Why learning watersports will change your family's life

Every day is a new adventure for children and they’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to which adventure to embark upon next on a Neilson holiday, especially when it comes to the range of water sports they can try! No matter how young they are, there’s an opportunity to get out onto the water to have fun and try something new.

There are children’s clubs for all ages on Neilson beachclub holiday, starting with the Starfish crèche for the very youngest of guests (4-23months). Even at such a tender age, there are opportunities to introduce them to the water and the amount of fun to be had exploring new water based activities. The fully qualified Starfish nannies, together with the water sports instructors, will organise trips for the little ones in the water ski boats, wobble about on paddleboards, enjoy beach picnics, sandcastle building and of course have lots of fun splashing around at the waters edge!

For Sea Urchins (age two-four years), the sea becomes one big playground! The team will take them on catamaran joyrides, kayak safaris and introduce them to the fun of ‘wobble-boarding’ – how long can your little one balance on a paddle board before leaping (or wobbling) into the water! The Sea Badgers (reception and year one) and Surfbusters (year two and three) clubs will leave you wondering just how they manage to squeeze so much action into one day! Yourkids will get the chance to turn their hand to a full range of water sports including kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and of course swimming, with pool and beach games galore!

The water sports based fun continues for children in the Sharksters (school years four, five and six), Surf Squad (school years seven and eight) and Wave Riders (school years nine and ten) clubs! Whether they’re in the sea, on the beach or in the pool they’ll have an absolute ball with new friends and learn new skills along the way.

For those children keen to focus on learning dinghy sailing and windsurfing specifically, check out the Hot Shots club (school years four to nine). There’s an additional cost for this club but it’s perfect for kids looking to take their skills to the next level. Royal Yachting Association (RYA) instructors will ensure they master the waves and the RYA Youth Sailing Awards will provide formal qualifications to sail away with!

So many benefits too… The physical benefits of your kids leading an active lifestyle are well- documented and after a fun-packed day on the water and on shore, it’s likely they’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep too. However, you’ll also be amazed at how their confidence and self-esteem will grow as they discover a little independence within their club, meet new friends and try new activities on holiday. And it won’t be long before they’re starting to encourage you to try new water sports too and you’re off on a kayak adventure or sailing trip together. Happy days!

Before you go thinking it’s all about the kids on a Neilson holiday, think again! Head to any one of the Neilson beachclubs and the world is your oyster when it comes to having fun out on the water. Plus, trying new activities, or spending more time doing the activities you already love, can be beneficial to both mind and body.

Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing, wakeboarding or paddle boarding are all water sports which will provide great ways to stretch your body, challenging you to put in physical effort and utilise muscles you may not have used in a while – whether you’re trying something for the first time or pushing yourself to the next level in a sport you already enjoy. You’ll get the heart beating and relish the chance to enjoy the great outdoors, at the same time as taking a healthy dose of vitamin D on board.

The physical workout is just one of the positive consequences of learning new water sports, it’s good for the soul too! Throwing yourself into a new activity has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety whilst boosting your sense of wellbeing. Whatever your age, you experience the same feelings of pride, confidence, adrenalin rushes and excitement when you try new things or develop new skills – that ‘I did it’ feeling all over again. Not to mention the laughs you’ll have along the way!

Challenging yourself to try different water sports and showing your children just how much fun it can be to learn something new will inspire them and give them the confidence to try new things for themselves.

There’s also the opportunity to enjoy water sports together on a Neilson holiday. Perhaps set off on a family kayak adventure or, if your children are a little older (13years plus), you can join the windsurfing or dinghy sailing courses together and master new skills at the same time. Whether you and your children are learning something new together, or they’re setting sail with their new kids’ club mates – you’ll be able to share the highs, the things you’ve learnt and re-live fun you’ve all had out on the water over dinner each evening.

Learning a new water sport really can change your life and certainly your lifestyle.

Andrew Parry, Head of Development at Neilson, introduced his family to stand up paddle boarding (SUP) on holiday and said, “Of all the activities we now partake in as a family, SUP'ing along our local river is one of the most popular. Two boards with a parent and child on each board provide a great workout for Mum and Dad whilst enjoying the river and it’s environment from a unique perspective. There’s also the constant challenge to stay balanced or you’ll soon lose out in the popularity stakes if you tip them into the water!”

Or your passion could develop into a life long career as Pip Tyler, Overseas Director at Neilson, explains “I didn’t come from a nautical family but was lucky enough to experience a whole raft of adventurous things at school. Dinghy sailing was one I particularly enjoyed so, together with my twin brother, we saved hard and brought a second hand dinghy. This saw us learning and racing through our university days, where we also became RYA instructors. A gap year opportunity led me to my first overseas work placement with a sailing school and it’s has been a huge part of my personal and professional life ever since!”

And, in this digital age, Ian Davis – Head of Winter at Neilson – sums it up nicely: “Learning a new water sport can be invigorating as an individual but even more pleasure can be found by learning as a family. You’ll immediately reconnect as a unit when the daily digital distractions such as tablets, phones, apps and social media are taken out of the equation – there’s no time or place for that on the water! And you’ll learn, communicate and explore new places in the best way possible – together.”