Appropriate age group:
Preschool and Younger

Description of tip or technique:
While playing in the water is a fun way to keep cool in the summer, water can also be extremely dangerous for young children. A baby can drown in less than an inch of water. To avoid accidental drowning, be sure that there is adult supervision at all times whenever you child is near water and never take your eyes off him or her even for a minute! Adults supervising children in the water should know how to swim themselves and should feel comfortable in the water. Babies should not be taken into a large body of water of any kind until they have achieved good head control (usually by four or five months of age).

Other comments or suggestions:
Babies usually only like warm water (between 84 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit). If you are filling the kiddy pool, you will want to add some hotter water from the faucet to warm the water from the outside hose. Never use scalding hot water and be sure that the temperature of the water is consistent throughout. Always drain the wading pool after your children are done playing with it and turn it over face down to prevent rain water from filling it.