Julie's Swim School

Big news! 🎉 We just snagged the first place spot in the 2024 Best of Grand Rapids for Families Grandtasic Awards in the Swim Lesson Category!

We're totally stoked to be part of this list of awesome places that make West Michigan THE place to be for families. And it’s all because of you - our amazing community that believes in us and continually supports our work. Thank you for recognizing us and honoring us with your votes! (You can see our name on the winner’s list at https://grkids.com/best-of-grand-rapids-2024/ #//

To celebrate, we want to hear (in the comments) what makes Julie’s Swim School special to you! Thank you ❤️

Discover the Best of Grand Rapids 2024: Our Biggest Edition Yet with 66 Exciting Categories! - grkids.com Experience old favorites and try something new - The Best of Grand Rapids 2024 is packed with old standbys that have stood the test of time as well as

As summer vacation ends and back-to-school season begins, remember that water safety is a year-round responsibility.

Stay vigilant and continue practicing water safety habits. Ensure your children know the importance of water safety, even after the summer fun is over!

Download our Parent Water Safety Toolkit to help keep water safety top of mind all year long!

https://ndpa.org/parents/

70% of all young child drownings happen during non-swim times. Times like snack time, meal time, nap time, rest time are the most risky for them.

While you should be constantly vigilant with your kids while they are in the water, you also need to keep your alertness and attentiveness high during times when they aren’t meant to be there as well, especially during pool breaks and in the few hours after pool time is over.

This time is when most kids find their way back to water alone and without a flotation device and it’s when most of them drown.

Eyes on the kids while in AND around the water.

An important reminder…They may not be at the same level they were at the end of last summer…

Swim Skill Regression Is a Thing + What We Can Do About it

1. Expect it - Swim skills are not always maintained where they left off last year, Lack of practice, and physical, mental, emotional and environmental changes can all lead someone to have a lower level skill level than before. Same thing goes for reading or math skills over the summer…if we don’t use it…sometimes we lose some of it. So, don’t assume skill regression isn’t a thing for you or your kids. Expect it!

2. Take Swim Lessons - Take a refresher course, join a swim team, level up to the next category…never stop practicing, and for those who haven’t, you may need a few practice lessons before just assuming we have the same skills we did before. Dust off the cobwebs and the rust!

3. Adult Supervision - No matter where their skill level is at, supervision is critical. Bad things can happen to good swimmers quickly. Start off with close contact / within arms reach supervision, even if you were more deck level supervision at the end of last summer. Remember, supervision shifts with their skill level…but it doesn’t go away.

4. Swim Test - We are always a fan of kids regularly taking swim tests. This is a great way to assess if they have any skill regression and also a great time to remind them of the skills (like floating and treading) that will help keep them on the surface and breathing. If they can’t pass the swim test, they get a lifejacket! Test their skills…can they swim 25-50 yards, jump in to deep water, resurface, tread water for 30 seconds, then find an exit and get out on their own? Do a skills test to see where they are at or if they need a refresher or a lifejacket! If they haven’t been in the water since last summer…this may be challenging, so supervise effectively.

5. Make It Normal - The truth is we all lose skills we don’t use, so don’t make them feel bad about it. Give them an example of a skill you had that you aren’t great at anymore because you stopped practicing it. This connection is key, because we don’t want them to feel like a failure because of a normal part of life. Normalize the process of having to continually learn things that are important to us and that will keep us safe!

Just a quick reminder to approach the summer with caution, and not to assume. We all want to have fun and enjoy water related activities, but it isn’t fun if we aren’t safe, right!?!?

Let us know…have you noticed your kids regress a little bit? are they the same as last summer? or have you been swimming all winter?

Stay Safe! Stay Smart!
💙, ALIVE Solutions

When it comes to water safety, every second counts. If you're not within arm's reach of your children, you've gone too far.

Practice close, constant, and capable supervision to keep your kids safer in and around water. Touch supervision, being in the water with the ability to reach out and touch the child, is essential for those watching weak or non-swimmers.

By being vigilant, you're making a huge difference in preventing accidents and creating an environment where they can enjoy the water confidently.

Let's prioritize water safety and keep our families protected together.

