Splash day and water play safety for kids

Water play is a great way to cool off and stay active in hot weather. But even playing in small amounts of water at splash parks or with water play tables can pose some risks. David Aguilar, CPSTI, WSI, Senior Injury Prevention Coordinator at Children's Health℠, shares safety tips for splash days and backyard water play.

"Water play is great for kids. It helps them build their motor skills and coordination, it fuels their imagination and gets them used to new sensations," Aguilar says. "But it's important to take safety precautions and always have adult supervision – because children can drown in as little as one inch of water."

Common injuries and risks associated with water play in young children

The most common risks of water play are:

• Slips and falls

• Dehydration

• Infection. Germs can spread in the water or on surfaces, especially if splash pads and water tables aren’t cleaned regularly. Kids having accidents can also introduce germs into the water.

Drowning is also a risk because kids can drown in as little as one inch of water, if their face and nose are covered in water. Learn more about how to prevent drowning.

General splash day safety tips

The most important safety tip for water play is to make sure that adults supervise children at all times. This is especially important with children ages 2-4 who are still developing balance and coordination.

“As parents, it's so easy to think ‘I’ll just leave for a quick second and come right back,’” Aguilar says. “But by the time you come back, the kid has climbed on top of the water table or is spraying their brother in the face with the hose.”

For any type of water play, make sure your child:

• Is supervised at all times.

• Takes breaks to drink water every 20-30 minutes to avoid dehydration, which is common when kids are playing in the sun.

• Wears sun protection like hats, long sleeves and sunscreen.

Safety tips for splash pads and splash parks

Splash pads and splash parks are places with fountains, sprinklers, shallow pools and other water features. They’re places where kids can splash and play in the water, but the water is generally not deep enough to swim. When visiting public splash pads and splash parks, make sure your child:

• Follows the rules. Pool rules keep everyone safe, especially if they instruct you to shower before entering or not to run or horseplay.

• Wears water shoes or footwear with traction. This can help prevent slips and help keep your child from burning their feet if the ground is hot.

• Does not drink the water. Drinking the water can expose kids to harmful bacteria.

• Does not sit or stand on sprinkler jets. This can spread germs, especially if your child is wearing a diaper. Do regular diaper checks or bathroom breaks to avoid the spread of germs in the water.

• Avoids splash pads or parks if they are sick. Kids should not go to the splash pad if they threw up or had diarrhea in the past 48 hours.

Safety tips for water play tables

Water play tables are kid-friendly tables with a shallow basin that holds water. Kids can splash, scoop and pour water as well as play with different water toys.

If you have a water play table at home, make sure it's sturdy and easy to clean. Check for a label saying it's approved by the consumer commission, which means it’s met quality and safety standards. It’s also important to:

• Empty the water table after each use to keep it clean and avoid germs.

• Set it up in a shaded area where the ground is flat.

• Make sure there are no electrical outlets or plugs nearby.

• Tell your child not to climb on the water table.

• Tell your child to avoid running or horseplay around the water table.

• Make sure your child is supervised at all times.

Safety tips for water play at daycare, school or camp

If your child will be doing water play at school or camp, make sure to ask:

• How many adult supervisors will be there, especially for a large group of kids.

• What type of water activities they’ll do and if your child needs to bring a life jacket.

• If staff members are trained in first aid and CPR, just in case.

What to do in an emergency

If a child is unconscious or struggling to breathe, call 911 and start CPR immediately.

Learn more

The Children's Health℠ Injury Prevention team is committed to keeping families as safe as possible so they can more fully enjoy water play. See more water safety tips and learn more about our water safety program.

Know Before You Go: Water safety resources for families

Know Before You Go is a community drowning prevention program offering year-round tips, swim safety presentations and educational resources for families across North Texas. Learn how to keep your child safe around water, request a free Water Watcher tag or find swim lessons near you.