Parents Blake and Kathy Collingsworth honor the memory of their two-year-old son Joshua, who died on June 4, 2008 after falling into the family pool three days earlier. They believed they had every safety precaution in place, but the reality is that a drowning can occur in mere moments. After losing Joshua, they felt compelled to help reduce the dramatic numbers of deaths by drowning that occur in our country and around the world.
Their goal is to empower children to be safe in and around ALL bodies of water to prevent similar tragedies. The Water Safety and Awareness Project is dedicated to teaching young children about water safety through the use of Josh the Baby Otter a book written by Blake, which has been translated into several languages. Over 300,000 books have been distributed. The program has been presented in classrooms, community centers, zoos, pools, and childcare facilities around the world.
Personalize the presentation and add additional water safety activities as you desire. This activity can be held within one classroom or many combined classes. Ask the children sit on the floor with ample area for the song and dance portion of the activity.
Educators can follow this outline in the classroom, ensuring that each student receives the best experience. The outline can be slightly modified or expanded by the educator if they desire.