The Benefits of Learning to Swim

Swimming lessons offer a wide range of benefits and they may be cheaper than you'd think. Here at Dotty Hippo we love getting out and about with the children, going on long walks alongside rivers and canals, visiting the beach and using the local swimming pool for fun. Water may be fun however it may also be dangerous if not respected which is why our blog post today is about keeping little ones safe by teaching them to swim. 

Swimming Lessons
All local swimming pools offer swimming lessons to children. These are run by a qualified instructor and are taught in fairly small groups. Many swimming pools have a website or app that allows you to see how much progress they have made and how far they are from their next level. This enables you to support your little ones better outside of swimming lessons and to help motivate them.

Not all children develop new skills at the same pace. Some children may require additional support when learning to swim. For this reason, swimming pools often offer 1-1 lessons. If you feel this might be beneficial speak to the pool about availability and costs.

If you aren't a confident swimmer ask about adult swimming lessons, so that you may enjoy the many benefits too!

Don't forget a waterproof swimming bag for bringing back wet swimsuits and towels.

What are your top tips for helping little ones to learn to swim, or what to pack for swimming lessons (such as a trolley coin or pound coin for pool lockers)? 

Social Benefits

There are a number of social benefits associated with teaching your little one to swim, from interacting and learning with peers to going on to enjoy swimming with friends as a leisure activity. Learning as part of a group may also help with turn-taking, listening and additional learning development. Swimming lessons are also a great way to built confidence, both in their own skills and abilities but also boosting water confidence.

Health Benefits

Any activity is great for little ones and swimming is a great way to stay fit and active. Despite being fun, swimming and moving around the water provides a great work out for all of the family.

With the weather now turning warmer and play moving outside we hope you all some wonderful, safe fun.

Having Fun with Water

When it comes to looking for fun activities over the summer, or indeed at any time there is no resource more freely available (or cheaper unless you are on a meter and use A LOT) than water.

It doesn't matter what the weather is doing as when it comes to water play there are plenty of activities to enjoy both indoors and outdoors. Here are just some of our fun water-related activities for you to consider. Do you have any to add?

Water Painting
On a sunny day give your little painters house painting brushes and water in buckets and let them paint! They may redecorate the fence, the shed, the walls, anything really. What's best is that there's no tidying up as the water will simply dry up in the warmth.

Sail a Boat
Sailing a boat is one of the most simple activities and yet offers a great amount of fun and laughter. Boat races and more are all part of this type of water-related activity. Our Skipper Wooden Pond Yachts are very popular for obvious reasons!

Water Fights
Fill water balloons and buckets and just let them soak each other, be it a fun activity with siblings or friends.
Top tip: Remember to bring your washing in off the line first and close nearby windows!

Measuring
Children love to fill up jugs and measure out set amounts, refilling and sharing water amongst other containers. How complex you make this activity will depend on the age of the children. This is as much a learning activity as it is a source of enjoyment.

Tea Parties
You don't need a fancy tea set, just beakers, a pretend tea pot, saucers and the like. Gather up friends, sibling or dolls and teddies and enjoy pouring, sharing and drinking "tea" while having a good chat. This is a great fun role play idea.

Bath Fun
Whether it's to cool off, clean up or just because we all love bathtime why not fill up the  tub and play during the day for once? Pour, splash, enjoy bubbles or get really creative with bath chalks and the like.

Splish Splash Splosh with Skip Hop Ducks!

A Big Water Table
Whether you buy a water table or make one there is something very special about letting your little ones enjoy simple water fun by filling the water tray with sponges, using ice cubes, floating items such as milk bottle lids and a number of different easy to find yet very interesting materials.
Little ones can play for hours with these things!

If you have any more ideas for fun water play do share them!