Encouraging Safe Water Play for Children

Children love playing in water, especially on hot summer days. Swimming and wading through water provides such healthy exercise and fun that many places offer lessons for your baby or toddler to learn how to swim. However, it is important to encourage safe water play for your children.

The number one cause of death in children less than five years of age is drowning. The bodies of babies and toddlers are top heavy; if they fall into the water, they cannot lift themselves out. It is important to have a grown-up always watching your children when they are around, in, or on water. This is important even if your child knows how to swim.

Safe Water Play Tips for Parents

In addition to assuming responsibility for and supervising your child’s safe water play, teach your child how to float and swim as soon as you can.

Safe Water Play Tips to Teach Children

Supervising your children means continual visual contact
with your children, keeping them within arm’s reach all the time. You need to
be able to respond quickly anytime you are around water. This includes at the
beach or swimming pool; near dams, rivers, and lakes; and at home around the
bathtub or spa. Additionally, hold your child’s hand when you are near waves or
in a boat. When fishing, make sure your child does not get too close to rushing
water. Remember, it only takes a few minutes for a fun time to turn tragic.
Encouraging safe water play for children helps everyone have a fun and relaxing
time.