With summer in full swing, many families and children spend time near the water. Whether this be at the beach, a pool, or a waterpark, children have more access to water-related activities. Learning about and teaching water safety is important, so we’ve compiled some tips and resources to help!
Below are some of the top tips from the CDC when it comes to water safety:
- Learn to swim!
- Swim in supervised areas, noting the meanings of different signs.
- Pay attention to the weather.
- Stay alert to currents if you are swimming in the ocean.
- Wear the proper safety wear such as life jackets and floaties.
For more tips and information from the CDC, click here.
Safe Kids Worldwide is another site that offers great information about water safety. They provide facts about drowning and water risks, as well as tips on how to watch children around water, teaching children to swim, pool safety, and swimming in open water. They also provide checklists for different water-related activities so you can ensure you are taking all the right steps to be as safe as possible.
For facts, tips, checklists, and more resources, click here.
For tips on how to be safe during different water activities, click here.
The American Red Cross offers a free set of lessons all about water safety called “Whale Tales.” Instructed by Longfellow the whale, these lessons include videos, activity sheets, and coloring sheets. Although these lessons are for children ages Kindergarten to 5th grade, the content is valuable and can help caregivers to teach their little ones about water safety. Click here to learn more! The American Red Cross also offers general information on water safety and a swimming class locator. To access these resources, visit this page.
Here at Play & Learn, we aim to empower our educators and families and equip them with the knowledge needed to best care for children. We hope these resources help you feel ready to take on the water with confidence and have fun!
