Most little girls love water. They can splash it, slap it, kick it, pour it, and push it all day long and keep coming back for more. Wobbling on their little toddler legs, they boldly enter the pool, lake, river, or tide without a second thought. And that’s exactly what makes water play so scary for us as parents. We know the dangers and pray that our child will never be one of the heartbreaking statistics that make drowning one of the leading causes of death among youngsters. Toddlers are especially prone to water accidents because their arms and legs are small in proportion to their body and head, making them top-heavy. A toddler who falls down, even in shallow water, will have difficulty returning to a standing position—unless an adult is standing right there to help. All my adult life I have been a lifeguard and swimming instructor, so I have a healthy fear of mixing toddlers and water. But I’ve also learned a few safety tips that have kept my kids safe and that may ease your own fears. Many experts have mixed feelings about swimming lessons for toddlers. There’s no question that all kids should learn how to swim, but at this age, the primary purpose of the swim lessons should not be to teach swimming skills, but rather to introduce the basics of water comfort and safety. These early lessons can improve coordination skills, provide exercise for young, developing muscles, and set down a foundation for the later development of swimming skills. But they cannot make a toddler a good swimmer. If you do enroll your daughter in a swimming class, be sure you understand its limitations. At this age, your daughter cannot learn to be responsible for herself in the water. So don’t let a false sense of security lull you into thinking you can now actually read a magazine while your daughter plays in the water. Not yet! Sanitary Swimming Ever notice that the water in kiddie pools is suspiciously warm? There’s no doubt that all those little girls and boys are peeing in the pool. But urine generally doesn’t spread illness. It’s the bowel movements you have to worry about. Even in chlorinated pools, children in diapers can spread infection. So think twice before you allow your daughter to go in a kiddie pool full of diaper-wearing tots. While close supervision can prevent most water accidents, even the most attentive parents sometimes find themselves faced with a water emergency. You can reduce the likelihood of having a bad experience if you follow these simple rules: Don’t expect floatation devices to keep your daughter’s head above water. The majority of these devices, like tubes and water wings, are toys and are dangerous if used in any other way. Using these devices a child, can easily float into water over her head and then fall under. Even in shallow water, kids who fall down can actually be prevented from getting their heads above the water line because they’re wearing these blow-up toys. Be especially cautious when your daughter is surrounded by older children. A toddler who is standing at the water’s edge with older kids looks safe enough, but too often the little one is unintentionally knocked into the water. In the excitement of a game, no one may notice. Don’t count on the lifeguard to watch your daughter. No matter how many guards are on duty, no one is assigned to watch your child. A lifeguard’s job is to look out for major problems in a large group and keep the area safe to prevent water accidents; they are not babysitters. The surest way to enjoy your time by the water is to get right in with your daughter. She loves to mimic you, so laugh a lot so she can see that you’re having fun and praise her every effort. Here are a few simple water games that I’ve used in my classes to give very young children a foundation for learning basic swimming skills: Ping-Pong Chase: Have your daughter blow at a floating PingPong ball and chase it across the water. This game brings the child’s face close to the water’s surface and gets her ready for bubble blowing. Ball Throw: Throw a ball up into the air and let it gently splash down in front of your daughter. The water will splash in her face, and when you laugh, she’ll learn that water is fun. Washboard: Hold your daughter up in the air with your hands under her armpits. Then lower her body down into the water just a little bit. Now lift her back up and down again. Each time you lower her, submerge a little more of her body until her chin touches the water. (Never throw a baby up into the air. Because her head is proportionally heavier and larger, there is danger of injury to the cervical area of the spine.) Ring-Around-the-Rosy: This game is just as much fun in the water as it in on land. On the phrase, “We all fall down,” your toddler might, at first, lower just her shoulders into the water. The next time, maybe her chin, and so on, until she plunges all the way under.Use your imagination to make up lots of water games that you and your daughter can play together—together being the operative word. You’ll have plenty of time during other summers for beach reading and sunbathing. For now, enjoy this special time when your child needs your undivided attention in and around the water.
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