Together Outside: Baby on Board
Paddleboarding with a toddler can have its fair share of challenges, but the rewards of spending time together on the water together are worth every one.
3 Min Watch | Paddling

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[00:00:00.00] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:00:00.00] Green mountains stretch out across the shores of a lake. Text, L.L. Bean presents

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[00:00:00.65] Coming out to the lake with toddlers is a little bit different. Hey, what are you doing, bud?

[00:00:04.49] No, other way.

[00:00:05.36] It's relaxing like going on a roller coaster is relaxing.

[00:00:09.53] Whoa!

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[00:00:10.87] A man falls off a paddle board.

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[00:00:11.15] OK. That's-- yeah, you do that.

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[00:00:13.56] A young child sits on the edge of a paddleboard kicking their feet while a woman sits beside them holding an oar.

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[00:00:14.09] Mike and I have done some stand up paddle boarding, but we've never taken Whitney.

[00:00:18.11] OK, I need the paddle. Let go for a second.

[00:00:20.02] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:00:21.46] Text, Together Outside. Baby on Board. A paddle glides through the water. A walking bridge extends from the shoreline out into the water. Lake Jocassee, South Carolina.

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[00:00:27.38] Whitney, [INAUDIBLE] the board with mama?

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[00:00:30.50] The woman guides the board out into the water.

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[00:00:31.21] Let me show you how. Today we're having a day at the beach doing some stand up paddle boarding.

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[00:00:36.38] Carly Walton.

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[00:00:36.70] We have some adventurous little ones with us.

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[00:00:39.08] Carly holds a baby in one arm and holds onto a toddler's life vest with the other hand.

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[00:00:39.52] No. Slow, slow. Wow.

[00:00:41.78] Good job, kiddo.

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[00:00:43.56] The toddler walks down the length of the paddleboard. Jess Neely.

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[00:00:43.69] I have high hopes for today. I think it's going to go pretty good. Indy loves the water. I think the other kids do as well.

[00:00:49.90] Oh, there we go.

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[00:00:51.11] A small toddler girl rows with an oar as a man stands next to the paddleboard.

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[00:00:51.74] Ready, Jasper? We're going to go surf boarding.

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[00:00:53.35] Brooke Pannell. Brooke wears a blue L.L. Bean hat and a gray L.L. Bean zip up gray jacket.

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[00:00:53.77] I grew up on a really big lake swimming, boating, and all that stuff was a big part of my childhood. So I want to be sure to give that to Jasper as well.

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[00:01:01.91] A man places a life vest on a small girl. Mike Walton.

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[00:01:02.08] I think it's great to get Whitney out on the water.

[00:01:05.05] Starting her young like this is really good because it gets her used to going on adventures.

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[00:01:10.18] A man snaps the fasteners together on a L.L. Bean life vest that a small boy wears.

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[00:01:10.33] Can you say stand up paddle board.

[00:01:11.92] Stand up paddle board.

[00:01:13.69] Good job--

[00:01:14.00] Good job.

[00:01:14.38] --buddy.

[00:01:14.68] Today we're going to cross the lake to a waterfall.

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[00:01:18.21] Grafton Pannell.

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[00:01:18.58] All right, let's go.

[00:01:19.78] Bye.

[00:01:20.04] Bye.

[00:01:20.29] See ya.

[00:01:21.43] Have fun.

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[00:01:22.08] A man on a paddleboard waves to two women and a child standing on the shore.

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[00:01:22.15] Say, bye, bye, Jasper.

[00:01:23.17] Here we go.

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[00:01:23.82] Three paddleboards move across the lake.

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[00:01:24.55] Good job, Indy. It's pretty cool, ha?

[00:01:28.75] It's somewhat relaxing, stepping with a toddler. Easy with the toenails, Jasper. You can hold on to my toes but not my nails.

[00:01:35.42] Oh, wait, let's wait to jump in, OK?

[00:01:38.52] [SCREAMS]

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[00:01:39.70] A man beats the oar into the water to splash water.

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[00:01:40.22] Got you.

[00:01:41.15] Did you like that?

[00:01:41.78] [LAUGHS]

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[00:01:43.20] The group of people paddle to a small waterfall.

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[00:01:43.91] Waterfall.

[00:01:45.40] Whoa. Whitney, look at that.

[00:01:49.45] I think just the fact that we were all having fun and kept telling the kids that it was OK, that they settled into the activity that we were doing for today.

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[00:01:56.84] All the adults raise their oars into the air.

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[00:01:57.23] [SHOUTING]

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[00:02:01.81] A man jumps off of a large rock into the water.

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[00:02:02.46] I want to make Jasper more comfortable with water. I would like him to understand that the water is meant to be respected, but also that he shouldn't be afraid of it. That he should go out and have fun.

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[00:02:11.14] The man falls off of the paddleboard into the water.

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[00:02:12.91] I hope that Indy sees that you can be strong and fearless and follows that lead.

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[00:02:18.12] The four people paddle together back across the lake.

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[00:02:20.13] How are you?

[00:02:21.02] We missed you.

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[00:02:22.08] They approach the people standing on the beach.

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[00:02:22.44] Hey, Jasper?

[00:02:23.70] Give mom a big hug, Whitney. The journey was excellent. The toddlers hung in there, which was great.

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[00:02:29.12] One person drops their oar onto the paddleboard.

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[00:02:30.09] A little uncomfortable. But realizing that ultimately it's safe and that it's fun, for me, I think that's key. A little hardship makes the sweetness in life much sweeter.

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[00:02:41.97] The entire group of people sit on the shore with plates in their hands.

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[00:02:42.27] You just want a piece of cheese? That's it.

[00:02:44.88] The standard meltdown or two. But overall, it was a really, really fun day for everybody, I think.

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[00:02:49.65] Text, L.L. Bean. Be an Outsider.

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[00:02:49.95] [MUSIC PLAYING]