Summer is synonymous with water play, whether it’s hanging out poolside, kayaking on a river, or splashing in the lake at the beach – especially if you live in a state like Michigan, where we are never more than six miles away from the water.
As the warm-weather months are in full swing, we want to remind parents about ways to keep kids safe around water. Many kids on the autism spectrum are particularly drawn to the water, and a little prevention goes a long way toward protecting kids of all ages and abilities.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Pay attention to protective barriers and gear. Install fencing, a self-latching closing gate that locks, and pool and hot tub covers. On boats, always make sure your child has protective gear like a life jacket. For kids with autism and other special needs, alert neighbors about wandering tendencies and the elevated risk of seeking water. Take note of any water sources without barriers, such as ponds, lakes, and fountains. Search these areas first if your child is ever missing.
- Install gate and pool alarms, as well as alarms on windows and doors. Remove toys from the pool and empty buckets, baby pools, and tubs after use. For children with autism and other special needs, use alarms along with visual aids like stop signs on doors, windows, and pool gates.
- Enroll your child in swimming lessons as early as possible. Check with your local aquatics center, YMCA, or Red Cross for options. Safe Splash Swim School also has 100+ U.S. locations (safesplash.com). For children with autism and other special needs, ask about lessons specific to their needs.
- Always supervise your child and stay at arm’s length at all times without distractions. Remember that more eyes do not equal more protection. Assign one responsible person to watch your child at all times for an agreed-upon period of time. This is especially important during family gatherings, outdoor parties, and times of crowds and commotion.
- Continue to educate your children about water safety. Teach them about safety rules, safe areas to swim, how to gauge weather, how to identify and avoid riptides, the importance of having lifeguards around, and learning CPR once they get older. For children with autism and other special needs, use social stories to educate them about water safety and safe areas to swim versus unsafe areas.
- No one – whether adults or children – should ever swim alone. Model this behavior and make sure your child understands they should always be with a trusted adult before entering water, and as they get older, to buddy up. For children with autism and other special needs, use social stories to educate them about trusted adults and to never enter water alone. You can also use visual schedules to help demonstrate when it’s time for water play or swimming.
A little attention to safety precautions can go a long way toward keeping the summertime safe and enjoyable for everyone as they stay cool in the water.
Happy summer from all of us at Journey Therapy Center!