I’ve noticed a theme in my conversations with fellow parents this time of year – child water safety.
Parents are often worried their child is not a proficient swimmer or as far along as their peers. Parents are primarily concerned about safety, but also about their child not being able to join in at pools, playing at the lake or at water theme parks. Many newer community pools have a “gradual entry” where the water level is low for young children to splash, get wet, but don’t have to “swim.” These are great spaces, but my friends have legitimate concerns their children have grown up splashing around in these types of pools and never had to learn to stay afloat in deeper waters.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the swimming skill level of the child and how to find good swim instruction. But no matter how old children are, being a capable swimmer is only one part of water safety.
Water safety starts with the responsibility of the adult caregiver. Most importantly, never leave a child unattended in or near water. One tip from PoolSafely.org is to designate an official Water Watcher whose only job is to watch the children for safety, even if there is a lifeguard on duty. The Water Watcher shouldn't be doing anything else such as reading or looking at their phone.
The following resources offer education and a lot more great tips for keeping kids safe in and near water. Learning to swim is a life skill that not only prevents drowning, but also opens up opportunities for recreation. Keep working towards the goal of teaching children to swim.
Have a healthy and safe summer!
American Academy of Pediatrics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Claire is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a background in body-oriented psychotherapy. Working for Anthem, she helps people find the right mental health treatment, and consults with employers around risk, safety and mental health issues.