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May Is Water Safety Month — Keep Kids Safe & Confident in the Water
Every May, we observe National Water Safety Month — a time to raise awareness, share best practices, and empower families to enjoy water safely. Whether you’re swimming at the pool, spending the day at the beach, or splashing in a backyard sprinkler, knowing how to stay safe around water makes all the difference.
At Creative Brains Grow Here, we believe that water fun and safety go hand in hand. We’re sharing easy tips, kid-friendly guidelines, and creative resources to help families, teachers, and homeschoolers make water safety a habit — all year long.
Why Water Safety Matters
- Drowning and water accidents remain a leading cause of injury — and many are preventable with knowledge and vigilance.
- Learning safe swimming practices early helps children build confidence and comfort around water — whether in a pool, beach, lake, or community splash pad.
- Water safety isn’t just about swimming: it’s about awareness, supervision, and understanding risks like rip currents, deep water, and slippery surfaces.
Simple Water Safety Tips for Families & Educators
Here are practical steps every family and community can follow to stay safe in and around water:
- Always supervise children when they are near water — even if they know how to swim.
- Teach basic swimming skills and water-safety rules early (float, tread water, never swim alone).
- Use life jackets or approved flotation gear for kids and inexperienced swimmers — even in shallow water.
- Know the water environment — watch for rip currents, check pool depth markers, and avoid risky play near edges or deep water.
- Set pool and water-play rules at home or in group settings (diving, running near pool, pushing, etc.).
- Encourage respect for water — teach children that water can be fun and dangerous if rules are ignored.
By building these habits, families can make water play fun and safe — all while growing curiosity for nature and water environments.
water safety activities for kids at school or Camp
Black and white, single-sided
Great for nature camps, jellyfish lessons, summer school busy work, health & safety classes.
Highlighting:
Portuguese Man o’ War
Moon Jellyfish
Sea Nettle
Coloring, Mazes, Jokes, Safety Facts, Word Scramble!
What is a Rip Current? Illustration + Safety Tips + Info + Mazes
Grades 4-8 (adjustable for younger or older students with modifications)
Camping, beach party, field trip, camp… handout!
This resource not only educates students about the science behind rip currents but also equips them with critical safety knowledge. With clear alignment to CCSS and NGSS standards, this product is an invaluable tool for educators aiming to enhance their science curriculum while promoting student safety in aquatic environments.
- Explanation
- Detailed illustrations
- What to look for
- How to get out
- How to save energy
- Vocab: Parallel
- + Coloring and mazes make it fun!
CCSS (Common Core State Standards) Alignment:
Reading Informational Text:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Writing:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) Alignment:
Earth and Space Sciences:
MS-ESS2-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time scales.
MS-ESS3-2: Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Crosscutting Concepts:
Cause and Effect: Students explore the cause (formation of rip currents) and effect (impact on safety) relationships in oceanic environments.
Engineering Design:
ETS1.B: Individual designers can develop a solution that meets specific criteria for success. Students can design a safety plan for beachgoers in areas prone to rip currents.
Water Safety Flags – Meanings & Coloring
Great for safety discussions, science classes, boating, camps, nature parks, and recreation areas.
- Double Red
- Yellow
- Green
- Purple
- Red and Black
- Double Red & Black
Stuff We Love
Emergency Whistles with Lanyard Safety Whistle Survival Shrill Loud Blast for Kayak Life Vest Jacket Boating Fishing Boat Camping Hiking Hunting Rescue Signaling Kids Lifeguard Plastic 2 Pack
Fibropool Safety Rope with Floats, Pre-Assembled Divider Buoy with Hooks
Creative Brains Grow Here Resources: Water Safety + Learning
At Creative Brains Grow Here, we’re committed to making water safety educational and accessible. That means free printables, engaging lessons, and creative activities designed to help kids learn about water habits, ecology, and safety — not just in summer, but all year round.
Explore our nature and science resources with a safety-first mindset — then share, adapt, and use them in your classroom or homeschool.
How You Can Help Spread the Water-Safety Message
- Share this post with other families, educators, and community groups.
- Use and distribute our free resources in classrooms, swim groups, or pool parties.
- Talk openly with kids about water safety — encourage questions, hold practice sessions, and model responsible behavior near water.
- Consider scheduling regular “water-safety check-ins” (e.g. before a pool trip, beach visit, or water-play day).
Together, we can help children enjoy water — and stay safe doing it.
Water environments are magical places for discovery, nature learning, and fun. With a little awareness, respect, and education, water can be a source of joy — not danger. This May, and every time water is near, make safety part of the adventure.
Stay curious · Stay safe · Let the learning flow.
I’d Love to Hear From You!
If you use this activity, I’d love to know how it goes in your classroom or at home! Feel free to tag me on social media @creativebrainsgrowhere — I love seeing how learners explore science through hands-on creativity!
As an educator, author, and illustrator, your reviews and feedback help me continue creating meaningful, kid-friendly resources that support curious minds.
Thank you, and have a fantastic week!
— Julianne (J)
creativebrainsgrowhere.org
@creativebrainsgrowhere
❤️This resource has been donated to educators by CreativeBrainsGrowHere.org
Follow on social media @CreativeBrainsGrowHere ❤️ Donate Here
Water Safety Month FAQ
Water Safety Month is observed each May to raise awareness about drowning prevention, safe swimming habits, and responsible water recreation for families, schools, and community groups.
Teaching water safety helps children build confidence around pools, lakes, and beaches while reducing the risk of accidents. Early instruction in supervision rules, swimming skills, and environmental awareness can prevent many water-related injuries.
Educators can integrate water safety into science, health, and summer learning units using printable activity sheets, safety flag lessons, rip-current awareness activities, and discussions about local water environments.
Beach warning flags communicate water conditions and hazards. For example:
Green: Calm conditions
Yellow: Moderate surf
Red: High hazard
Purple: Dangerous marine life
Understanding these flags helps families make safe decisions before entering the water.
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