Teaching Children to Swim

Children, Swimming, and Water

Children love water, in the heat of the summer, it is difficult to keep them away from it. Whether it be a paddling pool in the garden, or trips to public pools, it is an activity that nearly all children delight in.

There is a subliminal message in their behaviour, which adults should pick up on, and that is, their attraction to water will not diminish as they get a little older, and you cannot be around at every moment to look after them.

One of the best insurance policies you can take out for your child, is making sure they are taught to swim.

Swimming is not just for fun, although kids would probably only see it as that, it is terrific exercise for all the body’s muscles, heart and lungs especially, as well as every individual limb. It is a skill that will never be forgotten as long as they live, and just might save their lives.

The attraction of water in the warm summer months is obvious to us all, but it is especially strong in children. Unfortunately, spells of hot weather often bring out tales of tragedies involving youngsters drowning….. don’t take a chance with your childrens safety.

Messing about around water, with friends seems innocent enough, but for the non, or weak swimmer, disaster could fall within almost the wink of an eye.

Children will find themselves attracted to rivers and canals, reservoirs and flooded quarries, lakes and of course, the sea. All of these can seem serene, cool and welcoming places, and all of which carry their own potential dangers.

Perhaps the most hazardous waters are those of the flooded quarry. Often recognised as such by the extraction companies when their works are finished, quarries are often fenced off to keep the public away from the possible dangers, but children will be children, and not much stands in the way of inquiring youngsters.

Quarries are often have sides like cliffs, and the sheer walls often continue straight down underwater to unseen depths. Entering these waters without forethought can be lethal, as trying to get back out again could prove extremely difficult.

Another hazard likely to be encountered here, given the likelihood of deep water, is that an upper, surface layer of water may be warmed by the sun, but below, water can remain very cold indeed. So cold, in fact, that it can shock the system, causing blood to flow to the vital organs, and leaving the muscles tired and limp, dangerous stuff.

Make a sound swimmer of your child, before the heat is on!