Learn more about Active Supervision at https://ndpa.org/supervision/

Swimming isn’t just a sport; it’s a critical survival skill.

Swimming and water competency should be the you teach your child. Drowning is the single leading cause of death for toddlers in America. Early swim lessons can save lives and prevent drowning.

Help us raise awareness and equip the next generation with essential water competency skills. Join the movement for a safer future around water!

Head to our website to learn more https://ndpa.org/firstsport/

Regardless of what sport you love or play this summer, the all kids should learn is swimming and water competency.

Drowning is the number one killer of toddlers in America, which means water competency is more than just a sport; it's a vital survival skill.

Knowing this, we've created the campaign with a goal of encouraging parents and caregivers everywhere to consider swimming and water competency the first priority before enrolling their kids in other extra curricular activities.

Keep your eyes out for our newest PSA, debuting May 1st!

In the meantime, head over to the website to learn more about !

Tip Tuesday: “Stay where I can see you” is an ineffective boundary for kids…

Think about it…how do kids know what that means?!? How do they know what you can or can’t see?!?

I get why we use the phrase…I’m sure I’ve said it myself to my kids…but I think there is more effective language…especially around the water.

Simply switching it to “Stay where you can see me” seems like much clearer language for a kid.

Boundaries are important in water safety and it is important we think about how we are communicating our boundaries.

We have also seen so many drownings happening because of ineffective supervision with a kid wandering (or allowed to wander) too far away for the supervising companion to see their distress.

What other phrases have you heard that you don’t think are effective like this one?!?

Thanks for sharing, liking, commenting!

Stay safe! Stay smart!
💙, ALIVE Solutions

Kids need to know their limits around water. If we put them in flotation devices every time we go to the pool, they don’t learn this.

If we do this, here is what they learn instead:

1) Muscle memory for very bad body positioning in the water that will make it EASIER to drown if they find water without the device. Since 69% of young child drownings happen during non-swim times when devices won’t be worn, we should all be concerned about this.

2) Ingrains bad body positioning in the water for them. That makes it twice as hard for them to learn to swim properly and takes twice as long in lessons due to having to correct the ingrained, incorrect positioning.

3) Creates a false sense of safety and security. When the only real experience they have had in the water is with a flotation device on, many young kids don’t recognize that the device is what keeps them floating and believe they are doing it with their own ability. They will then be much more likely to try to go back to the water without their device, thinking they can truly swim when they can’t.

4) Kids often forget that they don’t have the device on and impulsively/reflexively jump in the water because they are so used to the freedom to do so with their devices and then they drown.

5) They teach kids that water is completely safe and that they are free to go into it whenever they want to because they always could with their device on.

Combine all of these.

Using these devices constantly during pool time simply sets our kids up for a drowning to happen. So why do we keep doing it?

Partly, it’s tradition. It’s what was done with a lot of us. But that doesn’t make it right or good.

Partly it’s a generalization of the good message that life jackets are needed in open water. We think, well, if they are good for open water, they are good for the pools too. But they aren’t.

Partly because companies make money off of marketing these devices to parents as “swim aids” when they actually end up making it harder for our kids to learn to swim.

Partly it’s because it’s easier than getting them lessons. Because it’s more convenient or more practical for us than having one-on-one touch supervision with them in the water.

Yes, it is much harder to get in the water with them and teach them the limits of their bodies there. Yes, it’s much harder to get them into lessons.

BUT….

My friends, that device and all of its’ consequences will be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life, if using it in the wrong ways results in you finding your child face down and lifeless in the water, like I did with mine.

That device won’t seem so convenient as you wait in the hospital while your child slowly loses all of their brain functioning and there is nothing that can be done to stop it.

That device won’t be worth fighting to justify when you hold your lifeless child in your arms for the very last time.

Let me be very clear. I’m not judging you if you use/have used devices this way. I didn’t know that they did these things to kids until it was too late for my son. I didn’t know better until my baby was gone.

I used them too and that’s why I’m here, trying to help you find a better way for your babies.

I want you to know better while your babies can still grow up. I don’t want you to live the agony that I do every day. Please hear my heart and take this as love and care for you, and not judgement against you.

