I watched my youngest daughter Audrey, 23 months old, play with a garden hose and a small inflatable pool for over an hour yesterday.

I had a hooded sweatshirt on and jeans since the weather wasn’t that great. Audrey however didn’t care, we actually couldn’t keep her away. Well, I suppose I could have kept her from playing but she was having fun and there wasn’t any harm in it other than a little chill. And she did get chilled. Throughout her giggling and awe, I tried to shut her down after feeling her hands once, but she wasn’t affected by the cold. She was determined to keep playing with the water. She was so focused and consumed by all aspects of it. I was impressed to see her so mentally absorbed, knowing what she wanted to do and continue playing with and in the water for so long. We did finally cut her off. There is no doubt in my mind had we left her alone she would have continued on without any cares. She did put up quite the fuss when we closed down her water plans. The kind of fuss that involved throwing her arms, kicking, arching, wiggling and tears.  But, it was in her best interest.

Is my child unique with her interests in water? I really don’t think so. I’ve worked with Foss Swim School for 10 years and have noticed almost daily children clamoring to get in and around the water. Especially the younger ones who are crawling, fairly new to walking or simply done awaiting their swim lesson, tugging at their parents or care givers to get wet while their siblings take swimming lessons. The water brings a driving level of excitement, entertainment and fascination to them. It is great to see the interest but we as parents, and even as staff at the swim school, maintain a level of ill-at-ease when those youngsters are teetering around the waters edge.

I’ve learned the best security over and above alarm systems and life jackets is direct supervision when water is around. That’s why lifeguards are beneficial. Yes, even though some just appear to be working on their tan, statistics prove their presence provides an additional layer of safety simply by adding another set of eyes to the supervision.

So, as you get the sprinkler systems out for the kids, the slippy slides or add one of those new inflatable water world jungle gyms to your yard keep a discerning parental eye on them. They won’t care about the temperature as much as us and are craving to go and play in whatever water source is near them. I truly believe they can’t help themselves. Water seems to be magnetic, drawing them in regardless of what they are wearing.

Those limited lazy days of summer are here and there’s no time to lose! Grab the sunscreen, the juice coolers, a few sand or pool toys and let’s go! To the pool, to the lake, to the cabin, on the boat, on the beach and at the neighbors’ back yard pool. Water is everywhere and all kids SEEK it out like honey to the bees. You’ve been one and you have one or a few to know this truth… children are drawn to water. It’s no wonder then that so many of us parents feel that edgy stress every time we’re with our kids around water to… ”relax”. We know that no matter how many gadgets, floatie suits, noodles, preservers, rings, rafts, or wings you put on your child… the best combination of safety and enjoyment you and your children will ever have around water comes from one glorious achievement… your child’s ability to independently swim!

Finally we are beginning to have some research that supports what many of us in the learn-to-swim world have believed for years. Swim lessons do impact a child’s behavior and are a factor in the fight against children drowning.

The National Institutes of Health has released a study that states:

“Providing very young children with swimming lessons appears to have a protective effect against drowning and does not increase children’s risk of drowning.”

The study concludes: “Participating in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning in children between the ages of 1 to 4.”  (Arch Pediatric Med. 2009; 163(3): 203 – 210)

The researchers state that these findings should ease concerns among health professionals that giving swimming lessons to children from ages 1 to 4 might indirectly increase drowning risk by making parents and caregivers less vigilant when children are near bodies of water. To see the full article titled Swimming Lessons Do Not Increase Drowning Risk in Young Children visit:  www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/030209-Drowning-Risk.cfm

Jon and I have five children of our own and have always believed that learning to swim is truly one of the most important skills you can provide for your child. The confidence, freedom, and sheer entertainment JUST ENJOYING WATER can provide for a family is economical, social and a lifelong gift. Year round swim lessons are the most significant IMPACTFUL measure parents can invest in against drowning followed closely by parental supervision, knowing CPR, wearing appropriate safety vests when boating and maintaining locked and secure gates around pools. It’s OK to use the floatie suit or the life preserver when they swim! We have with our own at times and we’ve enjoyed the additional protection. But don’t get comfortable and forgo the lessons in lieu of the preserver. Strong independent swimming skills learned in lessons will stay with your child their whole life. A preserver may or may not always be around.

See you at the pool!
Susan Foss
Foss Swim School, Inc.