After missing a day due to feeling slightly under the weather, I’m back and ready to talk again.  You might be groaning right now but I’m sure you will enjoy the next post and of course, since I missed Thursday, you get a special Saturday edition this week.  Anyway, enough from me, let’s get into the actual post for today.

A few days ago, I was out running errands when I came across a scene that was almost alarming.  The river that runs through my town in a lazy swirl was currently a raging torrent of white water.  It had flooded its banks in places, was a mere foot from the bottom of several bridges and it had flooded a few roads.  All the water reminded me that I needed to reiterate some guidelines with my children about rivers and streams, especially during the spring months.

 *Even the most serene rivers can pose a potential water hazard, especially in the spring.*

This winter has seen a lot of snowfall in my province but even without a lot of perspiration in your area, the dangers of rivers greatly increase in the spring due to run off.  Not only are rivers at high risk but so are streams, lakes, ditches and sewage canals.  Although there should always be vigilance with children and water, spring is a time when parents should reassess how they approach that vigilance and to alert their children of those dangers.

Knowledge is the best way to protect your children and although you should not traumatize your child with tales of water horrors, neither should you candy coat the dangers.  Below are a few tips for  reminding your children about the dangers of rivers, ditches and lakes.

• Don’t discuss safe water practices without having some reference to point to unless the topic comes up in everyday dialogue.  If you are out for a walk or are running errands with your child and you happen to pass a body of water then it is a good time to mention the height of the water and that it is not safe to venture near that river.  This gives your child a frame of reference and you can use it when you get home to further discuss the dangers of water. 
• Keep the dialogue age appropriate.  Don’t go into a long explanation about under currents, run off, and water heights unless they are old enough to grasp the concepts.
• Explain how the river is dangerous for everyone, including grown ups.  My children know that if something is dangerous for adults too, then it is serious.
• Teach your children how to stay clear of rivers by informing them that the flooded banks and bridges are just as dangerous as the rivers themselves.
• Remind your children that water hazards exist even in small streams and ditches since they can become flooded as well in the spring.  Also explain how the dranage pipes can create a current that will pull a child or an adult into them. 
• Know where your child is going if you live near a river.  When they go out to a friends or on their own, remind them about the rules over the river and other water hazards.

Spring runoffs can create a potential disaster for any unsuspecting person, whether they are adults or children.  Giving your child the knowledge and the guidelines to follow will only give them the knowledge that they need to be safe. 

Sirena Van Schaik

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Tags: Child Safety, Children, Parenting, Run off, spring, Water Hazards, Water Safety

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