This summer has been an amazing opportunity for me to really hang out with N. I've had the month of August off and we've spent as many days as we could outside. I signed her up for swim lessons at the local pool and she really enjoyed and payed attention (sometimes) to what the instructor said. She has definitely taken away - kicking, scooping (doggie paddle with hand motions), talking to the fish (blowing bubbles) & jumping in! She's even dunked over her head!
We spend a lot of time at the beach in the late spring, summer and early fall, so swim lessons was key not only for N to learn how to swim but for mom to be able to relax a little bit more on the beach. No she can't swim on her own, but she is more comfortable in the water and more cautious about it, knowing she can sink!
To help with swimming we got the puddle jumper life jacket. No its not something I'd let her ride my dad's power boat in, but its a super great swim aid. Ugh, I grew up with those styrofoam bubbles that you wear on your back. This is so much better, especially for those learning how to swim. Its a combination of arm swimmies (like the ones we used that you had to inflate!) and a belt that goes around their chest. The arms and chest belt are connected, so they can float but also are free enough to swim. N feels real comfortable in the water with them.
The other great thing we got this summer was a kids size kayak. Its a Wave, 6 foot, won't sink due to holes going through the center in a few places and won't tip kayak. N was playing with kids on the beach that had them and she didn't want to come off. We have adult kayaks and she likes going in it but she is way to small to really move or paddle or do anything in it. This is a sit on top kayak that she can get on and off and she can 'paddle' or at least have the paddles touch the water easily!
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