SWIMMING POOL SAFETY for Kids
NEVER SWIM ALONE
For safety when swimming I recommend that you always go swimming with one of your friends.
You need an adult to supervise your splashing. To keep everyone safe and make your day smashing!
FOLLOW THE RULES
Every pool has some rules, usually posted on signs. Look around. Find the sign. Read all of the lines.
No running. No pushing. No dunking. No dives. Whatever the rules, they are meant to save lives.
Follow all of the rules and your day will be great. Disobey one or more for a less fortunate fate.
HEALTHY SWIMMING
Always shower before swimming. Start out the day clean. Don’t drink the pool water, and make potty breaks routine.
Swimming with diarrhea might make your friends sick. Stay home when you’re ill. Be safe. Get well quick!
FLOTATION DEVICES
Rafts and rings and noodles entice, but first pass the tests then use a device.
Swim at least 15 feet all on your own. Get dumped off a raft and you will have shown
that you swim independently. My! How you’ve grown!
DIVING
It’s not safe to dive into some swimming pools. Find the signs. Read the lines. Obey all of the rules.
Water for diving must be at least nine feet deep. And always go feet first on your very first leap.
Dive with hands overhead and don’t act like a clown. Diving takes focus to keep from bumping your crown.
HOTEL POOLS
Hotel pools can be fun, exciting, and great. But consider these things before opening that gate.
Is there a lifeguard near? Are your parents here? Does the water look clear? Where’s the safety gear?
Check for the rules and obey the sign. Be a sport, smart, and patient and you will be fine.
WATER PARKS
For swimmers, a water park can’t be beat, A fabulous place to slide, dive, paddle, and eat.
There are wave pools, and drop slides, swings, rafts, and rings. All pastimes not right for one who still clings.
Save rides, slides, and wave pools for when you float strong and steady. These are good times for which a non-swimmer’s
not ready.
Don’t use life jackets so non-swimmers partake in something they can’t do. Their lives are at stake!
But life jackets are, in fact, excellent tools to protect skilled swimmers in water park pools.
Keep the day short, hydrate, and screen from the sun, and your water park day will be filled with fun.
POOL PARTIES
Pool Parties are great… for swimmers, that is, but you have to give all of your guests a short quiz.
Can you swim independently? That means all alone.
With no jackets, no swimmies, no floaties, no rings. It’s not safe to depend upon any of those things.
A pool party is not for learning to float. Pool parties are for those who float like a boat.
It’s not safe. It’s not fun. It’s not right. It’s not smart to allow your non-swimming friends to take part.
If having a pool party will leave some guests out, go bowling instead so all guests can shout,
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
“Hip, Hip, Hooray! I’m so glad that my friend cares for my safety and wants ME to attend!”
BACKYARD POOLS
A backyard pool can be a great source of fun, but a pool can be dangerous just like a gun.
It’s scary to think that this toy in the yard can be such a danger, but you see, there’s no guard.
Don’t jump in the pool without adults near. Don’t play near the water alone; just stay clear.
Swim only with supervision and a buddy or two. Practice safe swimming habits, and lock that gate when you’re through.
IT’S YOUR CHOICE
Safe behavior’s a choice. It’s not a trick. You choose. You decide. You get to pick.
Be smart. Know the rules. Be patient. Enjoy the pools. Be a good sport and all will see that you’re cool.
Learn how to swim, and then practice and train. It won’t be too long before YOU rule the lane.
Swim for good times… both fun times and fast, and be safe at the pool so those good times can last.
LEARN TO SWIM
Every kid, teen, and grown up should learn how to swim. It’s a fun thing to do, keeps you safe, keeps you trim.
It’s best to take lessons from someone who knows all about swimming and how stroke technique goes.
Swim coaches teach you to move body parts. You’ll learn how to travel, to stop, and to start.
You’ll learn how to balance without moving at all. You’ll learn to do butterfly, back, breast, and crawl.
Then with practice and practice, lots of time in the pool, you’ll learn to make choices. You’re nobody’s fool.
You’ll know what is safe. You’ll make the call. You’ll know how to rest without moving at all.
You’ll know how to travel, the stops, and the starts. You’ll know how to move all your body parts.
You’ll be a great swimmer. No need to explain. Everyone there will see you rule the lane.
LEARN MORE.
www.faceupfirst.com
© 2010 Jeanie Neal
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
TITLE
TITLE
Author
Illustrator
Read aloud time: _____ minutes
Book Summary:
About the Author & Illustrator:
Discussion:
Dryland Activities:
Swimming Pool Activities
Safety Poem Lesson:
How can you keep yourself safe?
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
LIBRARY LION
LIBRARY LION
By Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Golden Sower: 2009 Primary Honor Book
Read aloud time: 8-10 minutes
What would you do it a lion came to your library? In the book, Library Lion, the librarian of the town
library must decide what to do when a lion comes to the library as there are no rules about lions in
the library.
