Water fun – children enjoy their time in the water
Little explorers learn something new every day – including in shared swimming and splashing sessions with the whole family. In the water, children have different sensory and movement experiences, which make their hearts beat faster.
They learn about water pressure, resistance and buoyancy – their understanding of water in general and as an important resource grows.
What makes the water so special for your little ones? When your children are in the cool water, the gentle swell feels like a massage on their own bodies. For them it is a a magical bodily sensation and highly impressive.
At the same time, they thereby playfully get to know their physical abilities better. Playing and swimming in the water trains the sense of balance and is important for child development.
Also from a health perspective, water fun is beneficial for your children. Both splashing around and simple swimming lessons strengthen the muscles, the immune system and endurance of your little water lovers.
Fun is always the top priority, though. So learning effects occur only incidentally and subconsciously.
One thing you should always keep in mind, however: splashing and fooling around in the water and first attempts at swimming also have their downsides. Whether small puddles, rain barrels, ponds, swimming pools or the sea – wherever water is involved, small and larger emergencies can occur.
Hazards cannot be ruled out anywhere, which is why for each of your family outings with toddlers but also older and experienced children should follow certain safety tips and bathing rules. Only then can you your family time also fully enjoy.
Sources of danger & emergency situations: children drown silently
When it comes to great water fun, however, it is also necessary to talk about the rather unpleasant and even sad moments. Bathing accidents and especially drowning count among the most common non-natural causes of death in children. Their curiosity about the new and hidden can quickly be their undoing. Especially with toddlers and primary school children it is important to always keep an eye open, because they themselves can only very poorly assess their own limits and dangers.
Whether bathtubs or puddles – water sources that initially seem only small can become major dangers, because especially toddlers can find it very difficult to rescue themselves from these. Swimming pools, paddling pools, lakes, seas as well as rain barrels and ponds are therefore also highly potential sources of danger.
Our tip: If water is involved, special caution and a thorough engagement with all safety rules.
In primary school many children already learn to swim properly. Many parents assume that the risk of drowning is therefore lower. But unfortunately that is not the case. Whether swimmer or non-swimmer: swimming ability usually does not indicate the risk of drowning. School children classified as able to swim can also get into danger in the water. Especially if kids overestimate themselves and can hardly act when it is too late.
Also the The 'Seepferdchen' badge says nothing about your children's actual swimming ability.The badge merely states that a child can stay afloat over a 25 metre distance (short course in competitive swimming). However, if little swimmers romp around in the water for a longer period, they tire and their strength dwindles minute by minute – the danger of drowning increases. Swimming aids are also not sufficient support here, because they can hinder independent self-rescue in emergencies by acting as additional burden.
In bathing accidents and other emergencies, the age of the children does not necessarily matter. As a rule, it is misjudgments by kids and parents as well as inadequate or non-existent first aid measures that lead to unfortunate outcomes. In addition, most people assume that drowning children will make themselves noticed by screaming. But the opposite is the case. Children who are drowning simply go under – without a scream, without much resistance and – as terrible as that sounds – like sinking stones.
In addition to the well-known type of drowning, two other forms are distinguished
Dry drowning:
Dry drowning is a kind of shock reaction of the body. If children – in this case especially toddlers – get their head under water, they lose all their support. A immersion reflex sets in, in which no water enters the lungs.
They remain dry, because the inhaled water causes a glottic spasm, that is, a cramping of the vocal cords in the larynx.
The children suddenly experience shortness of breath and are at risk of suffocating if they are not rescued from the water in time and medically treated.
Secondary drowning:
If water enters the lungs of children, days later inflammations and edema may form that disturb gas exchange and in the worst case can lead to death.
With symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, vomiting or tiredness should be treated by a doctor immediately. It is advisable to have the kids examined by a doctor as a precaution even after a bathing accident that ended well.
But you don't need to panic with your little ones' wild water games. Both secondary and dry drowning occur extremely rarely.
If you notice that your or other children are lying motionless in the water, you must act immediately. The faster you react, the better, because kids can only keep themselves at the water surface for 20 to 60 seconds in such a situation. In general, it is important to remain calm, make an emergency call and provide first aid.
These safety tips should be observed when children splash in the water
It's time and your next trip to the swimming area or shared splash hours in the garden are coming up. To fully enjoy the time together and approach it without major worries, it's advisable to go through certain behavioral and bathing rules with your little ones and for parents to also heed the following tips.
Most importantly: Always keep small children in the bathtub, near any body of water, in the swimming pool, at the beach, etc., under close supervision! Water tubs and rain barrels in the garden should be secured with lockable lids. Garden ponds and home pools are also best protected from curious little non-swimmers by a fence.
As parents, you can also arrange to take turns who will watch the children when. With small water games up to swimming lessons, you gradually build up.
Teach your little ones to swim as early as possible. However, do not put any extra pressure on them. Phrases like 'Now be brave' can unsettle children or push them to literally throw themselves into cold water. The screaming can be loud then — not to mention the fear of water. Children should learn their own sense of safety and approach the water and learning to swim entirely at their own pace.
