Swimming suit is on. Sunscreen applied. Towel is packed. Pool toys are in tow. Children are at the door and ready. But wait! Are water play rules posted and reviewed? Has a safety check been done? Are there enough adults to supervise the children both in and out of the pool? While these may seem like redundant tasks, children at home and in child care will have an enjoyable and stress-free play experience when the key components of water safety are addressed.
Proper limits and boundaries are important for children to thrive in their environment. Accidents happen because of confusion of expectations. To avoid this, compile a list of rules that are kid-friendly and child approved. Encourage all children to brainstorm as a group and review them before entering the pool or water play area.
Sample Rules
Learn...
Look...
Listen...
Barriers like fences, door alarms, gate latches and pool covers are not child proof, but they provide protection for a child when pools are not in use. These helpful guidelines will contribute to a secure water play area.
Tips...
Water play can be enjoyable for all ages of children, even toddlers and preschoolers. Sprinklers, hoses, or small individual water buckets are safe alternatives to pools.
Possible activiities to use at home or child care:
Note: Avoid small, portable wading pools as they do not permit enough control of sanitation and safety and can spread childhood illness
Make this summer free of pool accidents and use these tips to build a safe backyard fun-zone for kids! To find more information, visit these websites:
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