Jul 27, 2012
Taking my kids (and twins) swimming
At this point in the summer, I have a 7-year-old, a 3-year-old, and two 1-year-olds. Here’s the swimming skills breakdown:
7-year-old: Can dog paddle and keep head above water for short distances. Improving his skills, but not independent.
3-year-old: No swimming skills (but he keeps close to the shore anyway).
1-year-old boy: No swimming skills (and also prefers sand and shore in his nautical pursuits).
1-year-old girl: Thinks she has mad swimming skills, but in reality has none.
I’ve taken them swimming by myself a couple times now, and here are my observations:
Splash Pads
-Easy in and out.
-Don’t have to worry about anyone’s head going under.
-Might have to worry about running and therefore subsequent stitches (thankfully that hasn’t been our story this summer).
-No sand. (NO SAND!!!!)
Pools
-I can really only do them by myself if they’re those 0-depth-entry ones. I don’t have enough arms for 3-year-old and two 1-year-olds in a typical “shallow end.”
-Life jackets, life jackets, life jackets. Life jackets are awesome. Morrow still fits in the infant one (cuz he’s only 32 pounds) with the head pillow thing, and he LOOOVES to lay on his back and just kick around. That’s his version of “swimming.”
*Side note about life jackets: I’ve found great ones at thrift stores. Keep your eyes out for those!
-NO SAND!!!
And in Minnesota, of course (the land of 10,000 lakes)…
Lakes
-God’s version of 0-depth-entry, so I must give credit where credit is due.
-The downside, of course, is SAND!! Two diaper-wearers in sand is just the worst, especially if you have a dirty diaper situation.
-More options for keeping busy (trying to catch fish, digging in the sand, etc.)
General Observations
-Put sunscreen on everyone before you leave the house. (Mom included, because once I get to the water, taking care of myself no longer exists as a possibility.)
-Mom, don’t expect to relax. This will not be relaxing. I remind myself that while I’m exhausting myself at the beach or pool or splash pad, they’re not at home trashing the house!
-I prefer a smaller, less populated beach for lake swimming. Simpler for head-counting, and less surface area if I have to run after one (or two!)
-I’ve been bringing after-clothes for my 3 youngest (any who can’t dress completely independently when you get back home) and getting them all dressed before we leave for home. It’s a little chaotic in the van, but at least the van is a confined space. Waaaayy preferable to them running every which-way in their swimming stuff when we get in the house.
-Don’t bring a lot of crap. A couple buckets and shovels or cups or balls, but the less you bring, the less you have to remember to bring home!
That’s what I’ve learned so far.
Any other awesome swimming tips?
I loved reading this post, because it made me feel not alone in my craziness while taking my four kids out. I totally strategize about where I go in the same way! So far, splash pads have been our best bet. I have a 6 year old, 5 year old, 2 year old, and a 1 year old, so I have to plan accordingly. Taking them all to a pool gives me nightmares. I have braved a few beaches out here and they’ve actually turned out to be great outings, except for the sand of course.
hi! landed here and this post made me reminisce smile/stress…we lived in Florida when my girls were baby and toddler. I’ll try to attach a link to the swimsuit/tube that was a lifesaver :). (I got ours at Walmart back then). What I loved is that they can’t tip over as in some of the swimvests, and are able to learn to swim with you beside them, but not holding them up. I think they are made to fit a 2-3 year old, but I took in the shoulders for my one year old.
http://www.amazon.com/Poolmaster-Learn-Swim-Tube-Trainer/dp/B0023NVV7I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1343434537&sr=8-5&keywords=swim+tube.
You are a good mommy!
I just watched a mom and kids come to the pool the other day…the kids ran off to play and she sat down, in the shade, with a cold drink and read. Uninterrupted. I totally coveted.
No tips…our pool time is just as crazy. Though I actually prefer the deeper pool (it’s only 5 feet) becuase the twins hang out in their floatation device things and I have more time for our oldest. It’s the zero entry running and falling head first that drives me bananas.
Yeah, your twins are still a little young for the 0 entry…this summer is the first time I’ve really done it.
What kind of flotation devices are you using for the twins?
Yes, we found great float things! I like them way more than the typical blow up plastic kind. And we set toys on the rim so the boys stay occupied. The amazon link is: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Spring-Float-12-5-Swim/dp/B001MXIHW2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1343610547&sr=8-7&keywords=baby+floats
Wow. You are a million times braver than me!
Baby powder gets sand off skin really easily – it’s magical.
Puttin’ it in the beach bag!!! I honestly never use baby powder so that’s what I’ll use it for! Niiiice…
The mere mention of splash pads in water park make the kids happy and energetic. Their faces show excitement and enthusiasm.
Oh, I’m so with you on the sand thing. I hate sand — at beaches and at parks. Splash pads are awesome! Trips to beaches and pools are few and far between and, unfortunately, usually result in a crabby mommy.
