I was out surfing late this arvo at Greenmount when I saw a mate of mine pushing his 7 & 10 year old boys onto waves out the back. Has to be the best thing I've ever seen , seeing these kids getting the turbo boost they needed to get onto these waves early , there boards were super small and the kids were so light they just glided across unbroken waves , they just ripped and the whole crowd was hooting as they surfed through the pack into the walled up sections .It was 4 foot and the kids were so small it looked like they were on triple overhead faces.
It's made me think twice in how I have got my kids into stand up so young and maybe I should be putting the early years in on the short boards. Both my girls 9 & 13 are now paddling onto waves on sups but they soon get over it when they come off with big board attached and it's hard for them to get back out , so I generally push them back out.I only do this 1 to 2 ft surf. After seeing what I saw today I'm to thinking they would be better off on shorties or mini mals... what are thoughts.
The only down side is justifying to the wifey having 4 stand ups , everytime I down size I just say it's for the kids 
Rob
you might be right , i seen a young girl surfing at the Alley this arvo and she couldnt have been more than 10 maybee younger she was tiny and she was ripping in some decent waves , i couldnt get over how good she was.Even shared a couple waves with her and one particular wave which was pretty good i looked across after we had run our course and she had this massive grin, you could tell she was super stoked.
I have 3 girls (5,7 and 9) and they all love the water, I have started them all off by pushing them into small reforms at age 4-5, My eldest (9) is now paddling out by herself and catching reforms/whitewater and is now starting to look at turns and cleaner waves, she is a strong swimmer. All of them I have started on a 6" foam fish, wide fat and stable and not heavy or hard if they take a knock. My advise is to let them go at there own pace I pushed the eldest to fast and she went off the surf and sea for a year or two, now she luvs it again but I let her decide, my middle girl loves nothing more than ridding a surf mat and trying to run me over. All of them love the boggy boards. They are all stoked on surfing after watching the Girls ASP tour here a few weeks ago
My young bloke won't have a bar of Stand Up. He's to busy hanging out with his mates being a grom!
First wave, four years ago, with proud Dad riding shotgun
First board club comp, "Supergroms Division" thats him in yellow
These last two were taken last winter. He's twelve but is built like a baby gorilla
Honestly Piros, its all good. The kids allways find a way to suck maximum joy from any situation no matter what their surfing and providing they take us for the ride, life's sweet.
Cheers
Sparx
Great shots & great advice Sparx 
, this is a shot of my youngest Bonnie practicing her kick turns on my mal.
We go by the Golden Breed Moto "ride them all"
Taj at his home beach riding a little Hynson 5'9
Taj at Johnsons
Kaiya at Lions Park testing boards
Kaiya at Lions Park
Kaiya at Johnsons
Taj at Lions Park during Paddle fit
Taj on the nose
Kaiya at Johnsons Dane Wilson board
Taj in the Pocket at Sunshine
Its got to be one of the best things you can teach your kids, A real healthy sport that they will meet up with like minded friends and pass it onto their kids.
I've had a blast with my son on trips to Bali ,Hawaii and up and down the east coast of OZ. They grow up fast my son is 17 has a car and we dont surf together often
now days,from pushing him in, to him calling you in when your thinking of not going.
Enjoy it while you can because they grow up fast, we talk story in the arvo around the BBQ and soon the little grom will have a beer in hand 
mac
Sharing the stoke with my kids. This is ealier times teaching them to surf at the Alley. Eldest kept it going but the youngest did not. Didn't push it and I am finding now that she is slowly coming back to surfing. Wish the wifey showed an interest, makes it it alot easier when purchasing new boards.
watching sparrows getting their waves with a push from dad has delayed many a surf for me - priceless
Just counting the days until my 4yo girl begins. Got her first board today. A killer pink Micro Lite tri fin Coolite. I'll shape her next one.
She's been riding my skatey a lot lately so there's hope yet.......
Both my 5 and 3 year old sons ride a 4ft Alaia I made for them. They now want one each. Also they both paddle my 11ft Takayama Longboard, usually with one of them sitting cross legged on the nose. Kids love water and want to copy dad, whatever you do.
Nothing like a day at the beach with the kids. you always walk away so much better for it.
If only these days would last forever.
Phill
This morning I packed the family off to the alley and took my 5 year old out for a few sliders and he was loving it.
Couldn't quite get the 3 yr old daughter out yet.
Waz