Know better than I did. Do better than I did. Keep your babies as safe as you can. Every bit of work to get them there is worth every breath they get to take because you did the harder thing for them.

Trust me on that.

Save flotation devices for open water, like oceans, lakes and rivers, or in uncontrollable environments like overcrowded camps and water parks, where they are genuinely needed and can be used effectively, without teaching unintentional bad habits to our kids.

If your child has a special need that stops them from being able to learn to swim, then of course that also makes good sense to use these devices when around any water.

But aside from the above situations, please stop using them in the pools every time you take your child there.

It’s just not worth it.

Supervision, barriers that go between the kids and the water (pool fences, locks, alarms), learning swim skills, learn CPR!!

I did make some extra room in the summer schedule for weeks
July 15-17
July 22-24 and
August 5-7.

I have contacted everyone that registered on 3/1. I will now be contacting those prior families that messaged me prior to 3/18 that had missed the 3/1 sign up date. 🙂

Everyone that registered on 3/1 was all able to get spots this summer! YAY!! 🥳

I’m still waiting on final details on that surprise announcement to share! It’s coming soon!!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED☀️
Who wants guaranteed swim spots for all your kids for summer 2025?☀️
I will be randomly picking 4 winners. (New or prior families can participate as well as Grandparents to better your chances!) Must be age 3 to start!
🏊🏻‍♀️ 🏊

Here’s what you need to do:

*Vote for your favorite swim school 🙋🏼‍♀️ daily till 3/18
Here is the link:

http://grkidscom.secondstreetapp.com/Grandtastic-2024/ #/referrals/626005c8-7b31-4465-8bc3-491456bfcfd6

*LIKE and SHARE this post
*Write below that you voted and tell me what you like about JSS program or what you have heard about the program!
*Vote once a day until 3/18

In 2022 we tied for 1st place with Goldfish swim. Let’s do it again or better yet, let’s take 1st place!!😉

**Drawing ends March 18 at 9pm🥳

Yasss! Best of GR 2024 Contest is Here – Win 4 Michigan's Adventure Season Passes. Don't Miss Out! - grkids.com Give us your opinion on what's best in Grand Rapids for our annual Grandtastic Awards!

We made top 10 Best of GR again!! 🥳Thank you for trusting us and believing in our swim program!!

Now the VOTING continues… March 5-17!!!
Find us under classes and lessons.😊
Here’s the link to vote - http://grkidscom.secondstreetapp.com/Grandtastic-2024/ #/referrals/626005c8-7b31-4465-8bc3-491456bfcfd6

Now let’s take #1 spot for the Best swim school in GR!! We did it 2 years ago, we can do it again!! 🥳

Thank you so much!!!!!!

~Miss Julie

Yasss! Best of GR 2024 Contest is Here – Win 4 Michigan's Adventure Season Passes. Don't Miss Out! - grkids.com Give us your opinion on what's best in Grand Rapids for our annual Grandtastic Awards!

Stay Vigilant 🚨Just because swimming time is over doesn't mean the risk is gone.

In fact, the risk of a child drowning actually increases after leaving the water. 70% of drownings of young children occur during non-swim times.

Children might return unsupervised or try to sneak in one last dip. Always ensure the pool area is secured and children are monitored, especially after swim times.

Let's keep our guard up and our little ones safer all day long! The 5 Layers of Protection work together to ensure the safety of the whole family!

Learn more at https://ndpa.org/layers

Regular clothes and diapers can add up to 20 pounds onto a child in the water.

Most drownings happen when kids aren’t supposed to be in the water, so they won’t be dressed for swimming.

Does your child know how to use their skills even when fully clothed?

“You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it”

Tip Tuesday: You Don’t Have to Like It.

This is something as a parent I say all the time. “You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it.”

It is part of maturing, being responsible, making good decisions.

Sometimes kids don’t do things because they don’t like it, or it is uncomfortable, or something new…the reality is, we need to teach kids how to be more “comfortable in the uncomfortable”.

Yep, that vegetable might not be your favorite, gonna eat it anyway.

Yep, you might not feel like going to practice, gonna go anyway.

Yep, you might not feel like putting your face in the water, gonna do it anyway.