I teach my kids to just pee in the pool. It’s so much easier. Plus, you know, chlorine.
lol!!! That is classic.
Ha ha! Funny story – this summer I took my kids to a beach and a dad and his boy got in the water right in front of us, and the dad told his son to “just pee in the water” — loudly — RIGHT IN FRONT OF US! Needless to say, we avoided that area.
My favorite life vests are puddle jumpers.
http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Puddle-Jumper-Basic-Jacket/dp/B00364E0C6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1343540724&sr=8-2&keywords=puddle+jumper
they are coast guard certified life vests, but not as bulky and keeps a good center of gravity. The Pools where I live only allow real life vests and no other flotation devices such as arm floaties. They also only allow 2 kids under 7(unless they can pass a swim test) per parent and require you to stay with in arms reach of them at all times so when we had mostly little ones the pool was not an option unless my husband could go too…until we moved to a neighborhood with a private pool.
I also review this each year
http://gcaptain.com/drowning/?10981
and remember when I go swimming with friends that eye contact while talking with adults is not rude but in fact banned because all eyes are on kids swimming!!!
I ditto the puddle jumpers. My mom got one for my 2 yo soon to be 3 yo daughter who thinks she can “swim” and is more daring then my 4 yo son (he stays along the edge and near the steps). They look a bit silly, but work much better then a life-jacket with strap between the legs (ouch!). Plus with the puddle jumpers you don’t have to worry about the life jacket riding up around the shoulders/armpits and throwing the child off balance. They work better with the child’s center of gravity. Plus they are dorky cute :)
Have you checked-out the filtered chlorinated swimming ponds around the twin cities? We LOVE them! There are a couple in the Three Rivers Park District (Elm Creek, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park) and one in Lake Elmo.
MINUS is they ARE sandy bottom and you need to pay to either swim at them (Three Rivers) or park (Lake Elmo) but the PLUS is that they are filtered, shallow (a roped off deeper area is in the center) and warm at the end of the day (because they are so shallow).
We like arriving at about 5 pm with a picnic dinner–when the crowds are heading home for dinner and the chances of sunburn are much lower. Life guards stay til 8 at Elm Creek until mid-August. When the kids were younger, we’d actually put them in pajamas before driving home and they were usually asleep for the night by the time we got home.
My new favorite beach blanket is the Grand Trunk Parasheet Beach Blanket ‘cuz 1) sand doesn’t stick 2) it stuffs into the ATTACHED stuff sack 3) it has corner loops to stake it down and also corner pockets to put sand into to weight it down 4)it dries very quickly after my children walk across it with wet sandy feet and 5)SAND DOESN’T STICK TO IT.
I’ve been meaning to do that, Heather. A friend of mine LOVES the Lake Elmo one, but we haven’t gone yet. I just ordered one of those puddle jumper life jackets for Morrow, so maybe we’ll go soon!
I just want to say, “Good job!” That’s seriously awesome.
Molly, like you, I think all the time “At least we aren’t at home trashing the house.” I’ll do most anything to keep them out of our house so I don’t have to clean up after them. And we rarely eat indoors if we can help it!
And I also use the puddle jumpers. My kids light-weights can’t stay upright in a life jacket.
Molly dear, your post had me laughing and reminiscing over when our two kids were young. I understand your dread of beach sand–talcum powder (real talc and not the corn starch stuff that adds insult to injury by being a great medium for bacteria growth in soiled diapers) is great to get sand off of a wiggling little one. While the talc can be messy if you sprinkle it in the car, it does an amazing job of getting the little grains of sand to roll right off! Blessings to you, sister. You have true grit and a lot of love for your kiddos to give them these great opportunities to swim and explore.
Taking my kids swimming is such a good arm workout! I have 3 kids, 3 and under and can’t let go of any of them. At the pool, I put the baby in the mesh front pack that can get wet, or if we go to the beach I bring the pack n play. It frees up the my hands for the 2 year old and 3 year old who love being in the water. Splash parks are the greatest invention and I frequent them. SO thankful the older 2 kids can play there independently. I’m with you on the sand in the bathing suits!
YES on the 0-depth-entry pool thing. I’ve had friends invite us to the typical shallow-end pool, and I’m always like “Thanks, but….how would that even work?!”. Splash pads scare me (so much slippery cement!), and we don’t really have any good lakes near us (and I concur on the sand in diapers thing)…we just hit the Bloomington pool ALL the time.
I’m a bit late to the post, but we are in the twin cities and I love to take my kids to the wading pool in Roseville MN. Its free and its shallow all the way around. They can bring any toys they want, did they mention its free? Great post :)
I’m reading this in the dead of winter, freezing cold, and enjoying the memories of last summer. Ours were 5,4,2,& almost 1 (no swimming skills really, although the 5-year-old thinks occasional dog-paddling is swimming), and you’ve pretty much nailed it. There is NO down time for Mom! But it’s still worth it. So much fun for the kids! What memories!