We all know that kids have big dreams when they're little; some want to emulate their mums or dads, and some want to be superheros. Many have dreams of becoming a princess, a firefighter, a doctor or a teacher. Some children even want to be a sailor, however this can be a trickier dream to indulge whilst they're so little.
However there are some activities you can do with your child to help them further their love of all things sea-faring.
The first is getting them a sailor outfit! These are widely available and aren't just for fancy dress parties. Kids love playing dress-up so why not let your little one wear it around the house, or whilst they're out playing ship in the garden? You could even get them some accessories to go with it, like a plastic captain's wheel or a compass?
Next, you could look into the many live ship tracking facilities there are. Allowing your child to track real live ships as they make their way around the world's seas should really make them smile. It'll also let them see that they could really be a sailor when they grow up, if they wish to.
Depending on what age your child is, you may also want to warn them of the dangers of becoming a sailor. If they're really little, this might just scare them but if they're a bit older - say six or more - you might want to teach them about the world's most famous shipping disaster, the Titanic. Southampton boasts a wonderful museum filled with relics from the wreckage, which explains in detail what happened on that fateful trip. This is a good way to show your kid the pros and cons of a sea-faring lifestyle, giving them all the information they need to make an intelligent choice.
So even if your child doesn't end up becoming a sailor, (how many of us actually achieve our childhood dreams, after all?) at least you can be safe in the knowledge that you did all you could to make them happy and indulge their passion.
For a live ship tracking website, try http://shipfinder.co/