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Actually, I heard that experts say not to teach kids to swim too young. It gives the parents and children a false sense of security.
Should they also not be taught to handle knives or go near the stove or go up and down stairs or sleep in their own room, or cross the street, for the same reason?
We didn't get a pool until I was 20 and my mom still was usually out near the pool when we where swimming. We where NEVER allowed to swim alone either. If we where alone we had to just lay next to the pool or sit on the steps. Our pool was only 5 1/2 feet deep too!
Drownings and near-drownings are horrendous for everyone involved. I would remain very hesitant to rush in and lay blame.
Here are some very interesting statistics that make one realize this can happen very quickly, and it could happen to any one of us. Vigilance around water of course is key, but accidents still happen.
- Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75 percent are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
- 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present.
Babies can and should be taught to swim from the age of a few weeks. All baby animals can instinctively swim from birth, without being taught.
No babies or toddlers would ever drown, if they were allowed to instinctively use their swimming instincts from early infancy.
And all baby animals are naked. Toddlers and small children fully dressed and not intending to be swimming are shocked and weighted down with wet clothing. They fall into pools, lakes, ponds... where there is no easy way for them to get out even if they could try.
Swimming lessons are one small layer of protection, but in no way replace locked gates, locked doors and most importantly close supervision.
Should they also not be taught to handle knives or go near the stove or go up and down stairs or sleep in their own room, or cross the street, for the same reason?
Who teaches babies how to use knives or most of the things on your list? It's just true that most people will drop their guards when they think a person (including a child) can swim.
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