LOOK: Andi And Philmar's 1-Year-Old Son Bravely Learns How To Balance On Surfboard

Living on an island known as the "Surfing Capital of the Philippines" and having a surfing champ dad, being on the surfing board appears to be almost a second nature for Andi Eigenmann and Philmar Alipayo's youngest child, Koa.

At just 15 months, Koa can already balance on the surfboard, as seen in the photos and videos uploaded on his mom's Instagram account. 

"[I]f skating was what motivated him to start walking, I guess it's surfing that's sure has been motivating him to swim so bravely and well!" Andi wrote as she shared some snaps showing a happy Koa enjoying a sunny day on the beach with his surfboard.

It could be remembered that Koa was only 8 months old when his dad took him on his first ride on a skateboard. It looks like this young lad has a penchant for extreme sports.

Koa's older sister, Lilo, who turns 3 come July 2022, is also showing some mad skills on the surfing board.

In another Instagram video, Lilo demonstrated some basic surfing skills, from paddling to standing up on the board, all on her own. Good job, Lilo!

Andi and Philmar have been sharing their happy island life journey online with their two kids, Lilo and Koa, and Ellie, Andi's daughter with her former partner Jake Ejercito.

Andi On Being A Boy Mom

The mom of three recently opened up about the joys of having a son. In an online post, she wrote, "I thought nothing would compare to being a girl mom but having a boy for my youngest is just the cherry on top for me."

Seeing Koa's developmental milestones, Andi can't help but be sentimental about her baby boy growing up. "His sweetness is just on another level! And now at 15 mos I feel like another little birdy is slowly making his way to explore the big world without mama so much by his side."

She adds, "Babyhood flew by way too quickly for this one. Thankful for this strong and special bond of still being able to nurse him at this point."

Many parents could definitely relate to the bittersweet feeling one can get after witnessing their children growing up, right moms and dads?

Benefits Of Risky Play To Kids

Parents are wired to do everything in their power to keep their children out of harm's way, including but not limited to gatekeeping activities they can or cannot do at a young age.  

Sometimes, parents tend to dismiss forms of risky play since it involves, as the name of the play suggests, risks: no running, no climbing, no swinging in park.

Also read: The Power Of Play In Your Child's First 3 Years

For some, having kids stand up on a surf board or skateboard is too dangerous, but as Andi and Philmar successfully demonstrated, with the right guidance and proper settings, risky play can be a precious experience for kids.

While restricting kids' independence is done with the best intentions in mind, it also limits children to act on their curiosity, which can lead to many discoveries and learnings. They also lose the opportunity to explore their own capabilities.

A New York Times article discussing the rise of parents greenlighting risky play during the pandemic cited the work of early childhood researcher Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter on the benefits of letting kids be more adventurous.

Also read: Types Of Risky Plays Your Child Needs

Dr. Beate's research suggests that risky play "helps children explore and conquer fears, develop confidence and reduce anxiety."

"The worst thing parents can do is to yell at them, 'Come down, you're not allowed to be up there! Be careful!' Because then you're actually disturbing them in their concentration of what they're doing," Beate further explains.

Of course, this is not to say that parents should drop being cautious altogether. Like with everything, balance is the key—balancing risk with safety.

Read how to raise a fearless and adventurous child here.