(Martin Strmiska photo)
We can all remember the first time we got out of our aquatic comfort zone. From swimming in a neighbor’s pool, to diving into a rustic lake, to viewing a school of tropical fish, for many of us, playing in the water as kids plants the seed of passion for water-sports that lasts the rest of our lives.
That’s why, for this year’s International Youth Day, the best thing you can do for your family is to head to your nearest lake, river or ocean and celebrate by taking the plunge! What might just seem like a day’s excursion to you can open up an entire lifetime’s worth of possibilities for your toddlers, or teens.
Can you remember your first time in the water?
Can you remember the first time water scared or amazed you? I can. My first time snorkeling, I was with my family at Tunnels Beach, in Kauai. A wee nine years old, I was still actively experiencing new things every day, but many of them failed to leave a lasting impression. However, visiting the underwater world—Tunnels’ shallow reef—was altogether different.
Kick-finning my way from shore, each fish or bastion of brain coral blew my mind. I kept kicking until, abruptly, the reef shelved off into nothingness. Just deep green and blue. I was horrified. At nine, the expanse of the ocean was too much for me, and it ripped open parts of my imagination that I wasn’t ready to explore.
Instinctively, I turned and kicked frantically for safety, all the while picturing a shark (or other monster) swimming up from those depths and consuming me whole. While the depths of the ocean scared me that day, they also set off a curiosity inside that continues to drive me to dive and explore.
Why Spend International Youth Day in the Water?
And every time you take your kids to the water, a lifetime’s worth of adventures can be set into motion. Far from being just another recreational activity, playing in the water as a child can define how a person will interact with the world.
According to the United Nations website, the “theme of International Youth Day 2020, ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’ seeks to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes.”
Although the UN states some lofty goals above, to become good ocean stewards and to understand the importance of clean water and healthy ecosystems, it helps to love water play in the first place. So, in order to reach the UN’s goal of “Youth Engagement for Global Action,” we all have to care about what we’re fighting for in the first place. In this case, the world’s oceans and waterways, and the ability to play in them freely.
Need some extra help keeping your little ones cozy in the water? Head over to Baresports.com to find a full range of kids’ wetsuits and floaty-supported immersion wear to get them comfy in the water—for a day, and for a lifetime.
