For most children, summer recess means fun. Running, jumping, skating and biking are a few of the myriad of activities. But to beat the summertime heat, swimming and playing in and around water is their all-time favorite pleasure.

While Memorial Day traditionally kicks off the long water recreation season, safety is important everyday as millions of children across the nation gravitate toward pools, lakes, ponds, and other water sources to play and to stay cool.

Experts say that one of the best ways to promote water safety is learn to swim and to observe water safety rules. The American Red Cross offers the following tips:

• Learn to swim.
• Never swim alone.
• Swim in areas with a lifeguard.
• Obey all rules and posted signs.
• Stay out of water if you are too tired, cold or hot.
• Get out of water if it is stormy, lightning or thundering.
• Always wear sunscreen.
• Take a Red Cross First Aid or CPR class in order to respond to emergencies.
• Never play with safety equipment.
• Always wear a life jacket when riding in a boat.
• Slide down water slides feet first.
• Don’t chew gum or eat while swimming.
• Don’t run or push near water.
• Know water depth before diving.
• Don’t swim under or near diving boards or water slides.
• Watch out for dangerous marine life.
• Keep away from fast-moving water.
• Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

While such guidelines are proven to keep children safe, The American Red Cross, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other organizations agree that even with water safety instruction, children should still be supervised.

According to a policy statement on swimming released by the AAP April 2000, “regardless of the swimming program design or focus, infant and toddler aquatic programs are unable to ensure that children will understand water hazards, use appropriate avoidance strategies, or attain program safety goals.” As a result, the study reports that drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the pediatric age group.

“In the United States, drowning rates are the highest among children ages 1 through 2 years. In Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, drowning is the leading cause of death in this age group,” the study adds.

 

How To Encourage Water Comfort

Parents should take an active role in preparing their children for fun and safety in the water says Krissy Smith, health and safety consultant with the American Red Cross, Dallas, Texas.

“If the child is an infant or toddler, then parents can encourage their children to blow bubbles, kick and splash in the bath tub so that they will become familiar with water on their faces,” Smith says. “Once the children are comfortable in the bath tub, parents can then ease them into a baby pool.”

Most importantly, she adds, “Parents should never force their children into the water.”

Smith said becoming comfortable with the water and trust are primary factors to learning to enjoy the water.

“In a situation for an older child, the parent should ease into the shallow water and then allow their child to ease in. Always stay in shallow water and encourage some sort of mild play,” Smith advises.

She also recommends parents enroll their children in an accredited swimming program in order to boost confidence.

 

A Parent’s Perspective

Mother of three Tracy Rinehart, of Allen, Texas, agrees with experts that parents must work in concert with instructors to provide total water safety.

“When I had my third baby last summer and started going to the pool again, my oldest child was still clinging to the side of the pool even though he and my other daughter had already had lessons,” she explained. “I had to be realistic and firm with my son and daughter by telling them that if they wanted to keep coming to the pool, then they needed to have lessons and learn to swim because it was difficult trying to manage them while holding the baby.”

Rinehart said her 3-year-old daughter enjoyed going to the pool and was not fearful of the water so she did not need much prodding once the ultimatum was made. But her 7-year-old son, on the other hand, required some encouragement.

“It’s important to swim. I am a pediatrician and I have seen numerous water-related tragedies. I take my children to the pool, but the two older ones are also taking lessons as well, Rinehart explained. “It’s important for all parents to know that lessons are no substitute for adult supervision,” she warned. “So watch your children if they can swim or not.”

 

Tips for Good Swimming Instruction

Aquatic experts agree that learning to swim ought to be fun as well as instructional.

Deborah Davis, facility director of Emler School in Plano, Texas, offers some suggestions for parents to follow when preparing a child for a swimming program:

• Start as young as possible to acclimate child to water. Start by sprinkling water on back of child’s head for a few weeks, then the middle of the head for another few weeks. Gradually work toward the front of the head where water will drip in the front of the child’s face.
• Don’t use flotation devices because they foster bad body positioning and a false sense of security.
• Allow children to play in water so they experience fun. Create fun routines.
• Help children have fun in the water by playing games, such as using a beach ball. Distraction with a toy or game works well with younger children until they overcome their fear of water.
• Hold children in the water so that they know they’ll be OK.
• Take baby steps. Parents should make sure not to rush the process when helping a child overcome his fear of water.
• Heat water so that it is comfortable to the child.

Davis said staff at all three locations of the Emler School work very hard with parents and their children. “We educate parents while entertaining and teaching their children. That’s a good combination for any swim school to follow.”
This story was originally published by ParenthoodWeb.com.