Yep, you might not want to wear a lifejacket, gonna do it anyway.

You don’t have to like it!

We do things all the time we don’t like or love in the name of health, safety, being a good human…

Where would be if we only did things we liked or felt like?!?!

So, a great message to reinforce to kids as they are learning to swim or participating in water smart safety measures….you don’t have to like it.

Thanks for sharing, liking, commenting!

Stay safe! Stay smart!
💙, ALIVE Solutions

As you gather with family during the holiday season, don't forget an essential aspect of family gatherings: Water Safety.

70% of drownings happen during non-swim times. It's crucial to stay vigilant, even when swimming isn't on the agenda.

Here are ways to ensure a safer holiday:
👶 Use active supervision with little ones near pools, bathtubs, or any body of water.
🔒 Ensure all water areas are securely gated and covered.
🚨 Be prepared for an emergency: Know CPR, have emergency numbers and addresses listed, and know where emergency equipment is kept.
🏊‍♀️ Discuss water safety openly with your family, especially if you have a backyard pool.

Taking these small steps helps to ensure that festive celebrations remain safer and joyful for everyone.

Keep your layers of protection strong this holiday season!

Are you looking for a fun local place to bring the kids swimming?
Zeeland Recreation has a special deal going on through 12/1. The pool is pretty warm and they have a small twisty pool slide that my Grand girls just love.

Z Recreation Website for Zeeland Public Schools

Summer 2023 lessons are officially over! 🥳

I just want to say THANK YOU for trusting this program and trusting us to teach your kids. Seeing your kids go from being scared non swimmers to BRAVE CONFIDENT swimmers brings me so much JOY!!

I will not be offering monthly maintenance classes September - April due to a much needed foot surgery. Surgery is scheduled 10/6 and I really need to get it fully healed to be ready for classes that start in May.

Summer 2024 schedule will be posted by January! Sign ups will take place online March 1 (9:00pm-9:30pm) I will only be accepting families who have attended a class with me prior, no new families. I ALWAYS do some fun Facebook drawings leading up to registration day, which will include new or prior families to participate. So there is still a chance for several new families to get in! 🤞🏼

If you attended a class this summer, we would love for you to share video’s or pictures of your children’s progress! 😊💦

Thanks you,

Miss Julie
Miss Ashley
Miss Holly
Miss Camille

While we take steps to ensure our little ones are safe on land, it's crucial we don't overlook the importance of water safety.

Did you know? A baby can drown in just an inch or two of water, and it can happen silently within seconds. Whether it's a bathtub, pool, or even a bucket, we always need to be aware of the water around our little ones.

Here are some tips for baby water safety:

1️⃣ Never leave babies and toddlers unsupervised near water - not even for a second!
2️⃣ Start swim lessons early but remember, lessons don't replace supervision.
3️⃣ Ensure pools are fenced with self-latching and self-locking gates.
4️⃣ Empty all tubs, buckets, containers, and kiddie pools immediately after use and remove all toys from water areas.
5️⃣ Use life jackets when on, in, or around natural bodies of water and when boating.

For more info head to https://ndpa.org/

Looking for a fun way to put all of your swim lessons into practice? Give camping a try!

This company offers brand new, 2023 RVs available to rent. They'll deliver, setup, & take down the camper for you, offering FREE delivery to any Byron Center or Silver Lake area campground. Bonus: The company is managed by 1 of my very own swim families! Mention this post, & receive 10% off your total reservation. They're still taking reservations for 2023 + now accepting bookings for 2024! Reserve your camper today!

Silverback RV Rental “The Best Memories Are Made Camping” RESERVE YOUR RV Adventure AwaitsSharing our love of camping with the Silver Lake & West Michigan areas. We offer a fleet of RV’s with delivery service available! Camping with us is as easy as 1-2-3:1) Reserve Your Campsite 2) Reserve Your RV 3) Let Us Do Th...

Maybe just maybe your child will grow up and want to swim across Lake Michigan too! 😉

TIME TO STARE HER DOWN AGAIN!

