Kids can practice standing up on the board before they even get into the water. RELATED LINKS Back to Maui City Guide

Surfing, which began hundreds of years ago as the Hawaiian "sport of kings," is now enjoyed almost wherever there are ocean waves and fair weather. Surfing is also a perfect sport for young kids, offering healthy exercise, environmental awareness and good-old fashioned fun. If you live close to the coast and your kids are looking for a fun, low-cost outdoor sport, you should consider introducing them to surfing.

Chuck Carter is the owner of Nichols Surf Shop in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He has 20 years of experience as a surfing instructor. Here he offers a quick guide for parents who want their kids to learn how to surf:

• Know what your child likes.
  Before you encourage your child to get involved in surfing, make sure it's the sort of thing he or she is interested in. To become good surfers, kids have to like being in the ocean and understand the potential dangers of wave actions and currents.
  
• Begin with a body board.
  Carter suggests starting off with a body board. This will allow your child to develop the timing he or she needs to catch a wave.
  
• Standing up = one fluid motion.
  When teaching your child to stand up on the board, says Carter, you want to teach them to use one fluid motion, not a series of jerky moves, and not a gradual procedure of climbing up.
  
• Have kids practice at home.
  Kids can practice standing up on the board at home, perfecting the fluid move before getting in the water.
  
• Find an experienced teacher.
  There are many resources to help a child learn how to surf, from books and videos to websites. You can also visit your local surf shop and ask them to recommend an instructor who has experience with teaching kids.
  
• Personal or small classes are best.
  Carter recommends signing a child up for one-on-one lessons, or group classes with very small groups. If a child gets the right instruction from the start, he or she will likely enjoy surfing for many, many years to come.

For more information about surfing for adults and kids, check out the following websites:

Surfing Magazine
www.surfingthemag.com

National Scholastic Surfing Association
www.nssa.org

Surfer Girl Magazine
www.sgmag.com

San Diego Surfing Academy
www.surfsdsa.com

Google Surfing Web Directory
directory.google.com