Taking the children to the seaside? Why not the ocean?

The Maldives with children? Absolutely!

Some people picture the Maldives as a distant, exotic destination that is almost unsuitable for children. Long flights, the ocean, an unfamiliar country... Wouldn't it be more sensible to choose somewhere closer?

Quite the opposite! The Maldives can be one of the loveliest places for a holiday with children. And I am not talking about kids' clubs, entertainers and pools with slides. I mean the real Maldives.

The ocean is the biggest playground

I envy anyone who gets to see the look in a child's eyes when they put on a mask for the first time, dip their head into the ocean and discover a whole other world living beneath the surface.

Fish in every colour, corals, turtles, small reef sharks... This is not a film on television: it is happening right in front of them. Sometimes all they need to do is walk into the water from the beach.

Then try getting them out. :)

The water in the Maldives is warm all year. Many islands have shallow, reef-protected lagoons with calm water. For small children, these are wonderful places for their first encounters with the ocean.

Teach your children to swim before you go!

I have written it more than once in the Facebook group: taking a child to the Maldives when they cannot swim means denying them a huge part of the experience.

Of course, little children can have a wonderful time in the shallows too. But once they can swim comfortably with a mask and snorkel, a completely different world opens up.

Your child does not need to be a competitive swimmer. What matters is feeling confident in the water, knowing how to use a mask and snorkel, and knowing what to do if they get tired or frightened.

If you are planning a family holiday in the Maldives in a few months, use that time for swimming lessons too.

It could turn out to be the best preparation for the whole trip.

And of course, small children must never be left without close supervision in the water, however well they swim.

And the excursions?

This is where it gets even more interesting.

Dolphins, turtles, mantas, snorkelling, fishing, paddleboarding, uninhabited islets... There is so much to do in the Maldives that often there simply is not enough time.

The group has many accounts from parents of their children's adventures in the Maldives. Some of the photos and videos say more than all my explanations.

Of course, excursions should suit the child's age and ability, rather than the parents' wish to tick off every attraction. Ask organisers about the duration, ocean conditions, life jackets and whether the child can take part safely.

You do not have to chase the biggest adventures. Sometimes an hour swimming among the fish on a nearby reef brings more joy than a whole day in a boat.

Which island should we choose with children?

Here, my advice is to think a little differently from usual.

When it is just adults, a ten-minute walk to the beach is not much of a problem. With a small child, beach toys, masks, fins, towels and five other things you absolutely must take, those ten minutes mean something quite different.

So I would look for a hotel near a lovely beach, with natural shade and easy entry into the water. If there is an easily accessible reef too, all the better. In fact, for me that is essential.

And there is no rule that small children mean you must stay at a resort. Some families prefer resort facilities; others feel perfectly happy on local islands.

What matters is that the particular place meets your needs.

And the long flight?

It is an understandable concern. Ten or so hours of travelling with a two-year-old is not the same as boarding a plane on your own with a book and headphones. For that matter, it is not always easy with a ten-year-old either. :)

But the group has plenty of accounts from parents who have been through it, with useful tips for making the journey easier.