With the heat going up, children and adults’ excitement for swimming can never be curbed. Cooling off in the water makes a great family activity as swimming is the most fun summer sport. The fun is guaranteed and doubled if you follow our safety tips to protect your children and return home happy and relieved.
It is commonly known that children start to learn how to swim at the age of four, but they surely can play with water and splish and splash around at an earlier age. In addition to its fun, swimming strengthens children’s muscles, boosts their self-confidence, and also allows them the opportunity to vent their energy to calm down and relax afterwards. Swimming is also recommended for children with special needs as it enhances their fine motor skills.
Before getting into the water, it is of high importance to make sure that your child doesn’t have a cold nor a chest inflammation. You also need to keep a close watch on the water when they are swimming, and warm them up right after getting out of the waters.
Some parents believe that their babies wearing floats or rafts is enough and perfectly safe. However, the truth can be quite the opposite: there is a risk your child may drown if he flips on his face, losing the ability to turn up again. Floats also give children that false confidence which allows them to venture further than their abilities. Adults need to pay full attention to their children whether they are wearing floats or not.
Another danger that might be facing your child is breathing in too much water during swimming so the water gathers in their lungs. Shortness of breath symptoms can take up to two days to appear. If you notice your child is wheezing, breathing heavily, or suffering a bad cough and a heavy tongue after swimming, don’t hesitate to immediately take him or her to the hospital to check on the wellness of their lungs.
For your child to have a completely enjoyable experience swimming in the sea or the pool, make sure to apply a suitable sunscreen on them. Even with the sunscreen on, don’t leave them directly exposed to the sun without a hat on their head to spare them the dangers of a sunstroke or sunburns.
Put in their backpack extra clothes, their sand toys, a beach blanket, a bottle of water, and some snacks like sandwiches and fresh fruits. Make sure they have enough rest if you decide to spend the whole day on the beach.
Always make sure your child rinses well under the shower after they have been swimming. If your child swims in a pool sanitized by chlorine, it is also important to wash their hair with a baby hair conditioner to keep it shiny and moist.