Surviving the Beach With Kids

Be Water Safe and Savvy

Mindy York and Marlene Bloom are the co-founders of Baby Otter Swim School in South Florida, and they both agree that you should never be fooled—the ocean is just as dangerous as any pool.

“People tend to focus on the depth of the water,” says Bloom. “They tell their kids not to go in the deep end, but the converse is equally true.”

Children can drown in as little as one inch of water, she adds, and at the shore, currents add extra danger. Just because the water might be shallow at the shoreline doesn’t mean you’re off duty.

“Never let your kids go to the shoreline by themselves,” says York.

Both Bloom and York agree that getting your kids swimming lessons is of the utmost importance. Children as young as 10 months old are perfectly capable of learning to swim, they said.

Parents need to be able to navigate the water, as well.

When I told them I wasn’t a strong swimmer and that I often take my daughter to the beach on my own, they advised me to either get swimming lessons (they claim I can still learn, as old as I am) or make sure to take another adult with me.

“You should have someone with you, and preferably someone who knows CPR,” says York.

She adds that parents should ideally stick to beaches with lifeguard stations, but if you can’t, you must remember to bring your cell phone so you can access 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Bloom and York, who have been teaching kids and their parents to swim for more than 20 years, say that devices like water wings and other floaties are lots of fun but that they will not prevent accidents.

“They can give you a false sense of security,” says Bloom.

Floaties can also be hazardous in an ocean setting because they can carry kids away in the current. However, if you do get caught in a rip tide, don’t fight it, experts say. (Read how to get out of a rip tide and other tips in our Beach Safety article.)

“You might end up a quarter-mile down the shore, but the worst thing you can do is try to swim against it,” says Bloom.

There are many, many components to water safety, say Bloom and York. They even created a comprehensive DVD, Is Your Child’s Life Worth 10 Minutes, to instruct parents on how to keep their kids safe.

OK, OK, I get it. I should just cancel my subscription to People magazine—right after I get done with my swimming lessons.

Maybe we’ll just go hiking this year.