The month of May is National Water Safety Month and May 17th is National Learn to Swim Day. A day to help educate parents and children all about water safety and the many different benefits of learning to swim safely.
Our first home had a pool in the backyard, so of course we installed a safety fence and immediately enrolled my daughter into swim lessons. She learned how to swim before the age of 1. To some this may seem young, but to us it was the right time because she should always know if she falls into a body of water (not only a pool), what to do + how to get to safety. My son learned to swim at the same age, and now they are such fish out there, it’s tough to get them out of the water because of how much fun it is.
In honor of this very important topic, I’d like to give you 10 Water Safety Tips.
10 Water Safety Tips
- Teach your children to swim or enroll in swim lessons as soon as possible.
- Stay close, alert, and near the pool, watching children both in and around the water at all times.
- Learn CPR and update your certification regularly.
- Never use floatation toys or devices as a suitable supervision or safety.
- Talk to your children about the importance of water safety, in and out of the water. My kids love to run around the pool, so this is one area I have to remind them about. The danger of slipping, falling, hurting yourself, or others and putting everyone in risk of injury.
- Inform babysitters, or family members that are in charge of your children - the importance of water safety. It doesn’t hurt to have a friendly reminder about the supervision required near pools or other water sources.
- Never assume someone else is watching your children in or around the pool.
- Don’t assume you’ll hear a child who’s in trouble in the water, drowning is silent and unlikely you would actually hear the child in trouble.
- If a child does go missing during a pool or water outing, always look in the water source first and fast.
If you own a pool:
10. Install a child safety fence and locks &/or alarms on any entryway to pool &/or cover your pool or spa when not in use.
According to the American Red Cross, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14. It’s a scary reality, but following these safety tips can help parents and caregivers provide the water safety that is so important for children.
5 Ways to Get Out and Enjoy National Learn to Swim Day - May 17th
- Talk to your kids about water safety and answer any questions or concerns.
- Enroll your kids in swim lesson in the spring before summer starts, or in the summer months when they are more likely to continue using their new found skills.
- Visit a community pool as a family. Enjoy the water together!
- Have a pool?…. Invite friends over for syncronized swimming games and contest.
- Still too cold to swim outdoors… No problem, let the kids splash around in the bathtub while you supervise, making water fun and safe!
If you are able to teach your child to swim on your own, or they have taken strides to learn.
Download and print this fun certificate
Always a great way to encourage water safety but also have fun!
At what age do you feel it is appropriate to teach a child to swim?
Great tips! I wasn’t aware that May was National Water Safety Month, so I learned something new too!
Anna recently posted…Social Media on Saturday (It’s a Twitter Party!!!) Blog Hop!
Hi Anna, thanks for stopping by and for hosting the twitter hop too! My kids are such water babies it’s great to share this helpful information as summer will be here soon (which I can’t wait for either lol). Hope you enjoy your Sunday.
These are great tips!
That’s great that your kids were able to learn so early. I wish I would have enrolled my oldest in swim lessons sooner. She’s still learning and my other daughter will start lessons next month.
Heidi recently posted…20/52
Thanks Heidi! I think I also enrolled them early because we had a pool of course, but maybe because I’m not that great at swimming. I get out and splash around, lol but honestly could use a lesson or two
Glad you have your kids enrolled in swimming, it’s such a confidence booster for the kids + proud for us mamas 
These are very important tips, especially #2. I know parents that think they don’t need to be right there watching because their kids know how to swim. There’s just too much that can go wrong. You need to keep your own two eyes on your kids at all times.
Joey Lynn Resciniti (@BTaC_blog) recently posted…Our Fairy Garden
Thanks Joey for stopping by. Glad you found the swimming tips helpful. I totally agree with you, it’s so easy to be in the water but assume the kids are okay because they already know how to swim. We went swimming on Friday and I stayed in the water with them, and boy was it fun and refreshing too!!!
My son just had a swim birthday party yesterday. So thankful that there were no “incidents.” We can never be too careful. Good topic to post on!
Meredith Elizabeth recently posted…You didn’t deserve it
Thanks Meredith. Sounds like your son’s birthday pool party was a big hit too! Pool parties are always some of my favorites to go to. Since we owned a home with a pool - water safety has always been so important to me. I wish I had learned to swim early like my children, honestly I probably could use a lesson or two, lol.
These are great tips, Heather! It’s never too early to start swimming lessons, we took our baby boy to his first swimming class 3 months ago (he was 6 months old
) so hopefully he’ll learn how to swim before 1 as your daughter.
Roxy | Roxy’s Kitchen recently posted…Viennese Schnitzel
Oh love to hear that your son is learning to swim early as well. Once they learn to swim, it’s a sensory skill and they don’t forget it. How’s his progress going? It sounds like he loves the water too!
He definitely enjoys being in the water which is a good sign! For now he’s just playing, chewing on all the water toys and splashing a lot :).
Roxy | Roxy’s Kitchen recently posted…Spring Blossom Tree Made Out of Cupcakes
Aww, Roxy what a fun age. I forget sometimes how fun it is when the kids are still learning in the water and how cute it is. Always so sweet to watch them in the water play with you at that age. I hope you guys have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Really great tips! I’m always a little nervous when my kids take off their puddle jumpers in the water. I watch them like a crazy person. But they LOVE swimming and think they are pro. Maybe that’s why I get so nervous!
Leilani recently posted…Random acts of CRAZINESS, Shelby’s Story
It’s great to hear they are confident in the water, with mamas support too - I’m the same way Leilani. My kids are swimmers and sometimes they are too confident. Just today I had my son at refresher lessons and he seriously did not want to get out of the water, too much fun!! Now, if only us moms were that way too, right?!
This is so great! I agree that it is super important to teach our children water safety and we as parents need to also be aware! I’ve been adamant about exposing our children to water and teaching them how to be safe! Thanks for linking up with the Weekday Mixer! Stopping by as a co-host!
Shana recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: Sunrise
Thanks Shana for hosting the mixer too, always a lot of fun. Glad you like the water safety tips, it’s always a nice reminder for us all
Water safety is very important, thank you so much for sharing this. I am pinning.
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Jill recently posted…Sequin Bowls
Thanks Jill, I agree water safety is so important not only in the summer - but year round. I’m glad I can share some of our tips that have helped my kids both near water and at the pools. I love joining the Weekly Blog Hop, thanks for hosting. I really enjoy seeing everyones creative ideas and shares. See you this week!