You are here
Search
How to Wear a Life Jacket
- Wear a U.S.
by Kaitlyn Recchiuti
Water, summer and kids having fun are synonymous. That was true for me when I was young, whether it involved a swimming pool, the ocean or even a big scoop of water ice in my native Philadelphia.
We work at Safe Kids to be parents’ partners so that the job of parent can be the joy we all envision, and less of the stress that it can be at times. We hope the diligence parents need to exercise around water will lower your stress level. Too much of a good thing can be perilous and the difference between fun and tragedy can happen in the snap of fingers or just a few inches of water.
According to the USA Swimming Foundation, 70 percent of African-Americans lack basic swim skills. In an effort to change that alarming statistic, Safe Kids Worldwide teamed up with Black Kids Swim to produce a Gary on the Street video featuring African-American kids who swim competitively.
New Research Reveals Persistent Misconceptions are Giving Families a False Sense of Security
I’m a big guy. At six foot eight, it’s hard to believe that there is much of anything that scares me. What’s more, I’m an athlete. My entire life, I’ve been taught to put myself out there and take chances on the court. When I joined the NBA in 2005, I took the skills that I developed in college to the next level. Playing on the professional level you can’t allow yourself to be intimidated by other players or the pressure of the cheering crowds.
Whenever I am asked if I know how to swim, my immediate response is “I know how to not drown.”
I started interning at Safe Kids Worldwide about three weeks ago. Since then I’ve learned many things. I’ve learned that drinking one 20 ounce bottle of Coke is equivalent to eating 18 cookies – so it’s not the best way to hydrate when playing sports. I’ve learned that the Starbucks Baristas in our building will write down whatever they think they heard when they ask for your name. My name is Kendall Reed but based on my frappuccino order, you can call me “Q.”
My family has always been large, but in the last few years we’ve grown significantly as my generation has made the transition from being the kids to being the parents. This just makes our time together even more enjoyable especially when we head to one of our favorite places: the beach.
There’s nothing quite like watching happy kids building sandcastles, hunting for sea shells, splashing in the waves, and making their own memories, just the way my cousins and I did when we were kids.
But now that I’m an aunt, I have to admit, safety is on my mind, too.
Q. I’m really excited for our family vacation to the beach this summer. I have two teenagers – a 13-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter. Both are good, safe swimmers, who I trust in our backyard pool. Does that mean they should be fine in the ocean as well?
It’s great your kids are confident swimmers at home. While that experience is a good start at the ocean (or in other places like lakes), there are some important differences that you and your kids will want to talk about before everyone hits the beach.
For three years, I volunteered as a camp counselor at Lake Arbor Summer Enrichment Camp, a summer camp for children aged 6 through 12. The camp was designed to be an enriching experience for kids, and activities during the day included tennis, swimming lessons, creative writing and chess. We also organized field trips to places and landmarks in Washington, D.C. such as the Smithsonian, the National Air and Space Museum and Frederick Douglass’s house. The campers got a lot out of it, and they showcased it during chess tournaments and talent shows.