Why Fishing Is Good For Kids?: The 6 Benefits Of Fishing by Larissa Smith

“The average American child is said to spend 4 – 7 minutes a day in unstructured play outdoors and over 7 hours a day in front of a screen." Does this statistic make your jaw drop? Mine did! Of course, this change in society is due to the advancement of technology. As a child of the late '80s and '90s, I spent 7+ hours outside. The fact that 25 years later, children spend 7+ hours in front of a screen and not in nature should be concerning for us all. Technology has advanced our society, and in my opinion, made our world better. But as parents, we should be cognizant of how often kids are getting outside. It is through reading the statistics mentioned above and my experience as a former school principal/teacher that I am passionate about getting kids outside, particularly through fishing. Thus, the launch of FishMySpot.

FishMySpot is an online marketplace that allows pond owners to share their pond/lake with local anglers. FishMySpot provides private, secluded, and under-fished fishing spots that take the headache out of finding the best spot or navigating a public lake. Plus, our spots are close to home for active parents and fishing enthusiasts. The benefits of FishMySpot are many. Our pond owners earn a discretionary income and can earn tax benefits that help offset the cost of pond maintenance. Simultaneously our anglers gain unique fishing experiences that are convenient and accessible. Anglers have exclusive access to the fishing spot they reserved which is a perfect environment for teaching young children to fish.

91% of adults that fish were exposed to fishing as children. There are many advantages to teaching children to fish and it is crucial to introduce children to fishing if we want the sport and/ hobby to be instilled. Here is why you should teach children to fish.

1. Teaching children to fish builds confidence. First, when children catch fish it invokes pride. It may sound too simple but if a child feels good about what he/she is doing along with having the power to control his/her actions, this sense of pride transfers to self-confidence. In a world that progressively shows signs of mental illness, give your child a boost in their self-confidence, and take them fishing.

2. Teaching children to fish teaches responsibility and respect. It is through learning about the ecosystem in a pond that they learn responsibility. They are responsible for the treatment or mistreatment of fish and the surrounding areas of the water. If a child sees neglect or mistreatment, then they experience that a living organism will die. This knowledge will transfer to other areas in their life; if something is neglected or mistreated, it will not survive.

3. Teaching children to fish invokes four, sometimes all, of our senses. How many activities do you participate in that invoke all of the senses? When children (and adults too) fish, they see, smell, hear and touch nature! This is so powerful for their development. Plus, if you can keep some of the fish, then children can taste fish that is loaded with healthy nutrients.

4. Teaching children to fish gets kids moving. Though fishing is not a strenuous sport, it does require children to move. Whether reeling in a catch or casting, children are not able to be sedentary the entire time they fish. Fishing from a metal boat or canoe is also a great activity to get kids moving. Plus, getting outside to fish provides a daily dose of Vitamin D.

5. Teaching children to fish teaches patience. It can be tiring to hear, “when will I catch a fish”, “why won’t they bite”, etc... But teaching kids that they have to wait will help them understand that having [patience is an attribute (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/08/patience-children-research-lifetime-outcomes/) to having a happy and successful life. With our cellphones attached to our fingertips and our wants are at our beck and call with a click of a button, patience is a much-needed skill that children should learn or adults may even need to re-learn.

6. Teaching children to fish provides them with lasting memories. Reflect on your childhood, what memories stick out? Most likely, it is the experiences that family members and friends created with you that are at the forefront of your memory and bring happiness and joy; not the latest gadget or plastic toy.

Do you agree with our 6 benefits? Of course, there are more benefits to fishing than the aforementioned list. We are proud at FishMySpot that over 2000+ children, moms, dads, grandparents, uncles, beginning fisher-people, and experienced fisher-people have used our private ponds and lakes in Northeast Ohio. In a world full of plastic, give kids a fishing pole and a new memory, and they will thank you later.

Larissa has 10+ years of experience as a principal/teacher with many college degrees on her resume. After welcoming her daughter, she decided to take a break from education and pursue the idea of FishMySpot. When she is not working, she is chasing her 3 young children on her and her husband’s Christmas tree farm in Canton, Ohio.