• Water safety starts with supervision! Supervision is the No. 1 thing we need to do as parents to help keep our children safe. They cannot be left in the kiddie pool the same way they might be placed in front of a TV. Children playing near water require constant adult supervision (an eight-year-old sibling is not old enough, as they can become distracted easily). Parents should exercise touch/reach supervision, which means they are always within an arm’s length of the child. Floaties and water wings are not an alternative to supervision, as they will not prevent a child from drowning. Remember, supervision is not a chore - it is quality time with your child!
• Practice water safety inside and out. Children can drown in very little water, very quickly. While it may be more apparent to take safety precaution when at the pool or the beach, parents should practice safety near any place with water both inside and out: tub, toilet, fish pond, buckets of water, coolers, fountains, hot tubs, and even big puddles.
• Maintain a safe parent-to-child ratio. Our very young children are safest in the water when there is a one-to-one parent-to-child interaction. That means the parent or caregiver is giving undivided attention - not on the phone, not reading a book and not watching another child. Parents should never leave a child unattended in or near water to answer the telephone, door bell, etc. They must pay close attention even if the child is in a kiddie pool, at the water’s edge or in the shallow end of a large pool.
• Older children need supervision too. Water safety is so important, but often parents take it for granted with their older children. Pay attention to the older children. They love to have mom and dad watch them do cool things in the water. Encourage physical activity, trying different things, and be sure to give lots of positive feedback. Enjoy watching them have a great time!
• Designate pool guards. There are only so many kids one adult can supervise in the water at any given moment. Invite other parents to help supervise at pool parties with several young children. If there will be children swimming at a big family party, be sure to designate pool guards who do not drink or socialize; perhaps two or three who can rotate. Teach kids ages eight to12 what to do in case of an emergency. Role play with them: what to do, when to do it, what their address and phone number are, etc. Parents with children near water should also know CPR, especially when there is no trained lifeguard on duty.
• Remove all water temptation. Keep children away from water unless supervised. That means, emptying the kiddie pool and getting covers with locks for hot tubs and spas. Be sure to also empty the cleaning bucket after mopping, shut the bathroom door and use a mesh cover over a fish pond.
• Learn to swim together. It’s wonderful for parents and children to take swim lessons together - children often learn by example. Check with your pediatrician to see if your child is old enough to learn how to swim. A child’s muscles must be strong enough (usually by age six months) for them to hold their head up out of water so they aren’t swallowing it. Under the age of four, children are not developmentally able to swim properly and safely. There are lots of different programs that introduce smaller children to water play by acclimating them to the water. They start to teach basic water skills - blowing bubbles, kicking, moving arms, doggie paddling, etc. The best programs involve a caregiver in the lesson in the water one-to-one with the child. As children get older, they can take more advanced swim lessons. Parents need to recognize that swimming lessons do not protect kids from drowning - only constant supervision can. Make sure instructors are certified and they have proper experience. Teaching a child to swim is a gift parents can give their children to last a lifetime.
• Establish rules and be consistent. Create basic rules for all pools like ‘no running’, ‘no diving’ and ‘no swimming alone.’ Buddy checks will play a major part - teaching children early on that nobody swims alone. Make it fun and even shout, “Buddy check time!” before swimming. Do not leave toys near the pool, especially riding toys such as trucks, bikes and wagons. And do not leave toys floating in the pool. Most importantly, be consistent with enforcing the rules you create.
• Beach/lake experiences can be friendly. When at the beach or lake, the first thing parents should do is check to see if there is there a lifeguard on duty. If not, then the parent is the sole lifeguard. Go in the water with children who cannot swim on their own. Be sure to swim within the flags near the lifeguard if there is one. Sit with children whom are playing at the water’s edge. Teach older kids who can swim about tides and undertow at the beach. Look out for weeds and other growing things at the lake, as not all lakes have sandy bottoms. And also beware of debris in the water and stinging/biting things.
• Make time for the “lotion motion.” When playing with a child outdoors between the hours of 11am and 3pm, be sure to lather on the sunscreen (minimum of 15 SPF with UVA and UVB protection). Waterproof sunscreen is best if the child will be playing in the water; don’t forget noses, cheeks and toes, and bring hats/sunglasses. The key to sun safety, especially when a child is in and out of water, is reapplying sunscreen. Implement a fun sun care routine - “It’s time for the “lotion motion!” Keep a shirt on your child. Protective wetsuits are also great and there is even clothing out there with SPF. And mom and dad should set a good example and practice good sun care, too!
Bette has been a family therapist and children’s advocate for more than 25 years. As Goldberger’s vice president of consumer and family advocacy, she interacts with parents, product designers and professionals to help facilitate the flow of information and inspiration in the playthings Goldberger creates, addressing the concerns of parents for and about their children’s playtime.
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