As it turns out, the lion is very well-behaved and follows all the rules that are expected of anyone
coming to the library. Then one day the lion has to break one of the rules, which causes him to be
kicked out of the library and asked never to come to back.
Did the lion have a good reason to break the rules? Read the Library Lion and find out what causes
the lion to break the rules and find out the final outcome for a lion that everyone loves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Michelle Knudsen loves playing online Scrabble. Her favorite food is blueberry pancakes and her
favorite color is purple.
Kevin Hawkes has a four-foot long iguana, named Lightning, and a guinea pig names Rosalita. He
loves to sculpt as well as to draw.
DISCUSSION
1. Supposed the lion had shown up in other places. How could he have been helpful in:
a grocery store?
a doctor’s office
a school
a playground?
a swimming pool?
2. The library in the Library Lion had rules. What were they? (no running, no roaring) The
swimming pool also has a no running rule. Why shouldn’t you run in the library? On the pool
deck.
3. The librarian said, “Sometimes there is a good reason to break the rules.” What does that
mean? Can you think of times when you might need to break the rules? How do you decide?
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
LIBRARY LION
DRYLAND ACTIVITY
Draw a “wanted” poster advertising for a lion to work at the B-T pool.
SWIMMING POOL ACTIVITIES
1. Find and read the pool rule signs.
2. Try out some ROARS in the pool area. The echo makes roaring extra fun.
SAFETY POEM LESSON: It’s Your Choice
Safe behavior’s a choice. It’s not a trick
You choose. You decide. You get to pick.
Be smart. Know the rules. Be patient. Enjoy the pool.
Be a good sport and all will see that you’re cool.
Learn how to swim and then practice and train.
It won’t be too long before YOU rule the lane.
Swim for good times, both fun times and fast.
And be safe in the pool so those good times can last!
Safety Discussion: Pay attention to what is happening around you. The Lion paid attention to what
was happening in the library. He learned that he needed to be quiet in story time. He learned what
jobs need to be done. Make good choices for yourself.
Accidents happen when you are in too much of a hurry. Slow down. How could the librarian’s
accident have been avoided? Could she have made a different choice?
You may have to adjust your activities based on the pool facility and/or based on you’re the
swimming skills of your companions. Look out for the people you care about. Make choices that work
for everyone in your group. Be creative and find ways to have fun and be safe in any situation.
Q. How can you keep yourself safe? A. Be smart. Be patient. Be a good sport.
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
CHICKS AND SALSA
CHICKS AND SALSA
By Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated Paulette Bogan
Golden Sower: 2009 Primary Nominee
Read aloud time: 3-5 minutes
The chickens get tired of eating the same old feed and after seeing a cooking show decide to invade
the garden. With their marvelous culinary know-how they make a great fiesta with chips and salsa.
This fiesta entices the other animals in the barnyard and soon all the garden vegetables are missing.
What will they make next?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Aaron Reynolds discovered books late as a kid. He was in fifth grade when his teacher read Ramona
the Pest and he was hooked. Aaron likes bidding on ebay, collecting 1950’s tin robots and eating
lasagna.
In second grade, Paulette Bogan drew a picture and wrote on it, “I want to be an artist when I grow
up.” Paulette has a Portuguese Waterdog named Spikey who is afraid of the water!
DISCUSSION
1. Where do you think the chickens got the chips, the ducks got the avocadoes, the pigs got the
nacho cheese sauce, and the bull got the sombrero?
2. Do you think that real chickens, ducks and pigs would eat that kind of food in real life? Why or
why not?
3. What foods do you like to have at parties?
4. Have you ever been to a party at a swimming pool? Do you like pool parties? Why or why not?
DRYLAND ACTIVITY
Make a fancy pool party invitation. Include a notice about knowing how to swim, and indicate
the type of food(s) that will be served.
SWIMMING POOL ACTIVITY
Swim like a chicken, like a pig, like a horse, like a bull.
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
CHICKS AND SALSA
SAFETY POEM LESSON: Pool Parties
Pool parties are great…for swimmers, that is.
But you have to give all of your friends a short quiz.
Can you swim independently? That means all alone.
With no jackets, no swimmies, no floaties, no rings?
It’s no safe to depend on any of those things.
A pool party is not for learning to float.
Pool parties are for those who float like a boat!
It’s not right. It’s not fun. It’s not safe. It’s not smart
to allow your non-swimming friends to take part.
If having a pool party will leave some friends out,
Go bowling instead so all guests can shout.
“Hip, hip, hooray! I’m so glad that my friend
Cares for my safety and wants ME to attend!”
Safety Discussion: Pool parties are wonderful. You can play games and race and splash and do
cannon balls. Pool parties, like water parks, are for people who know how to swim. If you do not
know how to swim, don’t attend a pool party. Learn to swim first.
