When summer comes around with its warm weather and longer days, the lure of water becomes irresistible. But if a trip to the beach is not an option and you’re stuck in the city, there’s only one thing you can do to escape the scorching heat and enjoy some fun water activities: bring your family to the pool or a waterpark and have a splash of a good time.
While this can be a great experience for everyone, there’s no denying that planning a visit to the pool with your family is slightly more complicated than going by yourself. As a parent, you’ll have a much longer to-do list and plenty of things to consider to make sure everyone is safe and happy, so the entire process can turn quite stressful. But don’t let the challenges dampen your mood and keep you from missing out on all the fun. There are some tried and tested tips that can help you get your ducks in a row and make your pool day feel like a breeze.
Practice water safety
While no one likes to think negative thoughts, especially when getting ready to have a blast with your loved ones, the reality is that swimming pool hazards are not something you can afford to ignore. The CDC offers some sobering statistics in this respect, revealing that drowning is the main cause of death for children between the ages of one and four, and over 400 drown in the UK each year.
Besides the risk of drowning, there are numerous other hazards to be aware of, such as slips, trips and falls, chemical burns from chlorine, injuries due to lack of supervision, cuts and lacerations from poorly maintained pools, and so on. It’s important to be mindful of these dangers and take all precautionary measures to avoid them effectively. One should also know how to sue for compensation when these types of incidents do occur.
But since prevention is better than cure, make sure you adhere to water safety rules at all times and teach your kids to respect safety guidelines as well. This includes things like wearing adequate gear like life jackets, especially for smaller children, staying away from pool drains, learning CPR, only using designated swim areas, not playing breath-holding games, avoiding alcohol consumption for adults, and obviously never letting kids unsupervised.
Teach your kids how to swim
This tip might not be of any use if you intend to go to the pool tomorrow, but teaching your kids how to swim at an early age is going to make a huge difference later on when planning these types of outings with the family. This will make it safer for them to be around water, considerably reducing the risks of drowning and accidents, and you’ll also enjoy peace of mind knowing that your children have acquired life-saving abilities.
You can teach your kids how to swim yourself if you have the skills, but there are also plenty of schools, sports clubs, and community centres that offer swim classes for kids of all ages. The younger they start, the better. By the age of four, most kids are ready to take their first swim lessons, but you can start with the basics even earlier. After all, the point isn’t to turn them into professional swimmers but to help them be comfortable in the water and swim well enough to stay safe, while also making them aware of the potential risks and hazards around water.
Get your gear ready
You’ll also need to know what to pack in your bag for a fun day at the pool. The last thing you want is to arrive at the location and realize you’ve left some crucial items behind. When making the list with all the essentials, don’t forget to include:
- swimming gear and inflatables
- sunscreen
- towels
- water and snacks
- swim nappies in case kids are not potty trained
- a change of clothes
- toys and games that will keep the little ones busy
The more the merrier
When you have a bunch of high-energy kids with you running in and around the pool, you need all the help you can get to keep things under control and catch your breath from time to time. So, it would be ideal if you could do a joint outing with another family or bring at least another adult with you.
When you’re the only adult around, it can be extremely difficult or even impossible to find a moment to relax. But when there are more pairs of eyes watching the kids, you can let your hair down a bit and enjoy the experience to the fullest. Not to mention you’ll have someone your own age to talk to while the kids are playing.
Set clear rules and expectations
It’s important to set clear rules and expectations from the get-go, for your kids and yourself. Talk to the kids about how they need to behave and what your family pool day is going to look like, so they’ll know exactly what to expect when they get there. Having this conversation ahead of time will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises and meltdowns.
As for adults, you need to be realistic about what going to the pool with your family implies. You won’t be able to lie by the pool peacefully whilst sipping a cocktail because you’ll be busy watching the kids and making sure they have a great time. This doesn’t mean you won’t be having any fun, but it’s going to be a different kind of fun than childless people have, so you need to adjust your expectations accordingly.
With these tips in mind, you can set up camp by the poolside and get ready to have a wonderful and water-filled fun time together. The summer has just begun, so you’ll have plenty of occasions to plan memorable family days at the pool.
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