You’re an awesome parent. You take your kids to swim lessons, encourage them in their favorite activities and make sure they get lots of affection and love. But being a good parent and being a good POOL parent are different.

To that end, we are providing a list of tips and reminders on How to be a Good “Pool Parent” and Keep Kids Safe in the Water. Check out these tips on what to do and what NOT to do when your kids are swimming. Because, really, we just want to make sure everyone is having a GOLDEN experience and being safe!

What NOT to do while your child is swimming:

  • DON’T walk away. It may be tempting to head inside for a while since the kids are happily playing. But be sure to always stay within sight of the little ones — whether they are in the water or not. It’s amazing how quickly kids can move and end up in the water when you’re not expecting it.
  • DON’T stay glued to your phone. We’re not about to participate in the Mommy Wars about when to use or not use your phone around your kids. But, when you’re swimming or near water, it’s imperative that you’re not distracted by your phone the entire time. Kids learn important water safety lessons at Goldfish Swim School, and so should parents. Moms (and dads) are great multi-taskers, for sure — but it can get easy to get caught up on a phone call or checking and replying to emails. Just be sure to stay alert around your kids in the water, for safety reasons.
  • DON’T let your child swim alone. The buddy system is always a good system to use. Even if you’re not feeling like swimming around in the “cold” water — since kids often seem to not even notice the temp when they’re having fun (except at Goldfish Swim School, where the water is ALWAYS 90 degrees!)  — make sure you’re on the edge and close to them.
  • DON’T think life jackets are only for boats. If your child is in the water and not comfortable swimming, or if it’s deeper than you’d like, don’t hesitate to have him or her wear a life jacket. Have a life jacket nearby just in case — especially in cases where the younger kids may want to follow the older, more experienced swimmers into deeper water.

What TO DO while your child is swimming:

  • DO keep an eye on your kids. Always know where your kids are and how they’re doing. It’s important to understand that potential drowning signs may not include a loud, splashing fit. It can be easy to silently slip underwater while struggling to stay afloat and breathe, so you may not hear a commotion and nearby swimmers may not even notice.
  • DO listen. That being said, it’s still necessary to keep your ears open to listen for sounds of anyone calling for help — or silence when there should be joyful voices in the water. Always keep one ear on what the kids are doing in and near the water.
  • DO bring sunscreen. When you’re outdoors, make sure you and your kids have sunscreen on — even on cloudy days. You’ll be protected against painful sunburns (because no one wants to deal with little ones who are in pain and can’t enjoy their time outside!), and against potential long-term risks. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen after being in the water, according to the sunscreen’s package directions.
  • DO pack snacks — and water. Especially during the hot summer months outside, it’s important to make sure the kids are staying hydrated. Yes, they’re surrounded by water while swimming, but they need to be drinking some, too! Make sure you feed the kids some snacks as well. Staying fed and hydrated helps prevent muscles from cramping up while swimming and keeps kids’ energy up to make sure they’re able to stay safe in the water.
  • DO think about enrolling your kids in swim lessons. Just because the kids are splashing around and diving for rings underwater doesn’t mean they really know how to swim. These 4 Reasons Kids Need swim lessons (Even if They “Know” How to Swim) are really important, and you’ll see some extraordinary results. And, believe it or not, babies younger than 1 year old can even benefit from swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School! That’s some WOW! customer service!

Goldfish Swim School

Playing in the water at the pools and beaches all summer is actually the perfect time to start swim lessons! The kids are already excited about being in the water, and they’ll want to celebrate and expand on what they already know (perhaps to be able to swim farther and faster than their cousins, hmm?!). Goldfish Swim School has plenty of locations across the country, with instructors who use integrity, compassion and trust to teach kids this life-saving skill, so find a location near you to sign up at today!