I reread my post but it was too late to edit it and I think it sounded like I just threw my kids in the pool...LOL!! All of my kids had swimming lessons from the time they were tiny enfants and all are now wonderful swimmers (BRAG! My 15 year old son just received the MVP award for his water polo team and he is on the Junior olympic team!!) Anyway, part of the training was pool safety and what to do in an emergency. With a small baby or a toddler you teach them to reach up for the coping and then cross hand over hand until they come to the steps if they fall in where it is too deep to stand.
They also do drills where the instructor throws them in in their clothes, shoes and all so they will learn what that feels like with the extra weight. They are taught to remove their shoes while still in the water, etc. Anyway, it was important when they were little and is for all children and furbabies who are around pools or any other water feature for that matter. |