Our tips on staying safe and making the most of swimming time over the summer holidays including answering those FAQ’s
With the sun out and summer finally arriving, you’re probably thinking of activities to enjoy with your children, and no doubt some of these involve water – dusting off the paddling pool, playing around in other water features, taking a trip to the beach or maybe a holiday abroad.
As parents, we love to see our children enjoying the water, but of course, we also want them to be safe and with over 70% of UK child drownings/accidents in water occurring between the months of May and August, it’s a stark reminder that we need to be extra vigilant over the summer.
One of the best ways to counter the potential dangers of water is to introduce little ones to the gift for life and equip them with the skills to swim confidently and safely, whilst having fun.
With over 25 years in the industry, Aquatots have carefully designed our unique swimming programme so that babies from 10 weeks old can begin learning the fundamentals of swimming. From day one our aim is to develop water confidence alongside learning core safety skills which are rooted in teaching lifesaving ability and can be continued right up until primary school age.
A good example of this is teaching babies & toddlers to return to the poolside and hold on after completing a skill. Regularly practicing this reinforces to children that the side of the pool is the safest place to hold on as well as becoming a helpful habit that could prove invaluable should a child ever accidently fall into the water.
Another practical skill is teaching children how to kick up from the bottom and to be confident floating on their backs which can then be used as a helpful rescue and resting technique.
Even teaching children the safest way to enter the water by checking it is suitable, that they are entering appropriately and according to their ability is part of what makes Aquatots lessons unique. Combine all the above alongside teaching children good swimming techniques in a well-structured, progressive, fun and safe way and helping develop their ability and you’ve got yourself the complete package for your child!
FAQ’s for Swimming On Holiday
Firstly and most importantly always ensure your children are supervised in and around water. As you will have experienced in your lessons, babies and children can often be over-excited and over-confident so will always benefit and learn better from having their personal assistant with them in the water!
Should I do underwater swims on holiday with my young baby?
Being on holiday with your little one is an exciting time and having more opportunities to practise is fantastic for boosting confidence, but try to keep swimming fun. Avoid the temptation to practise your underwater skills too much; a mixture of skills with family fun in the water is the perfect combination! As teachers we love to see your little one’s confidence boosted but too many swims can sometimes leave your babies overwhelmed.
Something else to be mindful of when swimming underwater, especially with young babies, is the temperature of the water, because if it is cooler than they’re used to then it can put them off. Wearing a tight-fitting T-shirt or rashvest, or even better - a thin sun or wetsuit, can save the day! More details below.
Also, for babies under 12 months we would recommend avoiding underwater submersions in a salt water pool or the sea; babies often sip water when submerging, but their kidneys are not fully formed at this age and may struggle with the salt levels. But don’t be put off entering a salty body of water, just keep your swimming fun to the surface instead!
What skills should we practice on holiday?
Having fun together and soaking up that precious family time is first and foremost when on holiday but having the opportunity to practice the skills outside the pool can be a great boost to your child’s confidence.
However, we recommend you only practise familiar skills your child really enjoys and already have been taught in your classes.
To help you remember what those skills are, you can of course take a look at your most recent Swim Guides which are sent out via email when you book your Aquatots courses.
Baby Levels – Your little one is still absorbing all the sensory input of swimming, so keep it simple and focus on getting your little one comfortable in the water and practise having fun with some of the core skills you have been taught such as kicking and paddling, ready splashes from the side and relaxing back floats.
Toddler Levels – You may have noticed that your toddler is keen to exercise their newfound independence at every opportunity so keep swimming fun and exciting for them. You can practise the following skills to help them keep safe whilst feeling that little bit more capable:
Child Levels – Now your child is a competent swimmer you can really enjoy the magic of seeing them enjoy their swimming outside of a lesson.
If you have not already invested in your child’s personal snorkelling kit already and are going swimming on holiday, now is the time! Please check out our Webshop for suitable and great quality kit
Should I use armbands/float jackets or other buoyancy aids on my child when swimming?
Although these items are often marketed as a necessity to aid child swimming and it can be tempting to use them, we suggest minimal use, or ideally rather not to use them.
Not only do these aids tend to put your child in the wrong body position for swimming (i.e. an upright position with their head always out of the water) but they also give children and their parents a false sense of security and confidence in the water which can be dangerous. It can also lead to your child resisting being held and supported by you in water when you return to lessons.
However we do understand that whilst on holiday you may want to give them a little independence so perhaps try using a noodle or little float for Toddlers under close supervision or a float jacket for very short period again always under your direct supervision. Alternatively, why not try letting them have some time in a shallow pool where they can touch the bottom and enjoy some playtime in addition to their swim time.
What is best to wear in water and how can I keep my child warm?
It can be quite a shock on holiday getting into a cooler pool when you and your child are used to swimming in a lovely warm Aquatots pool! Although a sunsuit is great at protecting your little one against UV rays, they’re not the best for locking in the heat.
Taking a wetsuit is a great option just in case it is cooler than anticipated. Wetsuits can sometimes feel bulky on your child, so we recommend purchasing our very own Aquatots branded wetsuit; the unique thin fabric retains body heat over 30% higher than a normal neoprene suit. It’s only 0.5 mm thick so allows for plenty of movement but provides the same protection as a 2mm wetsuit would. It also offers UVA /UVB protection towards the sun at the same time (factor 50-60%), yet giving minimum buoyancy and drag in the water. They are also great for swimming at your local leisure centre as well as on holiday so well worth the investment! → Buy your wetsuit today
Keep an eye on your child for the following signs that they may be getting cold: blueish lips, mottled skin, teeth chattering, crying and tensing/curling up. If you start to see these signs then they will likely need some extra warmth or ensure their swims are shorter.
Keeping Safe
By now you are probably very familiar with the depth and safety aspects of your Aquatots pool. Take time to assess the same at your holiday pool.
Where is the safe depth for you? Is jumping in safe for Toddlers (pool should be deeper than child's height). Is any deep end clearly marked? Is there a life guard? Is the pool gated? And of course, the most obvious part, make sure you children are under the direct supervision of an adult at all times.
Following these tips will ensure you keep safe, have fun and build on all the fantastic swimming your little one has achieved in their Aquatots lessons so far!
And of course enjoy the looks and comments of amazement from other Holiday makers at just how confident your Aquatots baby / Toddler is in the water.