Many people love to spend hot days near the water. From swimming pools to lakes there is nothing better than a splash to cool off as the sun shines down. Moms with preschoolers have a special challenge here: how to cool off and keep their curious kids safe. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention Water Facts :

Those can be startling numbers for parents looking to beat the heat with some water fun. Luckily using a few safety precautions and common sense you can keep your preschooler safe and still get soaked.

Preschoolers are often very curious about water yet some lack the understanding of water danger. The easiest way to to both communicate with your preschooler water safety and never leave your child unattended. Teaching your preschooler the "do's" and "dont's" of water safety will help them to keep themselves safer. However you cannot just rely on your preschooler. Drownings can occur in only a few minutes, often while the parent or care giver is distracted momentarily. When you are playing near water always be sure to watch your preschooler to make sure they are safe.

Dress your preschooler safely for water fun will also help. Life jackets and water wings can be helpful devices for taking your preschooler into larger bodies of water. Large pools or boating on lakes can be potentially dangerous for preschoolers. You should also invest in a pair of water shoes for your preschooler. These tight fitting shoes provide traction when walking across wet, slippery areas and can help protect from slips and falls into water. Of course using these protective measures should not replace adult supervision in any way.

Many preschoolers are old enough to take early swimming and water safety classes. These can be both fun and helpful for your preschooler who is looking forward to swimming pool fun. Parents should also take swimming lessons if they do not know how to swim, as well as basic CPR classes. It is never to late to learn some of the basic skills that can come in handy in an emergency.

Lastly let your child be your guide. If you do not feel that your preschooler is mature enough yet then there is nothing wrong with keeping them out of the larger water areas. Just remember that drowning can occur in as little as an inch of water. Even if you are not planning to visit any pools or larger bodies of water this summer it still does not hurt to bulk up on your water safety. 

For toddlers and young babies check out this great article on Swimming Pool Safety Tips at Ambajam . Also be sure to visit the forum here to talk about summer fun for preschoolers.

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