Boating is an excellent way to spend time with your children. There are many tasks that can be assigned to the kids while out on the water. Each task can teach them responsibility and provide them with valuable life lessons.

Keeping children safe and having fun aboard can be difficult at times, but when it's done right, it sows the seeds for a lifetime love of boating. And, children love to play with water. If boating is not your cup of tea, car washing is a great alternative too.

As advice by Discover Boating, here are a few tips to keep the little ones safe while on the water:

• Consider a boat that has a cuddy cabin. Runabouts, bow riders and deck boats, even some center console fishing boats, are sometimes equipped with a small cuddy cabin to offer refuge for the kids if they need a nap, are getting too much sun.
• Buy a good life jacket or life vest with a collar that turns a child face up in the water. It must have strong waist and crotch straps, a handle on the collar, and preferably be a bright yellow or orange color for good visibility.
• Attach a plastic safety whistle to the life jacket and practice using it with the child.

Many time safety is more common sense then just theories. So, when out in the water always practice cautious and look after the kids and make sure they do not try something dangerous like standing while the boat is moving. Hope you have a great fun boating with your children!