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For Parents

How you can help!

Supporting a nervous child

This is completely normal, especially in the first few weeks. The beach is big, the group is new, and the water can feel intimidating.

Here are some things that help:

  • Stay close by for the first few sessions. Your presence on the beach is reassuring even if your child doesn’t look at you.
  • Talk to the Age Manager before the session and let them know your child is feeling nervous. They’re experienced with this and can adjust how they include your child.
  • Don’t force it. If your child doesn’t want to go in the water today, that’s okay. Walking along the water’s edge, playing in the sand near the group, or just watching for a week is all progress.
  • Use encouraging language without pressure: “You can try it when you’re ready” rather than “All the other kids are doing it.”
  • Celebrate small wins. If they put their toes in the water this week after watching from the sand last week, that’s a big deal.

Be patient. Most nervous kids are running into the waves by mid-season. Confidence builds with familiarity, routine, and trust.

Supporting your age manager

Your child’s Age Manager is a volunteer — a parent just like you who has put their hand up to help. They’re giving up their Sunday mornings, learning new skills, and doing their best to make Nippers great for every child in the group. Here are some simple ways you can make their job easier and the experience better for everyone.

  • Be on time. Arriving after the session has started means the Age Manager has to re-do roll call and adjust their plan. Even five minutes makes a difference.
  • Stay for the whole session. Parents and guardians are required to remain at the beach while their child is at Nippers. This is a safety requirement — if there’s an emergency, an injury, or the session finishes early, you need to be there.
  • Keep an eye on your child between activities. Age Managers are responsible for the group during structured activities, but during transitions and breaks, your supervision matters.
  • Communicate early. If your child has any needs, concerns, or medical conditions the Age Manager should know about, tell them before the session — not during it.
  • Offer to help. You don’t need any qualifications to help with beach set-up, pack-down, gear, or general support. If you hold a Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate, you can assist with water safety — and your club will love you for it.
  • Raise concerns respectfully. If something doesn’t feel right, talk to the Age Manager after the session or contact the club’s Junior Activities Chairperson. Constructive feedback is always welcome. Challenging a volunteer on the beach in front of the children is not helpful for anyone.
  • Say thank you. A quick “thanks for today” at the end of a session goes a long way. Age Managers are volunteers, and knowing their effort is appreciated makes all the difference.

How you can support us!

There are loads of ways to get involved beyond just watching from the beach.

Many roles need no qualifications at all — BBQ helper, gear coordinator, canteen support, fundraising, photography (with an SLSQ pass), uniform coordination, or joining the Junior Activities committee.

If you’re keen to take the next step, you can train as an Age Manager, complete your Nipper Safety Assistant, Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion for water safety, or become a coach or official. The Nipper Parent page on the Junior Activities Centre has the full list of roles and how to get started.

Every contribution — big or small — helps make Nippers safer, more fun, and more sustainable for every family.

Find your closest club and get started with Symal Nippers

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