It was 99 degrees in Orange County today. As soon as we entered July, we also entered the dry, hot summers that California is known for. Fortunately, our community has a pool and we’ve been taking full advantage of it!
My son is four years old and hasn’t received formal swimming lessons. My goal was to enroll him in lessons prior to this point, but a series of chronic ear infections with resulting ear tubes delayed that. Now that he’s sporting custom-made ear plugs (which he mostly designed himself), he can spend our hot summer days splashing around in the pool.
Awhile back we were introduced to SwimWays, a company who is passionate about helping children stay safe in and around the water. Learning to swim is an important life skill. I know this first-hand as I almost drowned in the Klamath River as a teen. For over 40 years, the company has been teaching children to swim. Their Swim Steps program was designed to help kids gain confidence in the water. The site also offers resources for swimming lessons and tips on water safety.
Here are the steps:
Step 1: It’s my first time in the pool.
Step 2: I’m ready to paddle and splash.
Step 3: Teach me to swim so we can play together.
Step 4: I can do it—watch me go!
My 18 month old daughter currently fits into the first step but could probably be ready for step 2 very soon. She absolutely loves the water, particularly so she can splash around. When my son was a bit younger, we actually used an inflatable float because he was a bit fearful of the water. My daughter is absolutely fearless so we haven’t felt the need to use the float with her.
My son is currently in between stages 3 and 4. He’s definitely ready to take lessons and gain some confidence in the water. Since it has been awhile since we were last in the pool, I decided to start him off with a Swim Vest. Designed for children ages 2-4 the vest provides balanced flotation. Adjustable side cords and a strap that goes between the legs ensures that the vest will stay put.
My son actually preferred using the Power Swimr as opposed to the Swim Vest. Offered in 3 sizes for children ages 2-9, the Power Swimr acts as a flotation device offering children the ability to advance at his/her own pace. My son is at an age where he understands what it means to be afraid, so knowing he could float helped boost his confidence. As he becomes a stronger swimmer, we can remove some of the pads to continue building his skills.
While we were swimming and splashing this past weekend, my son’s Rainbow Reef Fish was the talk of the pool! Every child wanted to swim after that fish who takes off on his own (and is powered by 2 AA batteries).
Stay tuned! I have some tips on kids and water safety coming up.
No compensation was received for this post. Product samples provided.
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