It's easy to be smart about water safety and still have fun with your kids.
What kinds of things can you do to keep your kids safe around the pool this summer besides lock them indoors and tell them the pool water evaporated overnight?
Here are two pieces of life-saving advice you can do right at home with your son or daughter. Note: The site is geared toward dads, but the information on the site is relevant to anyone spending time with kids who love pools.
- Teach your kids to always swim under adult supervision.
- Teach your kids how to swim to the side of a pool if they do fall in.
The first tip is one you can do verbally. It’s also one you can reinforce by bringing it up in any conversation that involves a pool. It can be as easy as this:
Son: Dad, can I go swimming at John’s house?
You: Will there be any adults watching you swim?
By bringing the topic of adult supervision into the conversation, you’ll be reinforcing the importance of your kids only swimming with adult supervision. You can also just some right out and say it like this, “You’re only allowed to go swimming if there’s an adult watching you. Do you understand?”
When you’re teaching your child the second tip – about how to get to the side of the pool if she falls in – it can be educational, but also a great time for you to connect and have some quality time in the pool together. Practice jumping in close to the wall and then doggy paddling or swimming to the nearest edge of the pool. Be sure to include lots of hugs to celebrate a job well done.
