(Image courtesy of @underwaterpaparazzi)
We know: Little kids are cute. Babies are adorable (except for when they’re puking on you, but that’s another blog post).
And as it’s the giving season, we at Oceanic wanted to remind you why giving a child the gift of aquatic discovery is one of the best presents you can offer as a parent, sibling, or goofy, weird uncle (says this guy😜)
So this holiday season and beyond, we invite you to give the gift of outdoor passion and instill in your favorite kiddo a lifelong love for breathing fresh air and exploring the world’s waters.
Confucius put it well: “Give a man a fish, and you’ll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you’ve fed him for a lifetime.”
Maybe this is a little different, but you get the idea. Maybe just teach a kid to look for some fish instead? Either way, find below our top 5 reasons why you should give the little ones in your life a snorkel set.
Why Give a Kid a Snorkel?
1. Gear Ups the Cute Factor
Perhaps this isn’t the best reason on this list, but we know all you millennial parents love Gramming your kiddos!
A surefire way to up your kid’s cuteness is to take the same gear you love, downsize it, then outfit your child—and let the social engagement roll in.
Sound exploitative? Don’t worry, your kid will thank you eventually when their social following outpaces your own and they’re only 12. Just remember to tag our gear @diveoceanic and #facesofdive!
And on that note…
2. Cut the Screen Time!
Let’s face it: our world today is full of screens and digital distractions. Without proper guidance and mental stewardship, our young ones run the risk of getting lost in all of the pixelated chaos.
Too much inactivity and screen time can contribute to all kinds of mental and physical ailments, including childhood obesity and depression.
But an active life in the water reduces our digital intake and can help your family stave off the worst effects of the 21st century.
Across school and work and life generally—especially now in the pandemic—we’re already screening enough. So introduce your kids to a lifestyle and set of habits that will perpetuate personal health in the long run!
3. More Opportunities to Bond in Nature
Every day outside is different, and there’s no greater incubator for building familial bonds than in our outdoor playgrounds.
Again, ditch the forgettable indoor settings, rig your kiddo up with a snorkel kit and create experiences with them that will last a lifetime.
Not near the ocean? No problem! Rivers, lakes and pools all make for terrific training grounds for more turbulent waters they’re likely to encounter later in life.
4. Establishing a Healthy Lifestyle
Upstream habits have downstream consequences. And there are few worse patterns to instill in your kid than a sedentary, inactive lifestyle.
Again, it’s been proven that children who don’t develop a passion for physical activity early in life develop unhealthy habits.
We get it! A lot of kids are complainers. What to us seems like recreation as adults, to a child, seems like “torture, a lot of work, I hate this…,” etc.
But the truth is, no matter how much a kid complains, there’s always that magic moment when something clicks, and they start to love the activity!
So drag the kids to your local body of water and let them work through their suffering. Odds are they’ll discover some inner strength and wonder on the other side.
5. Foster Family Time
Once you’d got your kids hooked on outdoor adventure, you can share those experiences as a whole family.
It’s not like you as Mom or Dad can go hit the playground with the kids. At least you shouldn’t…
But the outdoors—the oceans—are a different story. The wild lands and waters of this planet are playgrounds for everyone, young or old.
And interestingly, in a way, the outdoors turns us all into kids again and allows you to transcend age and truly enjoy an experience with your whole family.
Your kiddo probably won’t remember that day at the mall when they were young, but they darn-sure will remember the first time you took them snorkeling at the nearby swimming hole.
So this Holiday season—and every season—give the gift of connection.