Safety tips for children's swimming

It is usually not normal, but when it comes to swimming, all necessary safety measures must be used to avoid possible accidents.

Continuous monitoring. Children should never be in the water without adult supervision. Not even when they are a little older and we can think that they are swimming of the Online Lifeguard class well on their own and nothing will happen.

Avoid toys in the water. Avoid your children playing in the water with toys and even with floats, the cuffs are safer and if the child is a baby, he will be better in your arms.

Make sure the child can touch the ground. Never let your children enter a pool or beach where the bottom is not visible. Check that the water is in hygienic conditions: clean and with controlled hygiene care.

Avoid jumping into the pool. Do not allow your children to jump from the edge of the pool, they may fall badly and hurt themselves, but it can also be serious for other swimmers passing below. Slipping on the edge of the pool or reckless diving results in serious trauma.

Prohibition of rough play in the water. Do not let your children play with push and shove or drive in the water. With wet terrain, it is much easier to slip and fall.

By respecting these simple measures, the child can safely enjoy all the benefits of a complete and fun sport.

How to best support your child

As parents, you have an important role from the child's infancy in terms of creating security, enjoyment of the water and the opportunity for the child to develop his swimming skills. See here what you should pay attention to:

It must be on the child's terms: Your child loses motivation and joy if you push him too much. Proceed at the child's pace and always let play and trust be the focal point.

Be a good role model: It's not good if you cough and splutter yourself when you get your head under water, or stand for a long time and rub your eyes afterwards. Instead, express joy both with sounds and facial expressions. Do the same when you help your baby or child to get their head under water - and make sure to maintain eye contact. If you yourself feel bad about getting your head under water, practice it. 

Support the baby on the chest or neck: The best way to hold your baby or child up is by supporting the chest, where there is already natural buoyancy. In this way, it practices itself in keeping the butt and hip up. When the child is lying on its back, you should support the neck.

Blow bubbles in the bath: Show your child how to blow bubbles when you bathe him in the bath and let him lie on his back with his ears under water while you support his head. It helps to familiarize the child with the wet element.

When can my child swim?

It is very individual when children can swim with Lifeguard Classes. Water-loving children who start early and experience good support may want to be able to stay afloat and swim 10-15 meters already at the age of 3-4 without aids, while others only learn this at school or if they start in a team in the swimming club. In Denmark, we say that you are good at swimming when you can swim 200 meters.

Conclusion

Swimming is a sport or activity that can be very demanding and this can cause fear or discouragement in children if we do not know how to keep them in touch with the activity. For this reason, it is important that they start little by little: this will gradually allow them to adapt.

After the initial phase, it is recommended that the child practices swimming at least three times a week and that each session lasts at least 30 minutes.

Learn more about swimming: Benefits of swimming: When can I start?