PARENTING
SPRING INTO SWIMMING THIS MAY WRITTEN BY SHANNON E. ROESGEN
Can you believe our pools will be open by the end of this month? Nine months is a long time for kids to be out of the water. While going to the pool may be the best part of summer, there are some things to remember to keep your child safe. Here are some gentle reminders as we transition back to pool time. 1.
muscle memory of what to do and won’t have to think while in crisis. Eventually, your child will be able to automatically kick back to the wall and pull him or herself out of the water to safety. 3.
egression is normal. If any of R us stop doing something for nine months, we regress. Cardio. Lifting weights. Speaking a foreign language. The expression “use it or lose it” certainly does reign true. And so it is for swimming.
Floating is counterintuitive because you have to relax your body and do nothing. Often, children try harder to swim faster or stronger when tiredness sets in. When we speed up, a feeling of panic can easily be created. We need to slow down and float to catch our breath. It sounds like common sense when we are on land, but in water when people panic they tend to do anything but float.
Remind your children to make sure to keep their mouths closed while going underwater. In addition, a great way to keep water out of the nose is to have your child hum while underwater. 2.
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SIMPLYkc MAGAZINE
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MAY 2022
Rehearse what to do if your child accidentally falls in a pool. That way, your child develops
each your children to float if T tiredness sets in. This skill is imperative for children swimming in water that is over their heads.
4.
Watch your child constantly. Lifeguards only have one set
