I think a SUP is awesome for kids if there are no waves, like paddling around flat water or down wind coz not everywhere has waves available unfortunately. However if you are not in a flatwater situation, a normal surfboard is way better for kids. There are also some very nice soft surfboards available for kids perfect to learn to surf on...even a bodyboard/boogeyboard would be better as its conductive to learning to read the ocean. The most important thing you can learn prior to surfing. Balance helps, but really, laying on a boogey board reading a wave speed/dirrection/ posiotion your place to be to catch that wave is a great 1st step