I don't know whether a child must know how to swim before being allowed in _any_ small boat, but they should be well underway before being in their own small boat.

I know of folks who take really young 'uns canoeing, and outfit them with the horsecollar baby PFD's with the crotch strap and grab loop.

Knowing how to swim would be a great motivator before a child was allowed to paddle their _own_ small boat.

I'm going to get my daughter (and my wife and I) enrolled in the "Water Babies" program at the local pool this year....

Shawn

: Any parent or other qaulified individuals want to lend their opinions about
: whether a child should be allowed in a small boat before they know how to
: swim? I wasn't allowed in one when I was a child until I knew how to swim,
: and I guess that was motivation for me to learn to swim more quickly. I've
: been inclined to have the same rule for my young children. I've mentioned
: this to friends, and they have mostly scoffed at me, pointing out that
: even if a kid knew how to swim, they would likely drown if they fell in
: the water far from shore without a life jacket or immediate help.

: Obviously, a life jacket is the most important thing, and parents should
: always be around whenever little kids are near the water, but should a kid
: be forced to sit on the shore until they can swim?

: What do you guys think?