To make sure
Swimming aids for children: With these tools, the little ones feel comfortable in the water
Until they can survive on their own, children must be supported. Buoyancy aids provide buoyancy and make the little ones feel safe.
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Those who can swim have a clear advantage. Unfortunately, especially among the little ones, it is becoming increasingly difficult to survive. Not to mention swimming. Swimming aids are supposed to relieve children of the fear of the cool water and arouse ambition.
Aside from running, swimming is one of the most natural (and healthiest) ways to get around. In contrast to running, which every little person succeeds at some point without major difficulties or even training, swimming has to be learned. And it is precisely here that there is currently a huge problem in Germany. Fewer than 15,000 seahorses were sewn onto swim trunks and bathing suits in 2020. A colossal break-in. In 2019, just under 50,000 girls and boys achieved the important swimming badge. The German Lifesaving Society (DLRG) drew this sobering balance after the second Corona summer 2021. Germany is increasingly becoming a land of non-swimmers.
“About 70,000 children could not learn to swim in 2020”, stated Frank Villmow from the DLRG Presidium. The swimming pools and with them the swimming instructors are slowly starting to work again. But the demand for swimming courses exceeds the supply many times over. It makes all the more sense for parents to introduce their children to the wet element themselves. Because the safer you are, the easier the swimming course with the professional instructors will be later.
Various swimming aids facilitate the jump into the unknown. This article tells you which tools are suitable for which age and how to use them correctly.
1. Class A swimming aids: babies get used to water
As with many other things, babies and toddlers develop very differently when it comes to bathing and swimming. As fearless as some people romp in the bathtub with a few months of age or crawl or storm into the paddling pool in the outdoor pool with exultation, so fearful are some children of elementary school age when they come near a swimming pool. In official courses, babies and infants can familiarize themselves with the lively element of water from the age of four months. The only thing here is to introduce the little ones to the cool water, to take away their fear. As “swimming learning aids” in the broadest sense Swim rings, small mats and the Swimming seat most popular. They belong to class A and are not supposed to do anything other than keep the babies afloat. The little ones are pulled or pushed through the water with it. Depending on their size, these tools can be used by children up to the age of three. When buying, in addition to the CE mark, you should also pay attention to the weight for which the buoyancy aid is approved.
2. Class B swimming aids: toddlers and beginners
In class B, things are slowly getting down to business. Buoyancy aids in this category definitely deserve their name. Because instead of being chauffeured across the water, beginners have to do something themselves to stay above the water. The classic and favorite of many parents here are the good old armbands. The inflatable pillows (here a model from SwimSafe) are slipped over the arms of the offspring. There are now models on the market in which the wings are connected in front of the chest. This provides even more buoyancy (and in the best case less fear). They then usually consist of a light, filled polyester fabric and do not even have to be inflated. Like that Model turtle by Sevylor. With both variants, the child’s head area remains safely above water. Nevertheless, you can move around and try out pretty freely. The principle is similar for the other class B swimming aids. With one exception.
So-called Floating cushions, as the Original Schlori, are fastened with a kind of belt under the arms or on the torso. The actual cushions, in this case made of cotton, are filled with air and bring the little swimming students into the correct position in the water. In order to slowly wean her off the buoyancy aid, some pressure is gradually removed from the pillow.
Swimming discs are made of lightweight EVA foam. Similar to weightlifting, more or less discs can be clicked together and put over the arms together with a flexible cuff. The principle: the safer the little swimmer is in the water, the fewer discs have to be “mounted”. Because the following applies: the fewer discs, the less lift. Small advantage over the inflatable version: According to the manufacturer, the swimming discs are also suitable for children and young people who want to learn to swim a little later. The maximum load limit is therefore 60 kilograms.
Children who swim in the water have a little more legroom Swim belt explore. Otherwise the popular swimming aids, which are around the stomach (important: not around the waist!), similar to swimming discs. Depending on how safely the child is already moving in the water, individual styrofoam or foam elements can be threaded on or removed. When buying a swimming belt, make sure that the buoyancy aid is equipped with buckles and a safety lock. The length of the belt should also be variable and adjustable in a few simple steps. Even Life jackets belong to class B of swimming aids. The swimming aids are recommended for children from the age of two who can keep their heads above the surface of the water without assistance, have some swimming experience and can already manage their first swimming movements. They should not be confused with life jackets, because life jackets are not designed to keep helpless and unconscious people afloat. Vests for learning to swim are available as an inflatable version or with flexible and interchangeable floats.
3. Class C swimming aids: The kick for young and old
Class C is less about safety and more about tools that support small (and large) swimmers with training and certain movement sequences. One of the most important tools in this category is that Swimming board, also known as a kickboard, which lies on the edge of the pool even with high-performance athletes during training. This also makes it clear: Class C swimming aids only belong in the hands of safe swimmers, the board or the Swimming noodle can hold yourself. Swimming boards are used, among other things, to train and improve the leg kick. Similarly, the focus is on arm strength and technique when the board is clamped between the legs.
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