Twenty five years ago I stood on a Wisconsin beach and stared at what seemed like an endless expanse of water, I was about to attempt something that had never been done before, and I contemplated the daunting task of swimming to the horizon multiple times before seeing land.

Well, I'm about to do it again ... but this time it will be approximately 25 miles further. Some may question whether I'm 25 years wiser, right? Fair enough. :)

I leave for Milwaukee in the morning and right now it looks likely that I will start the swim at the first opportunity ... on TUESDAY, AUGUST 1ST @ 6:00 AM CDT. It appears that it may be calm to begin with, then get rough around Wednesday night. I hope to have as much of the lake behind me as possible before the wind and waves build.

If the forecast changes, I could start anytime before 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 3rd.

Please follow along here on Facebook for updates on when the swim will officially start. Once underway, Jena McClurken will post updates here on how the journey is going.

You can also track my position in real time by clicking the "Track the Shark Across the Lake" button at the top of my event page on my website (https://www.jimthesharkdreyer.com/lake-michigan-the-silver-sequel).

Unfortunately though, there will be a blackout period in the middle of the lake when we are out of the reception area. Don't worry though, I promise to pop up again when I am nearing Grand Haven!

In the 1998 photo, you can see the Big Brothers Big Sisters banner. I have swum for some truly great causes, also including Habitat for Humanity and disabled combat Veterans.

In 2023 I am honored to be swimming in support of the U.S, Coast Guard CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION! This branch of the military also includes Homeland Security. It will be a celebration indeed to finish the swim in "Coast Guard City USA" (Grand Haven), during the Coast Guard Festival!

PLEASE HELP ME MAKE A BIG SPLASH BY CONTRIBUTING to my fundraiser and help assist the enlisted men & women of the U.S. Coast Guard! Thank you! You rock!

https://www.givesignup.org/Race/WI/Milwaukee/LakeMichiganTheSilverSequel

I am going to keep my fin up. Keep yours up too ... and I'll see you on the other side!

~ Jim "The Shark" Dreyer

Layers of Protection - NDPA Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1–4. It could happen to anyone, but the risk is greatest for young children.

10 Water Safety Tips: From a Mom Who Investigates Drownings

I investigate drownings and I’ve been a lifeguard for 27 years. I understand the realities of what can happen, often so quickly and quietly. I read a lot about water safety and tips telling parents paying attention to their children and not being distracted, which is so important. We see so many news articles about drowning during this time of year, but a lot of the advice isn’t practical and just highlights the problems, so I decided to write my own list of tips to help. Here is a list of 10 random things I do to keep my own kids safe in the water.

#1: Safety Briefings -
This actually started with a swim lesson procedure of making sure they always asked permission before entering the water. I have expanded it by having a little meeting about expectations. My kids now know to wait (sometimes impatiently continually asking me “Mom, what do we need to know…can we go yet?!?!?”) until I give my briefing. I outline where they can swim, jump in, how they can jump in, and anything else safety related. A great time to do this is while applying sunscreen. They also know the consequences if they don’t follow the safety rules.

These meetings are a way for me to teach my kids respect for the water. They obviously know it is dangerous, knowing what I do for work, but sometimes aquatic centers, waterparks, beaches, and pools look so fun and enticing, that it is easy to forget. I think as parents we need to be just as concerned with the safety as we are with the fun, but that takes effort. I think some people may not want to ruin the fun by adding in rules, but I know rules create boundaries, which gives freedom in safety. I also love including my children in the safety briefings. What do they think the rules should be? What do they see as dangerous? They have some amazing insights too and sometimes see things I didn’t think of right away!

#2: Depths of water vs. height -
My kids know depths of water and how to read them on the pool deck, and they know what it means related to their height. My 6 year old knows that 4 ft of water is over his head, and 3 1/2 ft of water is up to his eyes, which is still over his airway. My 8-year-old daughter knows that 4ft of water is at her eyes and she will need to tread and can’t have her airway out at this depth. This piece of knowledge helps them to make good decisions and helps them to understand how water depths are different for each person. Their taller friend may have no problem in the 4ft area, while they would need to tread or have trouble touching. Awareness of depth in relation to their body is important. This keeps me away from the “But mom, Jayden gets to go over there…”. Yes, he does, he is also 6” taller than you are buddy!

