first thing safety. ice has the potential to kill you quick.
second thing - stay away off of the big lake. i have ice fished all my life, and you couldnt get me to venture on lake michigan ice for nothing.
get a spud. do not go onto ice less than 5 inches thick. spud your entire way, every two steps. stay in the area of the ice you have tested. lets assume from here on out you know the ice is safe....
what are you intending to fish for? pike? or panfish? i have started my boys with tip ups for pike. more fun for small kids. once you get set up, let the kids play until there is a flag. try to catch it, then goof off until there is another flag.
answer these ?'s and we will go from there.
