Get a camoflague or "Sands of Iwo Jima" life jacket.



"Guy Aerts" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 04:17:45 GMT, "silverback"
wrote:

I've seen pictures of you sailing... you don't wear a life jacket at all
times. I do.... despite the fact I'm ten times a better swimmer than you
could hope to ever be. That being said... kids copy what they see. Get him
a
comfortable vest and make sure he puts it on at the same time you do...
upon
boarding any boat.

CM


Poor advice. The vest goes on before they set foot on the dock. Docks are
perhaps a greater hazard to little kids than a boat. There are no rails or
lifelines, and someone carrying a cooler or sailbag can turn to look at
something and knock a toddler off a dock without even realizing it. If the
kid
goes off the dock and comes up under it, you've got a serious situation
all of a
sudden. How fast can you find them when they are jammed up between some
blocks
of styrofoam under water?

My other advice is go to the store and let Thomas pick out a PFD HE likes.
Maybe
Spiderman or Spongebob or something will make him WANT to wear the
jacket...
even around the house.




"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
groups.com...
Today we went out in fairly light cool breezes with just the main.
We're trying to get Thomas used to the boat and so far it's going
great. He seems to really enjoy himself on deck, though we must watch
his exposure to the sun. His balance is really amazing...perhaps this
is something toddlers can do well, but my best friend's two year old
has a hard time on deck compared to Thomas. Thomas also automatically
seems to understand the one hand for the boat-one hand for yourself
system as he makes his way around. It's great fun to watch!
But today he put up the biggest fuss of all time when we put his
lifejacket on and he kept taking it off. It finally got to the point
where we just put a Stearns belt on him, but that's not the right PFD
for a toddler. He also wears a harness so he can't fall off the boat.
We all wore vests and that was working up until today. He really has
fun on the boat...but hates the PFD, though it fits him properly.
Suzanne thought it might just be too warm and he's aware of such things
now.
We obviously need to get this working right before we take weekend
trips with him.

Ideas from the "sailing with kids" camp are welcome!



RB
35s5
NY

"DSK" wrote in message
...
"Capt" Rob wrote:
... We're trying to get Thomas used to the boat....
But today he put up the biggest fuss of all time when we put his
lifejacket on and he kept taking it off.

In other words, you're letting him be stupid & spoiled, just like you.

.... It finally got to the point
where we just put a Stearns belt on him, but that's not the right PFD
for a toddler. He also wears a harness so he can't fall off the boat.
We all wore vests and that was working up until today. He really has
fun on the boat...but hates the PFD, though it fits him properly.
Suzanne thought it might just be too warm and he's aware of such things
now.
We obviously need to get this working right before we take weekend
trips with him.


He wears it. Period. If he takes it off or makes a fuss, then put him in
time out if you can't paddle his butt. Most parents can't nowadays, having
been raised poorly themselves.

Putting a float belt on is the worst possible choice, that would drown a
child more quickly than just floating free would.



"silverback" wrote:
I've seen pictures of you sailing... you don't wear a life jacket at all
times. I do.... despite the fact I'm ten times a better swimmer than you
could hope to ever be.

That's a stupid thing to say when you really don't know how good a swimmer
Boobsie is (although evidence suggests he is not).


... That being said... kids copy what they see. Get him a comfortable
vest and make sure he puts it on at the same time you do... upon
boarding any boat.


Guy Aerts wrote:
Poor advice. The vest goes on before they set foot on the dock. Docks are
perhaps a greater hazard to little kids than a boat.

Bingo. Having rescued a kid from under a dock, I can state for sure that
it's a nightmare scenario.


... There are no rails or
lifelines, and someone carrying a cooler or sailbag can turn to look at
something and knock a toddler off a dock without even realizing it.

Which isn't unlikely, and it's even more likely for little kids to trip
over a cleat or line, or lean over just a bit too far looking at
something, or just plain fall (hey it happens to the everyone once in a
while).

.... If the kid
goes off the dock and comes up under it, you've got a serious situation
all of a
sudden. How fast can you find them when they are jammed up between some
blocks
of styrofoam under water?

My other advice is go to the store and let Thomas pick out a PFD HE
likes. Maybe
Spiderman or Spongebob or something will make him WANT to wear the
jacket...
even around the house.


Yes. Make a game out of wearing it, reward him for wearing so he'll get to
like it... but don't let a lack of parental spine keep the kid from being
protected. And don't make the mistake of assuming that nothing can go
wrong because he's wearing a life jacket. It is quite possible to drown
while wearing one (or have some other harmful accident).

In many states now (and probably soon to be universal) children must be
wearing life jackets any time they are aboard any boat, unless they are
inside the boat's cabin.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King


Excellent post Doug! At least you understand parental responsibilities.

I can't believe that people are letting a 2 year old get their way,
especially in a matter of safety. Good lord!

