Sep 11

Children and their relationship to water

Water generates positive body sensations and relaxes the body. There are many fun activities that can be developed in the water and that children love. However, it is important to understand and take into account that water without the necessary precautionary measures can be dangerous, an accident can occur and it is important to always ensure a safe situation.

Dangers in the water

Drowning ranks second in fatal accidents in children under the age of 14. Drowning is even at the top of the list of children under the age of 5. Everything can happen in a moment of carelessness. For example, if you’re by the pool or a pond and your phone rings and you come in and you don’t pay attention. Maybe a few minutes. Therefore, it is not surprising that most accidents near the water occur in summertime.

Even inside the house, water is very attractive to children. Young children see water as fun game material and see no danger in it. Young children are especially at risk. They can drown in less than 6 centimeters of water. This means that drowning can occur in a sink, toilet cup, fountains, buckets, inflatable pools, or small bodies of water stagnant around the house, such as ditches filled with rainwater.

Always keep a close eye on children when they are in or near the water, regardless of their ability to swim. Even children who know how to swim may be at risk of drowning. For example, a child could slip and fall on the pool deck, lose consciousness and fall into the pool, and run the risk of drowning.

Always monitor

Perhaps most important of all, oversight is incredibly important. Never leave him alone, not even for a few seconds, or to grab something from the room or look for something in the closet. Especially never if your child is under the age of five. If necessary, call your partner and otherwise take them out of the bathroom first.

Supervision also applies to outdoor bathrooms. These seem shallow (and therefore harmless), but an accident can also occur here. Also, stay within reach of your little one as if necessary, you should be able to respond quickly.

Water safety is very important to your child!

A toddler can easily dive in. To do this, you only need a very small layer of water. If your child is underwater, he often doesn’t immediately realize the danger. It still doesn’t have the urge to try to emerge or stay out of the water as adults and older children do. If a child is underwater, he or she will be unconscious in about 2 minutes. If it takes more than 4 minutes, there is a high risk of irreparable damage in the form of brain damage.

Therefore, it is clear that care must be taken when your child is near the water. You have to deal with water on many occasions and it’s often such a routine act or moment that you have little regard for the potential danger.

Buckets full of water in the garden

You may think less about such dangerous situations, but many people have a rain barrel or rain-filled buckets in the garden. For example, place the buckets face down in the garden, patio, or terrace so they don’t fill up with water when it rains and can be dangerous.

Open water

Most accidents involving older children occur in open water, a lake, or the sea. These drownings occur because children overestimate their own ability to swim or swim too far with the current and cannot retreat or give them cramps. It’s best to have your child wear a life jacket if he or she decides to bathe in open water.

-Always make sure your child stays visible when swimming at sea or in a lake.

-Don’t let children swim in un supervisory areas and tell them why.

Diving is one of the most dangerous activities in open water. Don’t let children dive unless there is an adult who is sure the place is safe. They must be able to see that they’re not diving on another one. Accidents can be avoided by following these simple precautions. The most important thing is to pay attention.

Bathroom

Most children bathe every day. It’s such a well-known act: you prepare the bathroom, you put your son in, you stay with him … and then the phone rings from the other room or you have to take another towel out of the linen closet. You think you can walk away for a moment. However, a moment of carelessness can be fatal for your child.

So make sure you’re always with him and that everything he needs is ready. Empty the bathroom immediately when you take it out, especially if you have more kids around. When you are not in the bathroom, it is advisable to always close the door. This way, you can never be alone in that room.

Pond

If you have a pond in or around the garden, it is best to place a fence around or, if possible, cover the pond with a grate. This way you can rest reassured that you won’t be able to fall into it while playing. It is even better to replace (temporarily) the pond with a sandbox. Also make sure your child can’t just approach a pond, such as the neighbor’s garden. If your child is playing outdoors near a pond, always keep a close eye on it, even if you’ve taken the necessary precautions (fence or grate).

Pool

If you have a pool in the courtyard or garden, make sure it is not accessible to younger children, especially if you are settling in the garden for a few weeks or months a year. You can choose to place a fence around it. Remember, a canvas to cover the water does not provide enough protection.

Here are some safety tips:

– Never leave your child alone in the pool.

-Show your child to swim from a young age.

– Explain that you should not push other children.

– Don’t jump on other children,

– Do not dive or jump in shallow water.

– Do not swim during a thunderstorm.

Water benefits

Water games offer many opportunities to develop fine and thick motor skills across all age ranges. Children will increase their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through actions such as pouring, blasting, scrubbing, shaking, and squeezing.

Water games release energy, can be both invigorating or relaxing and soothing for children.

It increases your ability to concentrate on an activity when presented as a quiet and repetitive activity (collect, pour, and pass hands through the water). The gentle play with water allows them to relax and sleep better at night.

Water is something children must learn to live with and enjoy safely, it is in your hands to teach them how to have fun knowing how to respect it.

All the information we give you in this article is indicative as each mom and family are different and unique.