What To Bring To The Beach To Help Kids Learn To Swim

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.

Each year, the 3rd Saturday of May is National Learn to Swim Day. This year was the 6th annual National Learn to Swim Day which landed on May 20, 2017. This day was founded by SwimWays in order to bring attention to the importance of teaching kids how to swim for health, safety, and fun. SwimWays hopes to help parents work together to help prevent childhood drowning so everyone can have a safe, fun summer.

What To Bring To The Beach

1. SwimWays Swim Vest

SwimWays Step Two Swim Vest products provide support while children learn to balance and paddle – important to pre-swimming skills. The SwimWays Step Two Vest has sturdy foam inserts to provide balanced flotation while providing easy on and off via the front zipper with added safety closure. This swim vest is specially designed to support children as they begin to explore the water for the first time. It provides just the right amount of flotation so your child can float upright or lean forward to do the doggy paddle. Permanent flotation is sewn right into the vest so you don’t need to worry about it shifting or coming out. Additionally, the product provides UPF 50+ sun protection.

The Step Two Swim Vest is ideal for kids ages 2-4. My 3-year-old son loves his vest and gets excited every time he sees it because he knows that means it’s time to go swimming!

“Swimming! Go swimming! I love swimming!” he says.

SwimWays products can be found at Toys R Us in-store and online at www.toysrus.com

2. Sunscreen

No matter what you’ve heard about sunscreen recently, there is no excuse to throw it all out. There are so many brands and types of sunscreen, there is no reason to not have some in your beach bag. I personally prefer to just have my kids wear long sleeve sun protective swim tops or rashguards then slather them with sunscreen, but I always have some with me just in case. I’d rather put sunscreen on them than risk an uncomfortable sunburn!

3. Sunglasses

The sun can be really bright reflecting off the water at the beach or even at the pool. If your child is distracted by the brightness and constantly squinting, suggest they wear their sunglasses. Adults don’t like squinting at the bright sunlight so consider that your kids might not like it either. Look for children’s sunglasses specifically for use at the beach and pool. Be sure they have shatterproof polycarbonate lenses that will block out 100% of both UVA + UVB damaging sun rays, which can lead to cataracts. Most sunglasses like this are for ages 5 and under and have a strap to ensure they won’t fall off while learning to swim.

4. Hats

Hats, like sunscreen and sunglasses, will help protect you from getting too much damaging sun exposure. Many brands are even making hats just for the beach and pool that are quick drying, east to care for and have UPF 50+ protection. Keeping your kid’s eyes and nose shaded when they are in the pool or at the beach will help prevent sunburn and eye damage. Help your child feel comfortable with a hat on by training them to like hats early on. Start putting hats on your baby as soon as they are able to hold their head up and they will get used to the feeling of having something on their head which will make them less likely to rip it off when they get to the terrible twos!

The SwimWays Swim Steps System

Swim Step One: Keep your baby comfortable and well supported during their first adventure into the swimming pool in a SwimWays baby pool float.

Swim Step Two: Provides support while children learn to balance and paddle – important to pre-swimming skills.

Swim Step Three: Graduated support gives parents a swim training system – all the tools kids need to feel empowered in the water.

Our 3-year-old son is starting off with the Step Two Swim Vest for ages 2-4. He loves putting it on because he knows that means it’s time to go swimming! He absolutely adores his cousin, Zaylie, who took him swimming in the pool this weekend!

Once your child has learned the basics of swimming and feels confident in the water, it’s time for the Power Swimr, a step three flotation device that offers graduated flotation which helps gives your child confidence in the water. It’s like training wheels for the pool! We love the Power Swimr because it has adjustable cords and support strap for a snug, secure fit every time and it has 9 removable floats that allow you to adjust the vest to your child’s unique swimming ability.

Our 6-year-old son is more confident in the water, but still can’t swim unassisted, so he’s been wearing the Step Three Power Swimr.

Help Kids Learn To Swim With Swim Steps

Even with flotation devices, it’s always a good idea to emphasize to a child that they always need an adult with them when they want to swim. Here are 5 important safety tips for beach and poolside…

Water Safety Tips:

1. Never leave a child unattended in or near the water.

2. Teach children how to swim as early as possible.

3. Teach children to always make sure an adult is with them when swimming.

4. Make sure kids have proper flotations devices like a SwimWays Swim Vest, Swim Sweater (ages 2-4) or Power Swimr (ages 3-6)

5. Learn how to perform CPR on both children and adults.