I'm looking for a couple paddles for some young boys - the elder is 3 1/2 now, and if he gets one I'm sure the 1 1/2 yr old will need one, too (sigh). Any suggestions? The Bending Branches Twig at 36" seems too long for my guys, at least right now, right?

I noticed a "telescoping" paddle from Gander Mtn (22"-42") but haven't been able to see it in person. Anyone tried something like this?

Any suggestions would be helpful, or if anyone has a couple secondhand kids' paddles they'd be willing to sell, well that would be great. I'm in north-central MN (Brainerd).

My dad took his fancy saw and cut 2 out of wood then just sanded them down. My mother in law got one from a craft fair. All 3 are about 16 inches long and last till the kids are around 4 years old and want to start using a real paddle

the smallest one at walmart was our starter - maybe 24" or 30". Worked as well as anything else at that age ;)

I wish I knew where our kids' starter paddles were purchased. They were passed down to the girls from their Pumpy who passed away recently. I think he may have gotten them at Walmart a long time ago. I'm sorry, they are very sentimental so we will hang on to them forever. I did consider passing them on at first though. First pick is ages 6 and 4 and second pic is ages 4 and 2.

Their starter paddles are 29 in. and they started using them when they were 4 and 2. They just moved up in the world to 48 and 42 in. BB Twigs at ages 7 and 5. I would "think" that the 36 Twig would work for your older boy. The 42 works well for our 5 year old and she is a little peanut. I like it alot better than when her older sister used the shorter one at that age because it's so much easier for her to reach the water.

Here they are at 7 and 5 with the Twigs.

Thanks for the replies. I found a 36" Feather Brand paddle for the 3-yr old ($15) and am going to order a 30" for the 18-mo old.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DJZ95Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I'm sure the 30" will be too big for the younger one for another year or so, at least in terms of paddling. It will probably work just fine in terms of whacking his older brother, though.

nice! thats what the starter paddles are. have a great time using them

quote thistlekicker: " It will probably work just fine in terms of whacking his older brother, though.
"

You bet it will - thanks for that laugh!!

Sanborne has small versions of most of their models or they will make a custom paddle for you.

I have one of the telescoping ones - they work all right, not great but okay. But you're not really relying on the kids paddle power any way are you - so whatever allows them to feel like they are contributing is good enough in my opinion.

quote IBFLY: "I have one of the telescoping ones - they work all right, not great but okay. But you're not really relying on the kids paddle power any way are you - so whatever allows them to feel like they are contributing is good enough in my opinion."

I 2nd that one.