" Useful accessories and tips for the first attempts at swimming "
Nowadays, not all children are able to stay afloat safely. This is often because parents do not know how to teach their offspring to swim. Expensive swimming lessons have to be attended regularly and there are fewer and fewer swimming pools nearby. Swimming lessons at elementary school no longer have the same priority as they did a few years ago. As a result, parents are increasingly responsible for their children's attempts to swim.
Why safe splashing is so important
Not only in the swimming pool, but also on vacation at the beach and sea, it is of great importance that children can go swimming safely, independently and alone. And preferably without the usual aids such as water wings, swimming rings or constant supervision. As drowning is still the second most common cause of death among children, parents should take care to teach their children to swim from an early age. The weightless feeling in the water promotes a child's health and can be really fun if it is handled correctly and there is no fear involved. However, it is now controversial that a child who has already learned to swim as a baby will benefit from it later on or even find it easier to learn to move around in the pool. Nevertheless, it is a great thing for mom and baby if they regularly go to an indoor pool together and attend baby swimming lessons. Even at this young age, the baby gets to know the water better and can remember the weightless feeling in the womb. It also strengthens the child's bond with mother and father.
Water wings are popular aids
Helpful tips for teaching children to swim
Children learn something new above all when they enjoy it. In addition to familiar people, they certainly need a little courage and curiosity. Ideally, you should therefore visit a swimming pool once a week or an outdoor pool in summer to introduce your child to the wet element. If they already like splashing and playing in the water, they will soon be ready for their first swimming exercises. It's best to demonstrate these in dry water first so that it becomes clearer. Thinking of a swimming frog helps many children to learn the correct footwork technique. If this movement works on the edge, it can be practiced standing up in the pool in the next step. Of course, your little one can also hold on to the edge and lie down in the water to get a better feel for the prone position. The first laps can then be mastered with the help of a small swimming board.
Fun is an important factor
If these attempts are successful, the arms are then added. This exercise can also be practiced outside the pool first. The arm movement is correct if the fingers are closed at all times and a large circle is drawn with the arms, which is then separated again with the arms brought together. If this movement also works safely, it can be tried out in the pelvis to get a feel for the resistance there. Then start the first attempts with arms and legs.
Practice makes perfect
Parents can either hold the offspring themselves or let them push themselves off the edge to generate the necessary momentum. Depending on the temperament of the little ones, more or less support will be needed.
Pressure takes the fun out of it, fear is not a good companion
In general, when teaching and practising, parents should make sure that they do not exert any pressure and that they adapt to the child's speed. Small units of 20 to 30 minutes are sufficient at the beginning and the top priority should be that the child has fun and is not afraid of the wet element. Only then will the exercises soon bring the desired success.
The wonderful experience can then be rounded off with a nice towel of their own. Bathing ponchos that are pulled over the head and have a hood are also particularly practical. With the child's own name, it easily becomes a favorite item and can be adapted to boys and girls according to individual preferences. You can find great options and gift ideas in our online store.
Useful aids on the way to independent swimming
Once your little one has become sufficiently familiar with the water and is confident enough to make their first attempts on their own, swimming aids can provide support. Experts advise against using water wings as an aid. These are only used for buoyancy and are intended to give the child a sense of security. However, they are unsuitable for learning to swim as they simply get in the way and restrict the arms. Special pool noodles or swimming boards are more suitable. To give your little one freedom for their arms and legs, they can also wear a swimming belt around their waist to make them feel safer and prevent them from sinking. Nevertheless, you should never let your beginner swimmer out of your sight, even if they are equipped with suitable aids. This is because drowning happens very quickly and is not accompanied by screaming or struggling and is therefore very dangerous and treacherous.
