Summer is finally here and so is the heat. This is our chance to enjoy some sunshine and get the kids out of the house for some summer fun. Typically, this involves a swimming pool so our preschoolers can cool off and burn lots of energy. However, there are some safety precautions to consider beforehand.
Everyone loves to be outdoors when the sun is shining. Nothing beats soaking up all of those rays and replenishing the Vitamin D reservoir. Read on for a handful of things we can do as parents to ensure we are safe and incident free around the pool this summer.
First of all, something we can do before we even leave the house is to encourage the drinking of lots of water. Dehydration hits us quickly in the summer sun and, ironically, swimming in all that water does nothing for hydration and very rarely do our kids take water breaks because they are not feeling overheated. When I know we are going swimming, I try to pump at least an extra glass of water into my little ones.
There is one more thing we can do before we get to the pool as well and that is sunscreen. Applying the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you get there allows it to soak into the skin. I like to do this while getting them changed into the swimsuits. When they aren’t wearing any clothes helps to ensure you are not missing any spots. Putting some on right before they jump in the pool is only partially effective. Although, I do reapply as soon we get there and before they hop in.
Now, we are at the pool! This invites the dangers of the water itself. The best way to help our kids be safe in the water is not to wrap them in floatation gear; rather, teach them to swim. There are tons of resources to do this; if you are not sure, you can teach them. The local park offers lessons, the YMCA, a couple of the fitness centers and then there are private instructors. The lessons are well worth it. We still use some of the gear, but it supplements her swimming, not prevents her from learning to swim.
That brings up my last point for swimming safety this summer. We tend to watch our little ones having fun and see they are doing a great job swimming. We forget that they are working every single muscle in their bodies and are going to get fatigued. It is up to us to ensure they are taking frequent breaks, because they are not going to volunteer to get out of the water on their own.
Keep these four simple things in mind this year and you will have tons of safe fun at the pool!