More Than Storytime: A Lesson That Could Save a Life

By NDPA Youth Ambassador, Kate Casciato

The classroom went quiet the moment I held up the book. Eighteen pairs of eyes locked onto the bright, colorful cover filled with smiling sea creatures, waiting to see what would happen next. At that moment, I realized this wasn’t just storytime. It was a real chance to make an impact with a classroom of four and five-year-olds—a chance to plant a seed that could one day help save a life.

That’s why I had reached out to a local New York City preschool and asked if I could come in and read to the class while teaching them about water safety. As a teen ambassador for the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, I’ve learned that water safety isn’t just about swim lessons, though those are incredibly important. It’s also about having conversations. And it has to start early, in everyday spaces, like this bustling preschool classroom filled with colorful posters and tiny chairs.

When I walked into the classroom, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew I couldn’t scare the children by talking about drowning or overwhelm them with statistics they wouldn’t understand. The challenge was finding a way to convey something so important in a way they could understand—without taking away their sense of fun and curiosity.

Would they listen? Would they understand?

Thanks to the guidance of Alissa Magrum, the Executive Director of NDPA, who patiently trained me, shared strategies, and helped me think through how to connect with preschoolers, I felt prepared. Of course, I still had a little of that quiet nervous energy you get when you’re doing something new and know it actually matters—but Alissa’s encouragement reminded me I wasn’t just reading a book. I was giving these children tools to protect themselves.

As I began to read, those remaining nerves quickly disappeared. The children leaned in, completely engaged. Some pointed excitedly at the illustrations, calling out, “I’ve been to the beach!” or “I know not to run by the pool!” I smiled, acknowledging their enthusiasm while gently guiding them back to the story so I could continue.

With each page, their curiosity grew. One little girl whispered, “Is the octopus wearing a life jacket?” and a boy asked, “What if the water is cold and I can’t swim?”

By the end of the first book, a dozen little hands shot up with questions and comments: “Can I swim with my dog?” “Do I have to wait for a grown-up even if my friend says it’s okay?” “What if I fall in by accident?”

They weren’t just listening—they were thinking. They were connecting the story to their own lives.

After reading, I emphasized a few simple rules in ways the children could remember—checking with an adult before going near the water, making sure that a lifeguard is on duty, wearing a life jacket if you don’t know how to swim, and knowing what to do if something goes wrong.

After the books, I gave them a playful “safety quiz.” I intentionally got some rules wrong—like saying, “You can run alongside a pool, right?”—to see if they would correct me. The classroom erupted in laughter as little voices shouted, “No! You can’t run!” I couldn’t help but grin at their enthusiasm. Then I added, “It’s okay if I swim with just a classmate, right? I don’t need an adult there?” and they quickly called out, “No—you need a grown-up!” It was a fun, interactive way to reinforce the lessons. Alissa was right: asking questions to engage them was the key.

I was amazed at how quickly the children absorbed the message. These weren’t just words to them—they were ideas they understood and connected with. Many had been to a beach, but some had never had a swimming lesson. Time and time again, they drew upon their four or five years of life experience—however small—and made great connections, like remembering a trip to a neighbor’s pool or watching a sibling in a bathtub.

One student raised their hand and asked a question that stayed with me long after I left: “What if my grown-up says they are watching me but aren’t looking—what should I do?” It was one of those moments that reminded me why this work matters. I thought of Alissa’s words: “If one child remembers this lesson, it’s already a success.” That idea stayed with me the entire day.

Standing there, I realized that being a teen ambassador for NDPA isn’t just about sharing information. It’s about creating moments that they can remember next time they’re near water. Moments when a small voice in their head might remind them to be careful, ask for help, or put on a life jacket. It’s about turning awareness into understanding—and understanding into action. Even a simple storytime can leave a lesson that lasts a lifetime.