#3: How to Get Away -
I jumped in fully clothed with my phone in my hand at my 8-year-old daughter’s all-star softball hotel swim session after a tournament. It was instinct, a 5-year-old boy panicked and grabbed onto a 4-year-old girl and they were both struggling. He was holding her down and trying to keep himself above the water. In I went and scooped both of them out. They were both naturally scared, and a little burping of water/air, but they were fine. We see this all the time in drowning events, swimmers who are okay on their own, have someone grab onto them because they are struggling and they can’t get away. I have taught, and I am still teaching my kids how to get away if someone grabs onto them. My daughter is a great swimmer, but I still don’t think she can tread water and keep her and another kid above the waterline. I’ve taught them to suck, duck, tuck: Suck in air if you can (get a breath), duck under the water (the struggling person doesn’t want to go there), and tuck (use your arms and legs to push away) - and then yell for an adult immediately to help the other person.

I’ve also taught them to be very careful of who they touch/grab onto in a pool. Even adults can be weaker swimmers and may have a hard time with them hanging on. Personal space is key.

#4: Distraction Reminders -
I ask my kids to keep me accountable. They know either myself or my husband should be watching them at all times. We have told them that if we aren’t watching them, they need to get our attention and help us because as humans we get distracted naturally. I try to stay involved in their activity and also tried to keep my phone away, but I was still distracted with other kids, food, talking, you name it…life is full of distractions. I changed my tactic and downloaded a reminder app, and I set reminders for every minute. I turn my phone into airplane mode and then use the app. Every minute it alerts me and I have the notification say “Kids Breathing”, so I confirm my kids are ok and then clear the notification. Obviously, my goal is constant supervision, but sometimes my brain starts to wander to something I am thinking about and the notification checks me back in.

There are tons of campaigns about designating a “water watcher” with a specific tag indicating you have the responsibility of watching the water. I think these are great tools, and we also need to make sure the water watcher is not distracted. Alerts can keep you focused as long as you stay off your phone for all other purposes. I put my phone in airplane mode, but you can still have the tendency to look at. Be aware of your distractions both internal and external. If the phone is a distraction all together, maybe alerts aren’t for you. Find what works to keep you focused and stick with it for the entire swim time.

#5: Designate Breaks -
We swim for a designated time, usually 30 minutes, but it varies depending on where we are and the activity taking place. Regardless, we always have breaks. I need these breaks more than my kids. They would swim endlessly for hours if I let them, but they need to rest and so do I. As a lifeguard, we would rotate every 20-30 minutes with the premise being to give our minds a break and so we could stay fresh. The same thing applies to parental supervision. I need to use the restroom, I need to do other things, I need a break too! So, we give time warnings and take swim breaks. Sometimes the breaks are also unscheduled, if I have to make an emergency restroom visit or answer the door, everyone gets out, every time!

#6: Limited Trust -
This may sound harsh, but I don’t trust other people to watch my kids in the pool. It is me or my husband, that is it. If they are swimming at Grandma’s they have to wear a lifejacket. If they are going in the water at the beach on a board with their cousin, they have to wear a lifejacket. I see so many events where trust was placed in another person, watch my kids while I go do XYZ, or grandpa took them to the pool, or a neighbor invited them over. I may love these people, and they may love my children, but I don’t trust them in this specific environment, nor do I want them to have to own that responsibility if something were to happen to one of my kids in their care. It just isn’t worth it. Do my kids whine, yep. Do I care, nope! They know the other option is they just don’t go. Same goes for school pool parties and camps with water activities, it just isn’t worth it for me. Same goes for lifeguarded swimming areas. I know I am my kids' primary source of supervision and the lifeguard(s) are there for back up and emergencies. I do not rely on them for basic supervision. I only have 2 children and I can supervise them much more closely than a lifeguard who has divided attention between 25 or more people.

