Safety tips for when your child can not fully swim yet

Cooling off on warm days

Summer is approaching, which means kids love to seek out ways to cool down on hot days. For many families, this means trips to the sea or the swimming pools! Swimming is the perfect way to cool off on warm summer days. But how do you handle kids who aren't strong swimmers yet? Here are some tips to take it easy:

Always stay close to your child

Never leave a child who can't swim well or is afraid of water alone. Even if your child is wearing arm bands for swimming, don't leave them unattended in the pool. If your child is very anxious, swim together! Play in the water together and let them get comfortable with the water at their own pace.

Go swimming regularly

To help your child get comfortable with water and swimming movements, it's important to go swimming together regularly. Make it a fun outing! This way, your child will become familiar with swimming more quickly and easily. Don't force your child to swim if they are scared or unsure building water confidence should happen gradually, possibly through games.

Swim Essentials is a Dutch brand, and in our country every child gets swimming lessons in primary school. That is not the case for every kid in every country though, so if there is a possibility to let your child take swimming lessons, it is absolutely recommended to take those lessons.

Use Swimming Aids

There are various aids available to help children gain confidence in the water and learn to swim. Think of Baby Floats for young children, and arm bands for swimming are also a perfect tool. Arm bands come in different sizes for various ages and help your little one float and move freely in the water. For older children who aren't strong swimmers yet, swim vests or Puddle Jumpers can be used to provide buoyancy!

Be Alert, Especially in Open Water

If you're swimming in open water, set rules with your child and keep an eye on them. Never let your child go deeper than their waist without supervision. Be cautious when jumping, as the bottom is often hard to see and your child might end up in deeper water!