ocean safety questions - kids

[Anonymous]

My kids are 5 and 7, and we haven't been to the beach yet. Next week, we are going to VA beach. I just have a couple of basic questions. I am thinking they should be in a life jacket in the ocean even though they are strong swimmers. Is that what you do? Do you usually bring water toys like swim noodles or air mattresses? Are they too young for boogie boards? I grew up in Chicago as a water scared sort of kid, so I have hardly ever been to the beach. This should be interesting.

[Anonymous]

I made my 3 year old wear a life jacket, but she can't swim yet.

From my own personal experience, I grew up on the beach and never wore a life jacket and was definitely using a boogie board by 6 or 7. I've never really seen people with swim noodles or floats in the ocean.

[Anonymous]

swim floats and noddles get beat up in the waves, this is the ocean not a lake. 5 & 7 are perfect age for boogie boards - they come in all sizes pick two up at one of the beach shops. As for the life jacket is up to you and your level of comfort, my kids dont really go in past where they can stand and are great swimmers so we dont use them.

[Anonymous]

Some guarded beaches with rough surf don't allow floatie type things. Boogie boards are usually okay and definitely age appropriate for a 7 year old.

We didn't do life jackets but we also were in the water with our kids at that age, and tended to stick to pretty calm beaches or ponds.

[Anonymous]

I grew up at the beach and so have my kids. What you want is for them to have a healthy respect for the ocean, not fear. Have them watch the waves and feel their strength at the edge of the water before jumping right in.

As a rule, as long as my kids can stand, I feel like they are safe, they cannot go "over their heads". Teach them to jump over waves and to go under waves that seem to big to jump and to always "just stand up" if they get knocked down by a wave. Part of the fun is getting knocked down and pushed around by the sheer force of the water-something to be appreciated and respected. A favorite game is "pebble" when you sit at the edge of the water when smallish waves are breaking right on shore and just let the water push you wherever it wants.

Boogie boards are great and your kids are not too young especially if they are strong swimmers. Nothing is more fun than riding a wave right into shore.

We don't do all the paraphernalia: noodles, life vests, goggles, for us they just get in the way. We swim, lay in the sand (yup-right in the sand-we call it "shake and bake" when you come out of the water and roll in the dry sand and then jump back in the water), nap in the sun, have beach snacks, listen to the water.

Have fun, the beach is the best.

[Anonymous]

We went to the beach in NC a few years ago and my nieces were 4&6 and they were in life jackets, as were many other kids their ages. My kids are younger than yours but I hope that I can keep them in life jackets at the beach until 8.

[Anonymous]

I think the 7 year old wouldn't need anything (depending on the waves at the beach).

For the 5 year old, you could do a puddle jumper or something in case you want some extra security.

Speaking as someone who grew up swimming, though, I swam in the ocean without any sort of floating apparatus starting at about 4 or 5.

[Anonymous]

no noodles or floats. They will only cause trouble. kids floating out past the water they can't stand up in. Boogie boards yes!

Don't forget the sand toys.

Life jackets are your own call. The older kid might take swim farther than they should if they are wearing a life jacket. Depends on the kids.

[Anonymous]

I grew up going to the beaches in North Carolina every summer. I would not do lifejackets. The PP who said that there is a danger of your kids going out further than they should is right. Best thing to do is that you should start them on the first day (or hour or whatever) with water just to their knees, second day to their waist, then to their chest etc., so they get comfortable dealing with the ocean's power. Also make sure you or another adult are out playing with them. Boogie boards are awesome.