11 Pool Rules for Independent Swimmers
At some point all children say, “I’m done with floaties.”
But parents ask, “How do I know when they really should be done with them?”
With our little one, he was happy for the independence of the puddle jumper at first, but he noticed very quickly that he couldn’t get to the places he wanted fast enough and felt like the puddle jumper was holding him back.
Last summer (the end of first grade) was his first pool party with friends. Thankfully parents were invited too. We had a blast, but at some point in the very near future, parents won’t be invited (or it won’t be “cool” if we go) and I have to be ok knowing that he can manage himself in the water in whatever situation comes up. So over the years, I have developed a list of water safety rules for our family and we review them every time before go into a pool party or before we get in the water.
PRO TIP FROM STEF: There is always room for improvement with swimming skills. Just because children know some things, doesn’t mean they know everything and it’s on us - the grown-ups - to help them realize how to know their own power and their own limits. Here is a hard fast rule as to whether your swimmer can go without a flotation device. (SEE TIP #4 from Below)
If they can swim the length and width of the pool and cross the deep end without a flotation device on the test swim, then they are good to go without flotation support.
However, just because your swimmer can do this for a personal or neighborhood pool does not mean they can do this for an Olympic-size pool, a 9-acre lake, Lake Erie or the English Channel.
There can always be a need for a life jacket. It’s better to have it on and not need it, than to not have it on and realize too late that you need it.
I’m happy to share these. While some of these may seem obvious, we choose to review them every time because sometime the excitement of the activity bypasses the sense to observe our surrounding and need for safety. Please feel free to use these however it works best for your family.
STEF’S RULES FOR INDEPENDENT SWIMMING
ALWAYS wear a UV shirt, proper swim gear and water-proof sunscreen. Nose plugs and ear plugs are optional if you need them, but no long cords of any kind and long hair must be pulled up and secured. No ponytails.
WALK. DO NOT run anywhere on the pool deck.
LOCATE the drains, ladders, exits and depth changes in the pool and discuss them before anyone gets in the water.
DO A TEST SWIM. Swim the length and width of the pool across the deep ends, so we know what that feels like. If little ones can’t do it, then life vests must be worn at all times. (See also Pro-Tip)
If swimming with friends, pair up with SWIM BUDDIES. Children are responsible for doing everything in pairs and and must know where their buddy is at all times.
HYDRATE every 30 minutes to replace electrolytes (do this out of the pool).
DO NOT stay in the pool for more than 60 minutes at a time without 20-30 minutes of rest to check our true fatigue level. We wait an extra 30 minutes after any food.ONLY YELL HELP WHEN NEEDED, not when we are playing. DO NOT pretend we are in trouble or drowning for any reason. Without intending to, it may cause panic or harm among other swimmers.
DO NOT roughhouse in the shallow end or near the walls for any reason and we never push past another swimmer’s comfort or fatigue level.
A grown-up always has the “WATCH” - make a badge if you have to so you can pass it back and forth to assign this specific task, but an adult that is out of the pool is always in charge of headcount and has limited distractions including conversation.
NEVER go down slides (bounce, water, or playground) head first for any reason.
In our house, this is an automatic time out on the first offense. Second offense is leave the play area, party or activity for the rest of the day. To some, this may seem harsh, but our neck is our most vulnerable area. Subtle and slight movements of these vertebrae can cause lasting damage from whiplash, concussions, headaches, neck and back pain, paralyzation and so much more. For this one, I can thank my “day job”. For most of the last 15 years, I have been in chiropractic marketing and under considerable chiropractic care, so I’m very aware of the benefits and the effects these have on my body and on the health of my family. This one is an ALL STOP, HARD COURSE CORRECT.
It is ok to say “Thanks, but no thanks.” Safety comes first every time. It’s ok to say, “Thank you for the invite, but I’m choosing to swim safely or not at all today.” If friends and grown-ups near the pool allow unsafe swimming practices, we can always choose to leave the party and do something else fun.
This rule works regardless of my child’s swimming level. Here’s why. If my child is the unskilled swimmer and other children are playing rough or pushing him past his limit, then he is at risk. If my child is the skilled swimmer and other children/parents are not using lifesaving devices, then my child is going to want to help if he sees a drowning or problem situation. While he may be skilled, he may risk injury or drowning if he’s trying to save everyone else’s child.
I hope you find these tips helpful. I welcome some feedback on what you find interesting about these blogs and what other topics you might like to see.
MORE RESOURCES:
Do you know the symptoms of dry drowning?
Is your family using the safest life jackets?
