Newswise — Now that school's out for the summer, many youngsters are headed for the pool for fun and to beat the heat. But, caution and a few common sense safety tips can prevent a summer tradition from becoming tragic.
Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children under 15, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Red Cross says "the best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim." Vennie Jones, program director of the aquatics center at the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center in Dallas, offers the following advice on the two most common "learn-to-swim" options for children.
Group Lessons. "Group lessons are not the best option for children who have a fear of the water," says Jones. She emphasizes that trust is a major component of learning to swim, and must be gained before any training takes place. If a parent does opt for group lessons, Jones recommends that the parent stay out of the child's sight for the duration of the lesson. "If the parent remains on the deck during the lesson, the child will look to the parent for approval instead of the instructor; which is distracting from the learning process." She also reminds parents to look for a group lesson with a small student-to-teacher ratio so that children get the most attention possible.
Private Lessons. Jones says that private lessons are good for families requiring flexibility in scheduling the lesson as well as for children in need of special attention. According to Jones, because more time is devoted directly to the child, less time will be spent gaining the instructor's trust, which increases the time spent learning and the number of repetitions that a child takes during the lesson. However, she does not downplay the importance of "the camaraderie that children will gain" during a group lesson that is lost in these private lessons.
Jones also describes what parents should expect from their children of different ages in terms of swimming abilities.
6 Months - 3 Years. "Infants do not instinctively know how to swim," says Jones. These youngsters may enjoy the water, but Jones says that they do not have the cognitive awareness to really swim. However, she explains that this age is an ideal time to introduce children to the water and swimming skills. "Trust levels are very quickly gained and/or lost, and good experiences and bad experiences make equally definite impressions," adds Jones.
3 Years " 12 Years. These children will understand what is happening and should be able to learn to swim, according to Jones. However, she emphasizes that children must make the decision to learn for themselves and should not be forced or tricked into swimming.
These simple tips and guidelines should help your family have a safe, happy summer at the lake or pool. And, don't forget the sunscreen!
For more information about the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center, call 1-800-4-BAYLOR or visit http://www.BaylorHealth.com.
The Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center is affiliated with the Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System.
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