#7: Lifejackets are Cool -
Culturally we seem to have a negative attitude towards lifejackets. I don’t think there is anything wrong with lifejackets, in fact, there are so many games and activities you can do with them. We just need to make them cool again. If there are a bunch of kids I’m watching, I’d rather have everyone be in a lifejacket. It can be a cousin lifejacket pool party. Having everyone in one makes it much “cooler” and doesn’t embarrass the littler kids or weaker swimmers. When I ran camps, even the counselors would wear them, be cool like them! Having rolling log challenges in the lifejackets, water balloon tossing contests, have relays to pass rings from your toes..the games are endless, and the safety is higher with everyone in a lifejacket. Now there are times that my kids will even say they would rather just be in a lifejacket. Awesome.

**Just an added side note that when referring to “lifejacket” I am referring to a USCG approved lifejacket/PDF (check the inside of the jacket or vest). Noodles, Inflatables, baby circles, tubes, and all other items are not safety related and should not be trusted to keep your child safe. We see countless videos of kids who flip over in an inflatable ring and can't right themselves and are stuck underwater upside down, or are in arm floaties and can’t get their head out of the water because their arms aren’t strong enough, or who lose purchase of a kickboard they were holding onto for floatation. Even in a lifejacket, you need to diligently and constantly supervise as children can get in positions that can still obstruct their airway especially if they are younger or weaker.

#8: Educate -
My kids know what drowning can look like. They know water is dangerous. They know good swimmers can drown. They know medical events can happen without warning. They know that drowning can happen quickly. I talk about how events happen, about what their weaknesses are. They know they can’t breathe in the water, they know why we take breaks from swimming, they know why they enter the water feet first, they know why we don’t play breath holding games or activities. It isn’t just because I said so, I try to give them real reasons to my rules. A healthy fear of the water is a good thing. Our goal is to develop them into water smart adults on their own. Check out our ALIVE Water Smart Kids online training too! Sometimes they listen to other people better than their own parents, right!?!

#9: Hey, Watch This…
Phrases like “Hey, watch this…” usually are the beginning of something dangerous or a little crazy about to take place. This is a kids way of announcing they are pushing the boundaries or are going to show-off, and I take these phrases as a time to talk about danger and pushing boundaries. Are they just showing me something or are they about to do something risky? There is a difference and I try to talk about good decisions around the water. Phrases like “Hey, watch this…” are ways to cue into other people’s behaviors and intentions. They now alert me when others use these types of phrases too. Remember, we live in a world of TikTok challenges! I always say we can have fun without being dumb.

#10: See Something, Say Something
My kids are part of my safety team. They are buddy watchers for each other and I ask them to look out for other kids. I’ll often ask my son where his sister is, or what the other person is doing. I want to train them to look at others and make sure they are okay, to know what they are doing. My daughter the other day said, “Mom, I almost called you…that boy was under the water and I counted from 5…5, 4, 3, 2, 1 but he popped up again before I got to 2.” I asked her, what would you do if he was still underwater when you got to one, and she said “I’d say something to you or an adult until you responded”. Perfect. Kids are an additional layer of protection and they have good instincts. My kids know not to assume someone is playing. If they see someone underwater, they start counting. So often, in drowning investigations we see kids (and adults) swimming over or around someone who is underwater and they don’t do anything. They assume they are okay, they assume they are playing, they assume they are doing it on purpose. Don’t assume. Teach them the 5 second rule (check out Mel Robbins book on the topic) and if they see something to say something.

Other Water Safety Tips:
Swim Lessons Save Lives
Learn CPR - Drowning patients need oxygen - give air first!
USCG approved lifejackets only - no arm floaties or inflatables
Designate A Water Watcher / Swim with a Lifeguard
Always use pool barriers and layers of protection
Wear bright contrasting colors - stay visible!
Enter the water feet first
No running
Stay hydrated / protect yourself from the sun
No drugs / alcohol
All water is dangerous - even inches
Always swim with a buddy
Lost / Missing kids - always check the water first

I hope this helps and gives you some practical tips to improving safety during your water related activities. Share this information to hopefully prevent any more drownings.

***If you want to learn more check out our ALIVE Water Smart Parents online course! It highlights all of the keys we have learned in our careers and gives you practical solutions and strategies to be water smart! Link is in our bio to learn more.

Thank you for sharing and helping to save lives!

Stay safe! Stay Smart!

-Natalie Livingston
ALIVE Solutions