Why You Should Teach Your Kid How to Fish

Fishing is one of those sports that have passed the test of time. No matter if you own high-quality gear such as expensive ice fishing bibs, or you simply like to fish using your day to day clothes and an old rod, fishing is an activity that comes with numerous benefits, both physical and psychological.

Studies have shown that fishing reduces stress and that it helps anglers feel happy and content. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that many recommend that we teach our children how to fish.

It builds confidence

As they learn how to practice this sport and they become more and more successful at it, kids build their self-confidence and they start feeling more and more independent. Later, they transfer this feeling of independence to other activities that they do, like practicing other sports and developing friendships.

Moreover, fishing helps one improve coordination. An important aspect of angling involves being able to coordinate and keep your balance. While practicing fishing, one learns how to coordinate one’s motor movements, an aspect that is highly important in other day-to-day activities.

Patience and family time

Many times, as we all know it, fishing can be somewhat frustrating because one has to wait until one actually catches something. Patience is a skill that is very difficult to encourage in a child. However, fishing is a great sport that can do so. Plus, it teaches children that, in order to be successful, you sometimes have to wait and make use of the opportunity that you get.

Another great advantage of fishing is the fact that it promotes family bonding time. Going fishing with one’s family is a great way to spend time with one’s loved ones. A child that goes fishing with his/her family learns about family cohesion and becomes more and more aware of the importance of respect and tolerance as part of a group.

Respecting nature

Spending time in nature, regardless of the type of activity you practice while doing so is, according to scientists, good for one’s self. It has been proven that embracing nature can help a person be calmer and, overall, feel happier and accepted.

Therefore, taking your child fishing is a great way to teach him/her the importance of taking breaks from the busy life and relax. It is also a marvelous opportunity to appreciate and understand the beauty of nature.

Fishing is also a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. In 2011 to 2012 alone, more than 2.6 million children were diagnosed with a form of anxiety or depression. These figures are worrisome.

Just like adults, children often feel stressed by schoolwork and other social activities that they take part in. Fishing is the perfect type of activity that can help them relax and wind down. Besides, it is also a good form of exercise and problem-solving.

The importance of being part of a community

Differently from popular belief, fishing is not a solitary sport. In fact, hobbyist fishers often come in contact with other angling enthusiasts and they form tight knit communities that pass the test of time.

To celebrate their hobby, fishers also take part in competitions and they support each other by teaching one another new tricks of the trade. Moreover, fishing is not an activity that is practiced by people of a single age group. Instead, numerous fishermen often take their children with them in an attempt to teach them about the sport.

By learning how to fish, a child also learns how to be part of a community, an aspect that is so vital to people in general.

Perseverance

In life, we don’t always get what we want. Fishing is just the right sport when it comes to teaching your child that he/she should not give up easily. Learning to try again after you fail, is a great lesson that your child will most likely need to master in order to be successful in school and in his/her later career. Family fun fishing trips are the best way to bond.

Successful people are a great example of the importance of perseverance. Their mindset and actions show us that determination and hard work eventually pays off. This is a lesson that you should teach your children if you want them to become strong-willed and respected members of society.