What's more, there's no better person to put a child at ease in the water than one of her parents. And remember, if children see mum or dad enjoying something, chances are they'll enjoy it too.
Simple safety rules
- Never leave children unattended by water
- Don't keep young children in the water for too long. Twenty to thirty minutes is fine for under 5's. Watch for signs of chilling such as shivering, lips or finger tips going blue etc.
- Supporting your child manually while they learn to swim, is in our opinion, better than buoyancy aids although a lot of people recommend using both methods.
- Talk to your child about water safety and make sure they respond immediately to calmly delivered instruction.
Flippers
The only swim aid that we recommend at Active Kids. Nothing is more fun than going fast through water and kids soon learn good streamlining. Go for the swimming fins NOT the larger diving fins. Some pools may not allow their use so check first.
Where to get it
Toddler wetsuits
Great for sea or pool. These neoprene suits makes swimming more comfortable by keeping the body a little warmer allowing your child to stay longer in the water, have more fun and progress quicker. Also provides a little additional buoyancy that serves to boost confidence.
Where to get it