I'd like to add here, that there are drown proofing
classes for
kids. Your child is a little old for them, but I'd talk to a teacher anyway. It is that, for back up, you'd panic a little less if the child did go
overboard, or falls into a swimming pool or river. Belts and suspenders.
Some friends of ours determined that if they took their
kids sailing, the adults, too, would wear life jackets. Lots of extra things you can do to make life easier on the kids.
Ann