My child doesn’t know how to swim I need that floaty right? No!

It has often been a common misconception that when a novice swimmer enters the water, water wings are a good way of preventing any accidents. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception that is more dangerous and many believe to be so. One of the most common floaties used by parents are water wings are otherwise known as; armbands, swimmies, side wings, etc. Before we put our young swimmers in these we should first consider these things.

• Do these wings have air chambers, meaning if one pops, the whole floatie doesn’t just disappear as an aid.
• Are they made in bright colours? Easy for visibility.
• Appropriate size and fitting to prevent removal or irritation.
• Strong plastic to withstand tears or/and strains.

There are many versions out there, and the quality does matter. Always remember to check the quantity and not just focus on the cost factor.

However, I do not use floatation devices for kids when teaching and therefore encourage parents to make the sacrifice of entering the water to practice with your child. There are many ideas out there that a kid learning to swim, who can touch in the shallow end, is fine to swim on their own. This is not the case and many accident opportunities that happen. Unfortunately, many children due not have the ability to assess their own strength and endurance while swimming cancan quickly end up in a risky situation. Sometimes it is an irritation to swim with your child, but the more you are in the water practicing; with a smile on your face, the more likely the child themselves is to enjoy the swimming opportunities and learn 2 to 4 times faster than a regular learner.

What if I can not get in while my child swims?

It is sometimes the case that we are unable to be in the water with our child. In this scenario, always be near the edge of the water prepared to be an aid in a dangerous situation. Mats, noodles and kickboards are really great floatation devices to have in the water. They have a wider larger surface and allow a swimmer to grab one for a rest. In the scenario that parents do not want to be in but kids will be swimming, consider hiring a lifeguard to watch over your kids. This will free you up to talking and will allow your children to swim supervised and with aid if needed. Never allow a child under the age of 7 in the water alone, unless they are going in with a sibling who is a strong swimmer you should always be in the water.

Pools are a great social and physical activity for many people, however, used in the wrong way, these can be extremely dangerous! The biggest thing to remember is to swim with caution!