This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Even before I had kids I knew that when I did become a mother, teaching my kids to swim early would be a priority. I’m not a swimmer, I never learned to swim, and if you ask my husband it’s because witches don’t float. Don’t get me wrong, I love the water. Toss me in a pool any day and I’m in heaven, but no more than 5 feet deep, okay? My biggest reason for teaching my kids how to swim, aside from being able to enjoy the water, was for safety reasons. My husband would love to have a pool in our back yard but won’t do it until all three kids are able to save themselves if they fall in.
When my oldest daughter was about 3 years old we placed her in swimming lessons, which didn’t quite go as well as we would have liked. We gave her a 3-year break and revisited swimming lessons two years ago where we placed her in a class with her fearless 3-year-old sister. After a few classes she became more comfortable with her instructor, the water, and gained confidence in her ability to float and swim. That year we supplemented her lessons by exposing her to more pool time. I research the SwimWays product line of floatation devices and felt the company was in line with what I was trying to teach her- to build her confidence and comfort level at her own pace, and eventually move on from the myriad of products they had to enable her in the water.
Now my girls are independent swimmers and it’s time to teach my little guy how to swim. He’s a tough boy, and can be fearless in the home, but on our most recent trip to the pool he didn’t show his brave side. He stood by daddy’s side the entire time and would only dip his toes in the water. We have the whole summer ahead of us, so I’m confident he will end up in the water at some point, perhaps when it warms up a bit more. Last year we used a SwimWays Baby Spring Float to get him comfortable and he did great, but he would become annoyed that there was a tube around him at times. So, this year we are upgrading him to the SwimWays Swim Vest which is perfect for his age. He just turned 2 and doesn’t want to be held back in a baby float, so the Swim Vest will allow him to have use of his whole body in the water, getting him accustomed to his surroundings. We are hoping that he will learn to balance in the water with the help of me or my husband, and eventually move up to paddling before the summer is over. There are foam inserts in the swim vest, as well as an easy zipper on and off. A harness looped between the legs ensures the swim vest stays in place, and can be tightened or loosened as the child grows.
Once he’s comfortable with beginner swim skills, he can move up to the SwimWays Power Swimr. This was one of the last floatation devices my girls used in their swimming lessons before moving up to independent swimmers. Graduated support gives parents a swim training system – all the tools kids need to feel empowered in the water. There are 9 foam pieces that can be used as is, or removed individually as your child learns to swim effectively. By next year, my son will also have formal swimming lessons with an instructor, but until then we are excited to get his feet wet, literally, with SwimWays learning products.
Swimways just celebrated their 6th annual National Learn to Swim Day that took place on May 20, 2017! SwimWays products can be found at Toys R Us. The product line includes learning devices, toys, and more!