Diving Into Safety: A Parent’s Guide to Water Confidence and Fun

Living in a coastal and poolside community means our children are never far from the water. For parents of young children, this can create a mix of excitement and anxiety.

While we want our children to love the water, their safety is our top priority. As the team behind the Baby Sharks Swimming Program here at KAUST, we understand that building a lifetime of safe water fun begins with small, confident steps in the first few years of life.

Here are 3 tips to keep your little ones safe and help them build crucial water confidence:

1. Supervision

There is no substitute for constant, focused supervision. Distractions (like phones or other conversations) are easy to fall for. When your child is near or in the water (ocean, pool, bathtub) an adult should be designated to watch the child at all times. This means they are watching the child only, they are close enough to touch the child, and they are not distracted.

2. Start Early

The sooner a child is comfortably introduced to water in a controlled, loving environment, the less likely they are to develop water anxiety later on. Don’t be hesitant in bringing your little one with you to the pool or ocean. Gentle play that introduces things like floating and blowing bubbles is a perfect foundation.

3. Focus on Water Confidence

For babies and toddlers, formal swimming strokes come later. The priority at this age should be "water confidence" and basic safety skills:

• Water around the face: Learning that it’s okay for water to get on their face is important. Babies who are comfortable with water on their faces tend to adapt better to swimming. 

  • Start in the bath: You can begin acquainting them with this skill at bathtime when they are babies. Gently drip lukewarm water over their forehead and cheeks using a small cup or washcloth, and allow them to play with the cup and washcloth.

• Buoyancy: Feeling confident as they learn to float on their back and tummy.

  • Be Patient: Gently hold your baby or child on their back or tummy while standing in the pool or ocean; they may resist or feel uncomfortable. Speak calmly and lovingly, saying something like “one, two, three, here we go.” Start with just a few seconds and build up as they get more comfortable.

• Being safe on the wall: Learning to get inside and outside of the pool is key to being safe in any type of pool, regardless of its depth.

  • We teach this essential skill in our Baby Sharks swimming program (See links for classes below). 

• Being safe in the water: Learning how to be independent on floating materials, like noodles, is important for their aquatic adaptation. 

Join the Baby Sharks Community! 

If you want to introduce your child to the water in a safe, fun, and guided way, we invite you to sign up for the Baby Sharks Swimming Program. Our classes are specifically designed for 6 to 36-month-olds, and we occasionally also offer classes for 3 to 4-year-olds. For children 5 years old and above, check out Falcon’s STA ILSP “International Learn to Swim Program.” You can email recreation@kaust.edu.sa for more information.

Ready to start your child’s swimming journey?

•  Check out our 6 to 36 months program.

For more tips or to answer questions about which class is right for your child, contact cristina.bento@thekaustschool.org.

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