Important Beach Safety Tips for Kids

Summertime generally means hitting the beach for most families. Beaches are a great place to unwind. However, they can also be dangerous, especially if you have young kids who you have taken along. Ensuring the safety of your little ones is of utmost importance at a beach. 

A lot of families wonder, “Is it safe to go to the beach with little kids?” It is safe to head out to a beach and unwind with your little ones as long as you follow the safety precautions. Here, we give you all the water safety rules at the beach to keep your family safe this summer. 

Beach Safety Rules to Keep in Mind for Children

To keep yourself as well as your children out of danger while ensuring that they still have plenty of fun, follow these rules:

1. Brush-up on swimming skills

Do you wonder, “is swimming at the beach safe?” Remember that swimming in an ocean or a sea is much different from swimming in a pool. It is a fact that swimming in an ocean or sea requires much more physical effort and skill than swimming in a pool. Also, you must remember that the water in a sea is dark and includes living creatures with absolutely no concrete sides or ladders to hold on to. For this reason, children may struggle to swim in an ocean and may also be intimidated by the waves pushing them around while they cannot see the bottom. If you are taking your child to the beach for the first time, we recommend that you prepare your child for these differences beforehand, and it might be helpful for your child to get some survival swimming practice.

2. Purchase life jackets

We recommend purchasing life jackets if you plan to take toddlers to the beach. Remember that it just takes a second to get distracted, and your child may wander into the water. Also, having a life jacket on your little one provides you with that extra protection and peace of mind that your child won’t drown in the water easily. However, we recommend that you try the life jacket on your child and test it in a pool before using it on a beach.

3. Check the water conditions beforehand

Almost all swimming beaches have beach flags and lifeguards, which indicate the weather conditions. If these indicate a rough sea and you witness high currents, it is best to avoid the beach that day. Also, keep the children out of the water if the current brings jellyfish inland. If there is a beach safety rope available, inform your children about it before going into the water.

4. Ensure there is a lifeguard around

A lifeguard must be close to where your children are playing in the water. Always swim near a lifeguard on duty.

5. Ensure the children do not touch the marine life

It is highly recommended that your children understand that they should not approach or touch the marine life around even if they feel it needs help. Instead, you can request help from a local lifeguard or the beach patrol. An injured whale, a beached seal, or a jellyfish washed up on shore can be dangerous. 

6. Educate your children on the ocean currents

There are two kinds of currents one may experience at a beach. These are the rip currents and the longshore currents. Children need to stay safe from the longshore currents as these are the currents that push one towards the beach with each wave. 

7. Set-up boundaries

As longshore currents can slowly push the kids down the beach, we suggest that you set some limits or boundaries for the kids while at the beach. For example, you can ask your kids to be between two points while playing at the beach. You can probably select a specific distance between you and the lifeguard chair. This makes it easier for children to play without the danger of losing sight of the family as they know exactly where to look for you.

8. Always use the buddy system

It is never a good idea to let your kids swim alone. Children must be encouraged to swim with a buddy. For younger children, you are their buddy. You can decide and take turns with your partner or group of friends to swim with your child or children. This makes stimming at the beach a lot safer. 

9. Always be alert

It may be extremely tempting to take a nap as you unwind on the beach. However, if you have taken children with you, you must always be alert and keep an eye on them even if you feel that they are old enough (tweens/teens). Little ones should always be within your reach. If you have gone to the beach as a family, then take turns to watch the kids. You can never completely rely on the lifeguards to keep an eye on your kids.

10. Sunscreen and hydration

Always ensure that you and your children put on an ample amount of sunscreen to protect the skin. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers the skin entirely. You also need to make sure that you and your family stay hydrated throughout the day. Make sure to carry a cooler filled with water and keep drinking water throughout the day. 

The beach can be a great place to unwind and relax as a family. Just make sure to follow these precautionary steps to keep danger away.

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