Author: Alex Huynen, Ph.D., LEP, Swim Instructor

Swimming is not just a fun activity for kids; it's also an essential life skill that can prevent drowning and promote lifelong fitness. As parents, it's our responsibility to ensure our children know how to stay safe in and around water. Teaching kids water safety is about more than just swimming lessons—it's about instilling habits and knowledge that will keep them safe throughout their lives. In this blog post, we'll explore the key water safety rules every child should know and how to teach them effectively.

Understanding the Basics of Water Safety

Before children even dip their toes in the water, it's important to teach them some basic water safety rules. The first rule is that they should always ask for permission before entering the water. This ensures that an adult is aware and can supervise them. Explain to your kids that they should never swim alone and must always have a buddy with them. This buddy system adds an extra layer of safety and makes swimming more fun.

Another crucial rule is "No running" around the pool. Wet surfaces can be slippery, and running can lead to falls and injuries. Make sure children understand that walking carefully is the safest way to move around the pool area.

Choosing the Right Swim Lessons

Finding the right swim lessons for your child is an important step in teaching them water safety. Look for a certified swim instructor who has experience working with children. Ask for recommendations from other parents or check with local community centers and swim schools.

Swim lessons can be private or group-based. Private lessons offer one-on-one attention and can be tailored to your child's pace, while group lessons provide social interaction and the opportunity to learn from peers. Both have their benefits, so choose the format that best suits your child’s needs.

Beginner swim lessons typically focus on water acclimation, basic strokes, and floating techniques. It's important to have realistic expectations and understand that progress may be gradual. Celebrate small milestones to keep your child motivated.

Introducing Safety Equipment

Using proper safety equipment is essential in ensuring a safe swimming experience. Life jackets and flotation devices are crucial for non-swimmers or those who are not confident in the water. Teach your kids how to wear life jackets correctly and explain why they are important.

Goggles can protect their eyes from chlorine and improve underwater visibility, making swimming more comfortable and enjoyable. Swim caps can keep hair out of their face and reduce drag in the water. Show your kids how to use these items and let them practice putting them on and taking them off.

Pool Rules for Kids

Establishing and enforcing pool rules is vital for preventing accidents. One of the most important rules is no diving in shallow water. Explain that diving should only be done in designated areas where the water is deep enough to avoid injury. Always check the depth markers before diving.

Another rule is to always check the depth before entering the water. Kids should know that different pools have different depths, and what might be safe in one pool might not be in another. Reinforce the rule of no pushing or roughhousing in the pool. Such behavior can lead to accidents and injuries.

Open Water Safety Tips

Swimming in open water, such as lakes or oceans, presents different challenges than swimming in a pool. Teach your kids that open water can have strong currents, tides, and uneven depths. Explain the importance of swimming within designated swimming areas and never venturing too far from shore.

Currents and tides can be powerful and unpredictable. Teach your children to respect these natural forces and to always swim where lifeguards are present. Explain the concept of rip currents and how to swim parallel to the shore to escape them if caught.

Educating Kids on Emergency Procedures

Knowing how to respond in an emergency is just as important as knowing how to swim. Teach your kids to recognize when someone is in trouble in the water. Signs include struggling to keep their head above water, floating face down, or calling for help.

Basic rescue techniques can be lifesaving. Teach your children to use a reaching pole or throw a flotation device to someone in distress, rather than entering the water themselves. Explain the importance of calling for help and knowing how to use emergency contact numbers.

Fun Safety Drills and Games

Learning about water safety doesn’t have to be boring. Incorporate safety drills and games into swim practice to make it more engaging. For example, you can play "Simon Says" with safety rules, where kids have to follow instructions like "Simon says walk around the pool" or "Simon says wear your life jacket."

Another fun activity is a "Safety Scavenger Hunt," where children have to find and identify various safety equipment around the pool area. These games reinforce safety concepts and make learning enjoyable.

