Swimming

The summer is a great time to enjoy water sports, especially swimming. If you have a pool at home make sure to install a fence at least four feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through and make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach. Ensure that you never leave kids alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision." Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until 4 years of age. It is meant as a warning that parents shouldn't be misled into thinking that children younger than four can learn to swim in a way to prevent drowning. However, there is no harm in attending swim classes with your infant or toddler as long as parents realize that these lessons do not mean that the child is safe from drowning if left attended near water. We don't want parents to think swimming lessons will buy them time if their child gets to the pool unsupervised.