Daisy the Duck Learns to Stay Safe Around Water
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Water is wonderful, but it must be
respected. Always swim with a grown-up or a friend who knows how to help. Never
go near a pool, lake, river, or ocean alone. Smart swimmers are safe swimmers. If you don’t know how deep the water is, stay
out. Waves, rivers, and lakes can look calm, but they can change quickly. Caution isn’t fear; it’s wisdom that keeps you alive. The bravest swimmers know
when to say, “Not yet, I’ll wait.”
In the sunny meadow beside Crystal
Lake lived a cheerful little duck named Daisy.
Daisy loved the water more than anything. She loved the sparkle of the lake in
the morning, the sound of waves lapping at the shore, and the feeling of cool
ripples on her feathers.
But there was one small problem:
Daisy was still learning how to swim.
She could paddle a little, but not
very far. And she often forgot to stay close to her mom when she practiced.
One warm afternoon, Daisy’s friends
were playing by the lake. “Come on, Daisy!” called Benny the Beaver. “Let’s
swim out to the big rock!”
Daisy waddled to the edge, her
little feet splashing in the shallow water. The big rock looked so fun, but it
was far away.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Mom told
me to stay near the shore until I can swim better.”
“Oh, come on!” said Penny the Puppy.
“You’ll be fine!”
Daisy hesitated. The water looked
calm and friendly. She took one step in, then another.
Just as she was about to wade
deeper, her mom called from the shore, “Daisy! Stop right there!”
Daisy froze.
Mom hurried over, her feathers
fluttering. “Sweetheart, what did we talk about?”
Daisy lowered her head. “Never go
into deep water alone…”
Mom nodded gently. “That’s right.
Even if it looks safe, it can be dangerous. You don’t know how deep it is, and
you can’t see what’s below.”
“But everyone else was going,” Daisy
said quietly.
Mom smiled kindly. “Just because
others do something doesn’t mean it’s safe for you. Remember, real courage
means knowing when to wait.”
She wrapped her wing around Daisy.
“Come on, let’s practice swimming together. You’ll get there, safely.”
That afternoon, Mom showed Daisy how
to paddle properly. “Always keep your head up. Always stay near me. And if you
ever get tired, roll on your back and float.”
They practiced for days, taking short swims
close to shore, learning to float, and learning how to recognize when she was getting
tired.
One day, a big gust of wind blew
across the lake, making small waves.
“Mom!” Daisy squeaked. “The water’s
wiggly!”
Mom laughed. “That’s just wind
making waves. But when the waves get too big, or the water starts pulling,
that’s when you get out.”
“What do you mean, pulling?” Daisy
asked.
“In the ocean,” said Mom, “waves can
pull you away from shore. They look fun, but they’re strong, stronger than you
think. That’s why you always swim where lifeguards or grown-ups can see you.”
Daisy nodded solemnly. “So, no
swimming alone?”
“Never alone,” Mom said firmly.
“Even grown-ups shouldn’t swim by themselves.”
As the days passed, Daisy’s swimming
got stronger. She learned to float, paddle, and dive a little under the
surface, always close to Mom.
Finally, one morning, Mom said,
“Okay, Daisy. Today, we’ll swim all the way to the lily patch!”
Daisy’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really,” said Mom. “You’re ready because you learned to be careful.”
Together they swam, side by side.
The sun sparkled on the water, and Daisy’s heart filled with joy.
When they reached the lilies, Daisy
laughed. “I did it, Mom! I swam to the lilies!”
Mom smiled proudly. “Yes, you did.
And you did it the right way, with patience and practice.”
That evening, Daisy gathered her
friends around the shore.
“Hey, everyone,” she said. “I learned
something really important about swimming.”
“What?” asked Benny the Beaver.
“Water is fun,” Daisy said, “but
it’s not a toy. You have to respect it. Always swim with an adult, never alone,
and stay where you can touch the bottom.”
Penny the Puppy nodded thoughtfully.
“My mom says the same thing about our pool.”
“Exactly!” said Daisy. “Whether it’s
a pool, a pond, or the ocean, you’ve got to be smart.”
From then on, Daisy became known as Daisy
the Safe Swimmer. She helped her friends learn the same rules her mom had
taught her:
- Ask first before swimming.
- Stay where adults can see you.
- Never swim alone.
- Know your limits.
And every time she swam, she felt
proud, because being safe didn’t make her less brave. It made her smart and
strong.
The next time her friends invited
her to the big rock, she smiled.
“I’ll go with you when we all have a grown-up watching,” she said.
And her friends agreed.
That day, the whole group swam
safely together, laughing, splashing, and feeling free under the summer sun.
Poem:
The water shines; it laughs and
plays.
It sparkles brightly on sunny days.
But water’s deep; it hides its might.
So swim with care, stay in the light.
With grown-ups near, you’ll laugh and glide,
With love and safety side by side.
Be smart, be brave, don’t drift away—
Safe swimmers live to swim each day!
Questions
for Discussion:
1.
Why was Daisy’s mom worried when she
started to go into deep water?
2.
What did Daisy learn about swimming
safely?
3.
What are three rules you should
always follow when near water?
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