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Teach Your Child to Float in a Life Jacket

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Teach your child how to float with a life jacket!

You can help prevent child drownings by having your child wear the right life jacket and teaching them to use it properly. A life jacket is not a substitute for adult supervision - NEVER leave a child unattended in or near the water. 

 Be sure to check out our three part lifejacket series for more information on how to pick the right device, how to fit it properly and tips on how to supervise kids while in the water.


Let's get to work on teaching your child how to float with a life jacket. Floating in a calm, "face-up" position is not something that comes naturally to children. Before going boating or just wearing a life jacket in the back yard pool, teach your child how to float safely.

1. Teach your child to be calm in the water. Children sometimes panic when they enter the water. This causes them to move their arms and legs frantically, making it difficult for them float safely with a life jacket.

2. Teach your child to float on his/her back with arms and legs in the water and head back, face out of the water. The height and weight distribution of some young children makes them "top-heavy," causing them to tip in the water until they learn to float in a calm, "face-up" position.

3. Teach your child to turn to a "face-up" position from a "face-down" position. Have your child practice turning himself/herself until you are certain that he/she can turn to a "face-up" position consistently and reliably.


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