. Enjoy the whaler and the lad. Jim Armstrong
spotsnspecks	posted 03-14-2003 01:37 PM ET (US) Thanks guys. Great ideas! I got a copy of Old Man and the Sea, an old Nautical dictionary and am looking for a copy of Chapmans. I can't wait to show him the CD rom with those old pictures also!
andiamo	posted 03-15-2003 12:59 PM ET (US) As the father of an 8 and 10 year old I would also recommend tht you enroll them in a sailing school/camp. Most yacht clubs run such programs and they are usually open to non member children. The other suggestion I have is to buy him/her an Optimist sailing dingy. They are about 7 feet long and are specifically designed to be sailed by children 13 and under. New they are about $3,000 byt I picked up two used ones for about $700 each. Again look on the notice board at the clubs with junior sailing programs. There is no better way to teach a child about the sea and seamanship than to teach them to sail first. It also provides them with a sence of independance that nothing else at that age can
andiamo	posted 03-15-2003 01:08 PM ET (US) I just did a quick web search of your part of the world. Check out www.pontyc.org/junior.htm or check with the United States Sailing Association to see who runs a camp in your area. It is a life skill that every child should have IMHO
5 mi E of Milwaukee	posted 03-15-2003 05:36 PM ET (US) If you’re going to put “boats” and “kids” in the same sentence, you’re remiss if “Swallows and Amazons” doesn’t come quickly after. The “Swallows and Amazons” series by Arthur Ransome is probably within your nephew’s reading ability if he’s only the littlest bit precocious. (I’m sure I read them for the first time in third grade.) Great kid stories, and the boating aspect is quite realistic. I think I taught myself how to sail a dinghy primarily from reading those books. They were pretty hard to come by here in the states for a while; but, if your library fails you, an arty printer has started reissuing them, in paperback no less, and I’ve seen several of them at my local Borders. --scott
Bill C	posted 03-15-2003 06:51 PM ET (US) Spots - Great that your nephew is so interested in boats. I grew up in the caribbean and gulf coast area and don't remember not having a boat. By the time I got into a summer sailing program (prams) at about eleven I was already proficient in sail and power. Five years at a naval military school also helped. Minimum age for the summer program here in St. Pete is eight. If your nephew gets into one of these programs he will develop skills and friends for a lifetime. The previous suggestions are great. Keep him reading. Most importantly keep it fun. Many of the kids I sailed with am still friends with. Some went on to fame (certainly not fortune) in international and olympic competition.
andiamo	posted 03-16-2003 10:03 AM ET (US) Bill I know what you mean I raced 420's 470's and Lasers all over North America from about the age of 14. (J24s and Int 14's later on) Took a break when my son was born 10 years ago but would love to get back into it. I met and know sailors from all over it is a great life. The Optimist is a class type of "pram" that Bill refers to and has a large international class association if the kid wants to get into racing. In my view it is not worth getting any other kind of pram as Opti's are what everyone else will be sailing. Swallows and Amazons is in print, at least here in Canada and I have read the first 2 to my guys. The 10 year old is now working on the third. They were writen in the 20's I believe and in England so the language needs some translating but I think that is a good thing to expand our childrens' use of language.
andiamo	posted 03-16-2003 10:06 AM ET (US) Just to keep this topical I do think that an 11 or 13 foot Whaler is the perfect kid boat when they are ready. It is what we all grew up on when I spent my summers on the east coast.
spotsnspecks	posted 03-16-2003 04:36 PM ET (US) Wow! Thanks for the great responses and ideas. I will email this to his dad and we will start looking for some programs and literature that you all have described. He came over this morning and helped me work on the mahogany seats and console for the 13. He really just watched and asked a ton of questions. Some of which I will have to do a little researchon this site and elsewhere to get answers. It really makes me feel good that he has taken an interest in something that I have a great passion for. Its amazing to see the world through a youngsters eyes. I asked him which boat he liked better out of my old 17 Outrage or the "new to me" but older 13 and he said the 13! He said he liked the way the wood looked an I had to laugh when he said it had furniture in it. I guess he meant the console as I helped his dad restore an armoire last year (using almost the same techniques). Anyway, Thanks for the great recommendations and once again proving that this site is a great resource for things Whaler.