Do not invite someone who doesn’t know how to swim to your pool party. If you want to keep that
person safe and have him or her at your party, choose something else. Go bowling or to the park. An
important part of being a good friend is looking out for that friend’s safety. An important part of being
a party host is thinking of your guests first.
Keep pool parties small – under ten guests is safest. Keep your party short. We know you play hard
at pool parties and get tired. Accidents happen more often when you are tired.
Do just one thing at a time at your party. Everybody swims at the same time. Everybody eats at the
same time. Everybody opens presents at the same time. Don’t allow your friends to drift back and
forth between eating and presents and swimming. Focus your attention to keep everyone safe.
Q. How can you keep yourself safe? A. Be smart. Invite only those who can swim to your party. Be
patient. Do one thing at a time at your party. You may have to wait for everyone to finish eating
before you can go back in the pool. Be a good sport. Understand that it's not safe for non-swimmers
and weak swimmers to attend pool parties. You may have to choose a different party if you have nonswimming friends or non-swimming brothers and sisters attending the party. That's ok. You want
everyone to be safe. Encourage your friends and siblings to learn how to swim so you can give a pool
party when they are ready.
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
DUCK & GOOSE
DUCK & GOOSE
Written and illustrated by Tad Hills
Golden Sower: 2009 Primary Nominee
Read aloud time: 4-6 minutes
Duck and Goose find what they think is an egg in a field and each claim it is theirs. They both set out
to take care of the egg, convinced that what will hatch out of the egg will be a duck, according to the
duck, or a goose, according to the goose. They talk about how and what they will teach the duckling
or the gosling that will emerge from the egg. It is only when a bird surprises them by asking if he can
play with the ball that they realize their mistake.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Tad Hills grew up with a love of nature. His mother worked for the Audubon Society and often
brought home animals. He is also an actor and enjoys making jewelry.
DISCUSSION
1. The duck and the goose learn to share something very special. How do you feel when someone
shares something special with you? How do you feel when you share something special with
someone else?
2. The duck and the goose have time to get to know each other and to give up arguing about
whose egg it might be. What are some things you do to help settle differences?
DRYLAND ACTIVITY
The ball that Chick and Duck find is not a football or a basketball or a soccer ball, etc. Make up
a game you can play using this ball in the pool. Write down the rules. Name the game and
name the ball.
SWIMMING POOL ACTIVITIES
1. Play the new game.
2. Take the Dump Test.
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
DUCK & GOOSE
SAFETY POEM LESSON: Flotation Devices
Rafts, and rings, and noodles entice, but first pass the test then use a device.
Swim at least 15’ all on your own. Get dumped off a raft and you will have shown
that you can swim independently. Wow! How you’ve grown!
To swim, means to be able to move about in the water by yourself, and to be able to stop and rest
without wiggling around. Kicking and wiggling in the water can make you tired. If you haven’t
learned how to swim, don’t use flotation devices in the pool. Improper use of flotation devices is
unsafe and it keeps you from being able to learn to swim as fast as you would if you hadn’t played
with them.
Flotation devices like rafts, rings, noodles, water wings, swimmies, and flotation swim suits all help
you maintain a vertical position in the water. Vertical means straight up and down – like when you
are standing. This is just the opposite of what you need to do to swim. Once your muscles learn to
move around the pool with your body vertical, it takes a long, long time for them to unlearn that and
to learn to swim in a horizontal – flat – position in the water.
Use pool toys properly to have good times in the swimming pool.
Do Not wear or use a flotation devices in the pool until you can float on your back and swim at
least fifteen feet by yourself. At our pool, we call this the Take the Plunge test: Jump into
water over your head, recover to a relaxed backfloat, swim fifteen feet, exit the pool without
assistance.
Do learn how to swim. Playing with rafts, rings, and noodles is fun!
Take the DUMP TEST. Sit on a raft or ring and have your mother or father flip you over and
dump you off the toy into the water. Practice floating on your back after being dumped. Hold a
relaxed, balanced back float for a count of five and then swim to the side of the pool. Can you
pass the Dump test?
How can you keep yourself safe?
Be smart. Understand that flotation devices should only be used by people who can swim
independently. Be patient. Practice, practice, practice. You can learn how to swim. Sometimes it
takes a while to learn how to float on your back and move around the pool by yourself. Never give up.
Keep practicing until you can swim. Be a good sport. Don’t try to play with flotation devices like rafts,
rings, and noodles until you know how you can swim by yourself. Don’t argue with adults who
remind you of this important rule. Keep practicing your swimming skills, and find other toys to play
with until you can pass the swim test.
After you pass the test and are ready to use flotation toys…
Read all of the instructions that come with your toys. Play with rafts, rings, and other floats in the
middle of the pool, away from the hard edges. Never dive into a ring. Watch out for your friends.
Make sure no one gets trapped under the floats.
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids
Jeanie Neal Face-Up First Swimming, faceupfirst.com
Bookworms & Waterbugs, Water Safety Education for Kids