Also, never rely solely on flotation aids such as armbands, swim rings, or seats, because these do not reliably protect against drowning. Also, you should always explore shallow waters together. In case of thunderstorms you should leave the water immediately. If you are outdoors and constantly exposed to strong sun, you should make sure to take regular breaks in the shade and be equipped with the optimal Sun protection for babies and toddlers be equipped
Bathing rules
Only you yourselves ensure your safety when swimming and splashing in the water. Children may be reminded from time to time of rules and prohibitions reminded. But also you as parents should lead by example.
Only go swimming when you feel comfortable. Cool off and shower before you go into the water. If you feel cold in the water, get out!
Never go into the water on a full or completely empty stomach.
Children should not just go into the water without informing their parents.
Non-swimmers should only go into the water up to their belly.
Non-swimmers should at first use the non-swimmer pool – until they have successfully completed their first attempts at swimming and gained the confidence to explore other bodies of water.
Do not run in the pool area!
Call for help if you are really in danger and able to do so. Also offer your help to others if you notice they are in an emergency.
Do not overestimate yourselves or your strength.
Do not swim where ships and boats travel. Also, do not fool around under slides or diving areas.
Swimming during a thunderstorm is life-threatening. Leave the water immediately and seek shelter in a safe building.
Keep the water and its surroundings clean; dispose of waste in a trash bin.
Inflatable flotation aids do not offer reliable safety in the water.
Only jump into the water when it is clear of obstacles and deep enough.
Do not submerge others or push them into the water. No one should be forced to do things they are afraid to do.
Observe age restrictions and safety instructions on water slides. Everyone slides one at a time and feet first. Leave the area under the slide immediately afterward.
My child doesn't like being in the water: How to succeed with getting them used to the water
So that children one day become confident swimmers and can really explore all kinds of waters, it's important to get them used to the water at a young age. For that, they do not have to immediately go fully underwater.
Especially non-swimmers who are more wary of water can, through water games, relaxed bathing moments in the bathtub or even wet garden games gain interest in splashing and eventually in swimming.
In general: To prevent fear of water from becoming entrenched, as parents you should act in time and try to to playfully convey the fun of splashing and the water in general to your children.
This also brings fundamental advantages for further child development. Children who are already accustomed to the water at a younger age learn to swim more easily and are more willing to do so.
Parents also lead by example. If you are enthusiastic about shared splashing and swimming moments, it rubs off on your children. Babies in particular can quickly be won over to the water.
With rubber ducks and the like it's even more fun. Also the gross motor skills and fine motor skills benefit from water activities.
If you do not dare to handle your little ones' water familiarization yourself, choose swim courses that take care of it. In addition to baby swimming there are also other courses that are specifically aimed at children's water familiarization.
If your little water mice have slowly got used to the water, gained (self-)confidence and come to know the element better as an important resource, then nothing stands in the way of their swimming career.
Learning to swim
Every child can learn to swim and should! A good teacher or mom and dad — if they bring patience and knowledge — are happy to help practice the right movements and find joy in the water.
Whether swimming lessons in courses or rather with you as parent-trainers — your children are welcome to help decide how, when, and where they would like to learn to swim.
Baby swimming and courses for getting used to the water are already from as early as three months offered. The focus here is of course not directly on swimming.
Nevertheless, such playfully designed lessons present great opportunities to steer your children toward a swimming career.
At the age of four to five yearsyour little water mice have coordination skills that enable them to learn the basic techniques of swimming.
Here you can also remember the following rule of thumb: If children can ride a bicycle, they are also capable of learning to swim.
In a swimming course, future swimmers first get a feel for the breaststroke without swimming aids and the first jumps into the water.
If they have successfully gotten past that, they move on to the Seahorse badge. That, however, should only be understood as a motivational badge. Your kids are only considered "safe swimmers" once they have the Bronze badge earned.
Which swimming aids are best for my child?
Swimming aids should primarily never be understood as reliable safety devices. They can certainly support learning to swim, but do not guarantee complete safety. They can sometimes trigger emergency situations or make rescue operations in such situations more difficult.
In general, they should therefore be regarded as a kind of "water toys". According to TÜV, swimming aids must comply with a specific testing standard. Pay attention to the marking EN 13138-1. This indicates that your swimming aids comply with the established safety standards.
Also the GS seal of quality should be included on the packaging. Also make sure that they have no edges and are equipped with inflation valves with non-return caps and at least two air chambers .
Swimming aids for babies (from 1 year)
Swim seats help babies from six months to get used to the water. Parents should, however, always support them with both hands.
Arm floaties can be used by children from one to six years old used. Upper-arm floatation aids serve to keep the head above the water at all times. Because they restrict arm movements a little, they are more suitable for splashing around than for swimming.
Swimming aids for toddlers (for 2-year-olds & older)
From two years old may neoprene and polyester swim vests with buoyancy inserts be used. However, only during boat trips!
Swim belts are suitable for children from an age of three years. They consist of several buoyancy elements, which are tied around the belly. That makes the belt very safe, as it cannot sink. Also the freedom of arms and legs for swimming is ensured.
Swimming aids for children (from 4 years)
Pool noodles are about 1.50 meters long and are made of foam. They can be used by any child, regardless of size and weight, for buoyancy. Pool noodles are indeed suitable for training the body's swimming posture, but they offer no absolute safety.
Kickboards serve children as a good training aid due to their strong buoyancy for the leg kick.