The Role of Supervision

Even with all the rules and safety measures in place, adult supervision is crucial. Explain to your children that supervision is not just about watching them swim, but about actively ensuring their safety. Encourage kids to remind each other of safety rules and to always seek adult supervision before swimming.

Implement the "water watcher" concept in your family. The designated water watcher should have a clear view of the pool and avoid distractions like phones or reading. Rotate supervision duties among adults to prevent fatigue and ensure constant vigilance.

Reinforcing Water Safety at Home

Water safety education should be an ongoing process. Regularly review safety rules with your children and discuss why they are important. Create a family water safety plan that includes emergency contacts, first aid procedures, and designated supervision responsibilities.

Encourage safe behaviors by rewarding adherence to rules. Positive reinforcement can motivate kids to follow safety guidelines consistently. Use real-life examples and stories to highlight the importance of water safety and the potential consequences of ignoring the rules.

Teaching kids how to swim safely is an invaluable investment in their well-being. By instilling water safety rules and habits, you empower your children to enjoy the water with confidence and caution. Remember, safety is a continuous effort that involves education, supervision, and practice. Start swim lessons early, make learning fun, and always prioritize safety. Together, we can ensure that our children have a safe and enjoyable swimming experience.

Parents are often confused at whether to have their swimmer wear goggles when taking swim lessons. Many learn to swim programs have suggestions as to whether swimmers should or shouldn’t use goggles. Parents should discuss these suggestions with the program they enroll at, to ensure they understand the reasons behind program suggestions. Programs can range from requiring all swimmers to wear goggles to not allowing goggles at all. It should never be mandatory to wear goggles while swimming; however, there are many benefits to using goggles.

Getting babies or young swimmers to wear goggles can increase their willingness to put their face in and go under water. When swimmers realize how clear the water is, compared to without goggles, they tend to want to explore underwater. Wearing goggles can help hesitant swimmers be more comfortable and excited about swimming.

Introducing goggles to young swimmer can be difficult and many may not accept using them at first. Goggles can be tight and uncomfortable, when swimmers are not used to them. The best way to get your swimmer to become comfortable wearing goggles is to start by introducing them to goggles outside of swim lessons. For example, practice using goggles at home in the bath. This allows swimmers to start using goggles where they are comfortable and doesn't waste swim lesson time.

More advanced swimmers rarely go without goggles because they are so used to swimming with them. Wearing goggles can be of great benefit but it is important that swimmers don’t become dependent on wearing goggles.

Why Do Instructors Make Swimmers Swim Without Goggles?

It is very important that all swimmers can swim without goggles. Water safety is the main goal of most swim lessons and being dependent on goggles can limit your child’s safety in the water. When a child is in an unexpected situation or accidentally falls into the water, they will not have their goggles (or even their swim suit). It is also likely that the child will panic when they hit the water without goggles. This is why swim instructors may require swimmers to practice water safety skills without goggles. If a swimmer can fall into the water, float and get to the side of the pool, without goggles, they are more likely to be able to survive an accidental fall into the water.

Some Children Have to Wear Goggles

For medical and other associated reasons some children may need to wear goggles – such as prescription goggles. If this is then case then:

Choose a pair with BSI instructions on the packaging for the correct way to put on and take off goggles.
Choose a pair that fit properly. Leaking goggles could affect the child and waste lesson time.
Talk to your instructor about the reason for using the goggles and options for practicing skills without them.

Jump Start Swimming Goggle Information

Jump Start Swimming does not require swimmers to use goggles during our swim lessons; however, we always offer swimmers the choice.
Instructors will encourage younger swimmers to use goggles, especially when they are hesitant or resistant to putting their eyes and face underwater.
If goggles are used, the instructor may require that the swimmer practice a few skills without the goggles to ensure they are capable of staying calm and completing the water safety sequence without goggles.
Swimmers can bring their own goggles if they have a pair they are comfortable with, but it is not required. Jump Start Swimming always has extra goggles available.
Parents are encouraged to talk to the instructor if they have any questions.

Water Safety Rules: Teaching Kids How to Swim Safely