Be it swimming or any other water activity, kids love to spend time in the water, especially during summer. However, children must follow water safety rules to prevent accidents and injuries. As parents, we must teach our kids about these safety rules. Ensure your children learn and adhere to these safety rules for a happy water play session.
Help your kids learn the meaning of signs
You must have seen signs near the water bodies you tend to visit, like beaches, pools, or ponds, to warn the visitors of any danger or to simply inform them about the dos and don’ts. While it’s easy for adults to decipher the meaning or read the words, it might be tricky for kids, especially toddlers still learning to read. That is why it’s essential to take the time to teach your kids about the meaning of some important signs so that your little ones can understand the dangers lying ahead or the precautions to be taken to ensure their own safety.
Your child should listen to the lifeguard
No matter how old your child is or how good they are at swimming, it’s always wise to listen to the lifeguard and remain in the designated area. They know the area and limitations better than you and your little one. So, tell your children to follow the water safety rules advised by the lifeguards for a pleasant experience on the beach or pool. The lifeguard wants you and your family to stay safe while enjoying yourself in the water, so be kind and listen diligently.
Don’t let your kids swim alone
Make sure your children always swim under the supervision of a responsible adult. Having a grown-up in the water or right outside is essential to offer them immediate assistance if needed. It would be best to encourage your kids to go in the water only with you or another adult who is a trained swimmer. The other person should also be someone you can trust with your life. It is essential to discuss this water safety rule with your children and make sure they adhere to it.
Tell your little ones not to walk or play around the pool area
Running and roughhousing around the pool area can be dangerous for everyone. If the activity proves fatal for adults, it is an absolute no-no for little ones. It can lead to severe injuries and accidents. Hence, advise your children to avoid such activities near any water area for safety reasons. Moreover, you should ask them to be extremely careful while walking anywhere around the pool.
Make sure your kids wear life jackets
If your child is a non-swimmer or still learning to swim, it is important to keep them safe with life jackets. This water safety rule should especially be followed if they are having fun in natural water bodies like lakes, rivers, etc. For the pool, you can use arm floaties, pool noodles, or floaters to keep your little one safe. While life jackets are a must for children, they should also be worn by adults if one is going yachting or boating. So, don’t forget your safety while caring for your kiddo.
Advice your children to stay away from drains and jets
Your children must be aware of this water safety rule to avoid any accidents in water. Kids should never enter drains under any circumstance, as it can lead to serious injuries. Similarly, jets are extremely dangerous, and children should never go near them. Hence, it is important to educate little ones about how jets and drains work in the pool to ensure they don’t go near them out of curiosity. A little knowledge about these things will help them make sound decisions.
Apart from these water safety rules, make sure your child knows that they should always wear appropriate swimsuits, keep in mind the water depth, never swim in strong currents or moving water, and most importantly, never dive in water unless allowed. Also, they should always go feet first to avoid any accidents.
Water activities are fun, but sometimes, they can turn into nightmares due to a lack of precautions. Hence, teach your children about these basic water safety rules for an enjoyable time in the pool or beach.
