Let’s Go Wading: Taking the Worry Out of Getting Wet

Children are naturally attracted to water. For them, the magical lure of water is not accompanied by a fear of getting wet, muddy, sick, or hurt. As adults however, we often temper our attraction to water with a healthy dose of respect. With a few simple tips and suggestions, a trip to the wet, wonderful world of a stream, pond, river, or sea shore can be safe, memorable, educational, and, fun!

Top Tips for Prepared Parents

1. Be Ready

If you are planning a trip to someplace wet, don't just think about what you need when you get there; think about what you'll need before you leave.

• Whether you are going for an hour or for the day, having towels on hand is highly recommended. Towels are for drying off wet kiddos and objects as well as protecting car seats on the ride home.
• If there is a possibility that someone will get really wet, take extra clothes and shoes and a plastic bag for wet or dirty clothes and shoes.
• Water boots or galoshes are great for wading.
• You should always take a small first aid kit with you on an outing. Small reasonably priced kits are available from a variety of stores and can serve as the 'official' first aid kit for family outings. A kit can simply be kept in your car so it can always be available.

But what about the fun part of the day? Easily obtained supplies for exploring water include:

• Improvised scoopers made from old slotted spoons in your kitchen.
• Plastic fruit baskets like those that strawberries come in.
• Netting that held fruit from the grocery store.
• Old plastic butter tubs or cottage cheese containers are great bins to temporarily hold prizes.
• An inexpensive plastic magnifying glass is a good idea for getting up close and personal with tiny objects or creatures.

It is always nice to record those special moments too, so take along a camera. If you are worried about getting an expensive camera wet, you can always buy an inexpensive disposable camera. Most importantly, don't forget your sense of adventure! Take it on every outing, wet or not!

2. Be Kind to Mother Nature          

Always remind your children that bodies of water like ponds, rivers, and streams are someone else's home! We are there to peek, explore, and leave the spot as we found it - taking away memories and leaving only footprints.

Looking for wildlife and little critters is an exciting part of water exploration. At a spot where you can see into the water, reach down, pick up a rock and look underneath. What can you find? When finished, return the rock gently to the same spot. In spring you might find eggs (frog, toad, fish, salamander)that sometimes look like apple jelly with tiny dots. Be careful, as egg masses are slimy and touching them can kill the developing amphibians. Other creepy-crawlers, like worms, insect larvae, swimming critters, fish, tadpoles, and flatworms, all live in the water and are less sensitive to disturbance.