At Water Safety Ireland, we believe it's never too early to start learning how to stay safe around water. Helping children develop water safety awareness from an early age encourages confidence, understanding, and a lifelong respect for water. Through our Hold Hands Water Safety Programme, we support Early Learning and Care settings, as well as parents and guardians, in introducing essential water safety messages that help keep children safe both at home and in their communities.

Since its launch in 2021, the Hold Hands Water Safety Programme has supported Early Learning and Care settings across Ireland with engaging resources designed to introduce young children to essential water safety messages.

The programme features illustrated storyboards that help children identify potential water safety hazards in a range of everyday environments, including the home, farms, beaches, rivers, lakes, and holiday settings. Accompanied by practical lesson plans and activities, these resources can be used in the classroom or shared with parents and guardians to continue learning at home.

At the heart of the programme is one simple but powerful message: always hold an adult's hand near water. By encouraging this safe behaviour from an early age, we can help protect children and reduce the risk of water-related accidents.

Our storyboards are now available digitally, making it easy to display them on an interactive whiteboard and involve the whole class in discussions about water safety. We also provide a range of creative activities and teaching ideas to help educators, parents, and guardians reinforce key messages and foster a positive, safe, and lifelong respect for water.