by Harry Burlington

Created on: August 26, 2009   Last Updated: September 02, 2009

One of the several wonders in the world is being a part of their lives and introducing fishing to your child is a blessing in disguise. Outside of the many interruptions that take place, prior to leaving for your fishing hole, entering into a world of just you and your child enjoying a gift of nature, fishing. As the old saying goes, "Give me a fish and feed me for a day, teach me to fish, feed me for a lifetime" just does not only apply true here, but in so many of life's challenges. It's a lesson of life being taught by you, the parent, and one that lasts a lifetime in their memories.

As the parent, you might as well just not grab a fishing pole and try to fish for yourself. For one, it's dangerous because your attention is somewhere else and not on your child and two, it takes away from their learning experience if you are out there trying to catch a lunker. I know from experience that fishing while my three-year-old is fishing at the same time has been a complete disaster in the past.

Depending on what you are fishing for and what bait you are using, the main thing is to teach them that the hook is sharp, it will stab their little fingers, and always you bait their hook for them. Show them slowly how to run the hook through the bait; for example worms: you slide the worm's center mass down the hook until it reaches the end of the worm's body, then pull the hook through. This is an amazing time for your child, they get to see Mom or Dad handle a worm! We, as adults, have forgotten what simple things in life are exciting, we've all moved on into busy lives. This is so fun for a child and teaches them to touch and handle a (non-hooked) worm for fun, but don't let them eat it!

Put a small sinker on your line and a bobber about four or five foot deep and get ready to cast. Ensure to instruct your child to back away a good ten feet or more during this time, because you don't want to put a hook into their little eye. Give the pole a cast and sit down with your child and wait. This is such a great life lesson on patience for children. Understanding that not everything comes on their schedule and we must wait for life's pleasures are so mentoring. Nature has a way of teaching us things that many of us have forgotten and never learned.

Take great notice in the lessons your children teach you about what kind of character you carry and learn from them, because many children only know life as a wonderful, safe, and gentle enviroment not taken for granted by them. This is a redirection of thought, if one paid attention.

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