One of the most common questions we get is "my child is (insert age) years old and we'd like to get a surfboard for him/her, what would you recommend?"
In fact, this happened just yesterday, when a woman called us and asked us to recommend a board for Christmas for her 7 year old daughter who took surf lessons this summer and did great and wanted a surfboard. After our conversation, she ended up going with a 6' Albert Fish. I'll explain why.
We typically decipher the appropriate response based on three factors: experience level, size, and weight. These same factors apply to adults as well, but of course with adult beginners we account for a longer learning curve and nearly always recommend 8' or 9' models.
For kids, this is different. Surfboard "float" is measured in volume. Our smaller boards have the following volume measurements:
4'10" Chub: 35 Liters
4'10" Wizard: 39 Liters
6' Baby Jesus: 49 Liters
6' Albert Fish: 50 Liters
7' Shortbus: 72 Liters
Foam surfboards generally have larger volume than fiberglass boards of the same length & width. Much of this is hidden in the thickness of the board (foam boards generally being thicker), but it all adds up to additional float. Generally speaking, a foam board of a certain size typically has the volume of a fiberglass board measuring at least a foot longer. A 6' fiberglass surfboard generally has about 30-35L of volume. You'll see we get that out of a board shorter than 5', and our 6' boards are closer to 50L, which is what you'll see on a mid-length (7'2" approximately) fiberglass board. 50L is enough for surfers beyond 200lbs to ride.
So kids don't need a foam longboard for the float. However, they may still benefit from the stability a larger board provides.
Chances are in surf camp your child learned on a 7' or (most likely) 8' board. If that's what they are comfortable with, or if they are a larger child and/or just very much in the beginning stages of learning, then matching what they learned on in camp can be a good idea. If your child did not take a surf camp and has very little to zero experience and you intend on pushing them into waves; then a 7' or 8' board is still appropriate.
However, wielding an 8' board down the beach and then trying to paddle that board out becomes a chore for a smaller kid. The bottom line is once they have a grasp on the basics, then something like a 6' board might make more sense for them.
If a child did well at a surf camp, is athletic, under 100lbs and 7-12 in age, a 6' Albert or Baby Jesus is what I typically recommend. This child wants their own board, one they can paddle out themselves and really learn to surf on. This board has plenty of float to catch small waves with. The difference between the two boards is this: The Baby Jesus is narrower, so better for the smallest of kids to get their arms around. It also has a rounded tail which is a little better at taking abuse than the fish tail on the Albert. The Albert Fish is IMO a better overall shape; it has some extra width to provide stability, and is in fact one of our top selling designs.
If a child is 12+, over 100lbs, or still in the very beginning of stages, then yes, a larger board is more appropriate.
So what about the 4'10" Chub and Wizard models...who are those best for? Great Question!
These boards are less "beginner" and more "performance/multi-use". Yes, kids can use them as their first surfboard, but in most cases they'll see more success with the 6'. That extra ~15L of volume is a 40% increase off the 4'10" Chub! The 4'10" designs are best for kids-teenagers who know how to surf and want a shorebreak charger, something to surf behind a boat, wave pool surfing, river surfing and more. We sell A LOT of these designs for these uses, but whenever anyone asks me what they should get for a first board, they are usually not the answer!