By this age Little Lord Fauntleroy should respect his parents commands and
understand when there is no messing around.

But that's what you get when you bring kids up distanced from nature and in
front of a tv.

Glory!

Bob Crantz wrote:
What about those swimming classes? Kids wear a life jacket in them and he
should be used to one by now and know what it does.

Amen!


Thomas had swimming lessons and is quite the swimmer now. Still, the
water here is in the mid 50's so he'll wait a month before dangling his
tootsies off the swim platform.

Thomas remains tethered at all times while we're underway via his own
jack line to the pedestal guard. He's also always with an adult. He's
very safe, but we want to instill the right message early. We'll be
sailing again later today...so we'll see if maybe he was just overtired
yesterday....which is what Suzanne thinks.

So far Thomas loves the boat!



RB
35s5
NY

"katy" wrote in message
Consequential learning works well on children....discussing and explaining
to a two year old is futile, useless, and a waste of energy...and
dangerous....better to learn cause and effect early than later on or never
(which seems to be the case with many children these days if the school
system is any indicator)....

The old method I was brought up with is still the best... do what you're
told or get a beating. The day you can make your own rules is when you have
your own place and support yourself.
I moved into my own apartment at 15 yrs old, had a job working evenings at
the local theater and went to school during the day. I bought my first car
at 16 and my first boat at 17.

This modern day molly-coddling is what's wrong with the kids today.

CM-

"Guy Aerts" wrote in message

Poor advice. The vest goes on before they set foot on the dock. Docks are
perhaps a greater hazard to little kids than a boat. There are no rails or
lifelines, and someone carrying a cooler or sailbag can turn to look at
something and knock a toddler off a dock without even realizing it. If the
kid
goes off the dock and comes up under it, you've got a serious situation
all of a
sudden. How fast can you find them when they are jammed up between some
blocks
of styrofoam under water?

Good Point... considering docks are no different than boat to Bobsprit
anyway. ...it's simply that I rarely utilize a dock. 99% of the time it's
a shore launch with a dinghy.

My other advice is go to the store and let Thomas pick out a PFD HE likes.
Maybe
Spiderman or Spongebob or something will make him WANT to wear the
jacket...
even around the house.

Also a good idea.

CM

"DSK" wrote in message
That's a stupid thing to say when you really don't know how good a swimmer
Boobsie is (although evidence suggests he is not).

Try to engage your brain before putting your mouth in gear Doug... I have
Divemaster certification, I have Lifeguard certification. I've swam since I
was 13 months old. I free dive to 40+ feet spearfishing. I live along the
shore and can swim anytime. I was raised in a marine environment.
Bobsprit has lived his whole life in NYC and there is no way he could
acheive my swimming capabilities by pool visits for an hour... once or twice
a week. You think he would swim in LIS??

I rest my case.....

CM-

Mooron = Tarzan

Bob Crantz wrote:
Mooron = Tarzan


BS=cheetah?

silverback wrote:
"katy" wrote in message
Consequential learning works well on children....discussing and explaining
to a two year old is futile, useless, and a waste of energy...and
dangerous....better to learn cause and effect early than later on or never
(which seems to be the case with many children these days if the school
system is any indicator)....

The old method I was brought up with is still the best... do what you're
told or get a beating. The day you can make your own rules is when you have
your own place and support yourself.
I moved into my own apartment at 15 yrs old, had a job working evenings at
the local theater and went to school during the day. I bought my first car
at 16 and my first boat at 17.

This modern day molly-coddling is what's wrong with the kids today.

CM-


You don't beat 2 year olds...if your parents beat you at 2 then shame on
them....has nothing to do with modern day anything...babies should not
ever be beaten...12 years olds...now, that could be a different story....

Parenting 101 .

Better read your Dr. Spock book some more, Bubbles.

SV

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com..
..
Today we went out in fairly light cool breezes with just
the main.
We're trying to get Thomas used to the boat and so far
it's going
great. He seems to really enjoy himself on deck, though we
must watch
his exposure to the sun. His balance is really
amazing...perhaps this
is something toddlers can do well, but my best friend's
two year old
has a hard time on deck compared to Thomas. Thomas also
automatically
seems to understand the one hand for the boat-one hand for
yourself
system as he makes his way around. It's great fun to
watch!
But today he put up the biggest fuss of all time when we
put his
lifejacket on and he kept taking it off. It finally got to
the point
where we just put a Stearns belt on him, but that's not
the right PFD
for a toddler. He also wears a harness so he can't fall
off the boat.
We all wore vests and that was working up until today. He
really has
fun on the boat...but hates the PFD, though it fits him
properly.
Suzanne thought it might just be too warm and he's aware
of such things
now.
We obviously need to get this working right before we take
weekend
trips with him.

Ideas from the "sailing with kids" camp are welcome!



RB
35s5
NY