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Why You Should Wear a Hat Instead of Sunglasses When You Teach Your Kids to Swim

Sun protection is important for you and your kids when you’re teaching them to swim, but that’s not why I recommend that you wear a hat instead of sunglasses. It’s not because hats are super cool, either. What is the reason?

Why You Should Wear a Hat Instead of Sunglasses When You Teach Your Kids to Swim

There are two reasons: communication and security. Both of these reasons have everything to do with eye contact.

Communication

If your child is looking you right in the eye when you’re explaining something, you can be sure that he’s focusing on you, not on the myriad distractions in and around the pool. It’s easier for him to look you in the eye if he can actually see your eyes. If he’s making eye contact, it will be easier for him to stay focused on what you’re teaching him.

Security

It’s important for your kids to feel secure in the water. The more relaxed and at ease they feel, the easier it will be for them to learn to swim. Keeping eye contact with you lets them know that you’re focused on them, too, and that you’re taking care of them.

Choose a hat with a brim to shield your eyes from the sun. Whether it’s a baseball cap or a glamorous Grace Kelly affair, a hat will help you make eye contact, and that will making teaching your kids to swim easier for both of you.

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Time to Play! Going Underwater

Kids learn by playing. The more you can make learning to swim fun for your kids, the more they’ll like it, the quicker they’ll learn, and the more fun you’ll have teaching them. An important swimming skill is being comfortable putting your head underwater. Play this game to help your kids practice.

After your kids have practiced blowing bubbles and holding their breath underwater, have them put their heads underwater and lift up very slowly, until their eyes are just above the water. Have them pretend they’re crocodiles looking for prey, and you’re the prey. Let them pounce!

No biting, please.

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6 Things You Must Do to Keep Your Kids Safe in the Water

The most important reason for teaching your kids to swim is safety. Part of keeping them safe involves knowing how to supervise them when they’re in the water. These six things will help you keep them safe in the water.

Before we get into how to supervise, remember when to supervise them. It’s simple: Always.

Always supervise your kids when they’re in and around the water, even if…

  • they’re wearing  flotation devices. Flotation devices can provide a false sense of confidence for parents and kids. They’re meant for emergencies, not as a substitute for supervision.
  • your kids are water safe. No one, including adults, should swim alone, and kids shouldn’t ever swim without adult supervision.

Designate an adult supervisor. Ideally that person should have lifeguard, first aid, and CPR training. The adult should be focused on watching the kids.

6 Things You Must Do When You’re Watching Kids around Water

  • Eliminate distractions. Don’t talk on the phone or text message. Don’t read or watch TV. Don’t do yard work or fold laundry.
  • Don’t divide your attention by supervising kids who aren’t in or around the pool while you’re also supervising kids who are in or around the pool.
  • Keep talks brief and keep your eyes on your responsibility.
  • Don’t eat.
  • Don’t drink alcohol.
  • If you need to leave the pool area for any reason, even for a few seconds, make sure all of the kids are safely out of the pool and pool area while you’re away. Kids can drown in twenty seconds, and they don’t make noise when they fall into the water or start having trouble.

Make sure that babysitters also know the risks and procedures. Keep your kids safe when they’re learning to swim and when they’ve turned into Marco-Polo-playing machines, and always use common sense to reinforce and strengthen safety guidelines.

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7 Ways to Prepare for an Emergency When You’re Teaching Your Kids to Swim

Don’t wait for the moment an emergency happens to plan for it. Accidents happen fast. Kids can drown in twenty seconds. Take these seven steps to prevent a swimming emergency from becoming a disaster.

  • Learn to swim yourself if you don’t already know how. If you’re keeping your kids safe by getting them swimming lessons, that’s great. Keep the whole family safe and give yourself the power to protect them by beefing up your own swimming skills.
  • Learn CPR.
  • Before you get into the water, make sure you know where to find a phone. Make sure that phone is working.
  • Before you get into the water, make sure you know where to find emergency phone numbers. 911 is a great start and should always be the first call in case of emergency.
  • Before you get into the water, make sure you know where to find the emergency shut-off for the pool pump. Pools now should have safety covers on the drain, but in the event that the suction traps a child at the drain—either because of strong suction or tangles hair or clothing—turning off the pool pump will stop the suction and make rescue easier.
  • Before you get into the water, evaluate your surroundings. Don’t swim if the pool isn’t safe. Don’t swim in open water if you’re not familiar with the environment and there’s no lifeguard on duty. Don’t swim in weather that might produce lightning.
  • Wear sunscreen and, if necessary, protective clothing. Reapply sunscreen frequently. Make sure that clothing you wear to protect yourself from the sun is designed to act as sun protection. Don’t wear cotton to protect yourself from the cold and wet. Instead, choose fabrics with better insulating properties.

Taking the time to prepare for emergencies will help keep you and your kids safe whether they’re just learning to swim or are solid swimmers.