Learn to Swim with Speedo Sea Squad

Giving your child the gift of being able to swim gives them a fun way to keep fit and could also one day prove life saving.  However 40% of UK children cannot swim at all according to independent research.  A quarter of parents think that schools and the government should be accountable for teaching their children to swim and three quarters of children have never had a proper lesson or been taught by their parents.  In a bid to get parents and children to go to the pool together Speedo has teamed up with Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington to give some top tips on learning to swim.

1:  Get your child used to water at an early age.
2:  Take your child swimming with someone they trust and feels safe with such as an older sibling to boost their confidence and make them feel safe.
3:  Make it fun!
4:  Play games and activities together.
5:  Get the child used to water slowly.  Start by splashing in the bath.  When ready get into pool one step at a time.
6:  Persistence is key - keep going even if it doesn't go well at first or else a child could end up with a fear of water.
7:  Use good swimming aids.
8:  When ready, buy professional lessons from an instructor your child likes.

For more information check out the Speedo Sea Squad who help make learning to swim as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1  Start Splashing

2  Start Swimming
3  Get Confident

For each stage Speedo has a range of dedicated products as well as ideas for recommended activities.  These help children develop their water skills and guide parents through the whole process of teaching their child to swim.

We were sent a selection of Speedo products for 3 year old Freddy.  I have to admit, although he is quite confident in the water, he hasn't learned to swim yet.  Just looking at the gorgeous range of swim related goodies has made me feel inspired to take him swimming more often.

The range features the Sea Squad who are a gang of water loving characters.  Freddy loves Bubble Baby!  The products are really appealing and child-friendly as well as being practical and inspiring.

For water babies, Speedo stock a Sea Squad swim seat, aqua nappy and snug, hooded baby towel.  Once children start to swim there is a range of arm bands, floats, float suits and swim vests to help them to float with confidence and paddle safely.  The arm bands are non-PVC and are extra safe.  The float suits give unrestricted freedom of movement allowing children to focus on their arms and legs. As confidence grows, children can get adventurous using kick boards, water balls, diving toys and masks.  The toys help develop co-ordination, hone skills, encourage diving underwater and make swimming fun!

Speedo's Sea Squad Mask gives kids a window to the underwater world using Biofuse technology.  They are designed for children aged 2-6 using super soft gel-materials for comfort and flexibility.  They are so comfortable that kids forget they are wearing them so they are not distracted by trapped hair or discomfort around their eyes and nose.  The mask has a single plastic front for full visibility so won't need adjusting. (RRP £15)

The Sea Squad Poncho Towel is brilliantly designed to keep children warm and snug.  It is very absorbent and gentle on delicate skin and easy to pull on. It will keep children cosy at the pool edge and won't fall down like a towel might.  I absolutely love the shorts and t-shirt swim suit that Freddy has been sent.  Again the Sea Squad design is excellent and the style is great.  It will protect him if we swim outdoors in the summer months.

I am looking forward to teaching my son to swim.  We have two holidays booked for the first half of next year and it would be great for him to enjoy the pool as a little swimmer. I will post about how we get on and give updates on the products in use.  Kizzy is not a strong swimmer but I can see the water balls and diving sticks inspiring her to be a bit braver when it comes to being in the water.  It really is an excellent range and the Sea Squad brand makes it more appealing and exciting for youngsters.

Swimming is actually a great activity to do in the winter in a heated indoor pool.  It can help combat the winter blues by producing endorphins, it improves circulation, burns energy and helps keep us fit.  So, during the Christmas school holidays why not take your family swimming?  It will help burn off all those excess calories from mince pies and Christmas pudding!

Speedo Sea Squad products would make excellent Christmas presents too, along with the promise of taking the kids swimming and teaching them to swim.  It's a gift that will last a lifetime!

For tips, advice, fun and games, ideas for activities, to purchase Sea Squad products and to find out more see the Speedo website.

Our Al Fresco Holiday Review

When my blog post won the Tots 100  Al Fresco holiday competition, I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity of trying out a luxury holiday park in France for a week.  The experience started when I booked our break in a six berth luxury mobile home in the Yelloh! Village Cote de Nacre in Normandy.  The lady who dealt with our booking was just so helpful finding us the best dates, accommodation and the most suitable ferry crossings.  She even gave me some sea sickness advice!

Once all the details were finalised, we just had to wait for the day of our holiday to arrive.  I prepared myself with buying sea-sickness tablets and Sea-Bands, prepped the Sat Nav with European maps and got our pounds exchanged into Euros.

On the morning of the 14th July we made the long trek down to Portsmouth docks in order to catch the 2.45pm Brittany Ferries slow ferry to Caen.  I was actually filled with trepidation about this part of the journey as I am really sea sick and I was worried that Fred would be bored.  We had a cabin booked so we had a private area should I have needed to collapse in a heap somewhere.  However, thanks to the combination of Sea Bands and travel sickness tablets, I was nowhere near as bad as I have been before.  Also the Mont St Michel ferry was less a boat and more a resort at sea.  Plus, once we lost sight of England, we had blue skies and sunshine all the way meaning that the deck became a glorious sun drenched setting for relaxation.  Fred was kept entertained by a play area, a dance floor and a magician which made the crossing really fun for him.  The onboard cafe was really well priced and served a good veggie pizza!

We arrived in France at 9.45pm to a gorgeous balmy evening.  The Yelloh! Resort was just half an hour away from the port and the Al Fresco Holidays rep (who was English) was ready for our arrival.  Our Vivaldi mobile home was spotlessly clean and well equipped.  We had ordered the bed packs giving us fresh, crisp linen and towels.  We made up our beds which were surprisingly comfy (although having sheets and blankets caused the kids to tie themselves in knots overnight!)  There was a double bedded room and two twin rooms in the mobile home, each room having storage and shelves.  The open plan kitchen, dining and living area was very homely.  We also had a separate shower room and (real) toilet.

The mobile home was comfy and cosy, but was a bit of a squeeze with four adults and two children in.  Thankfully though, the kids all get on really well and had a lot of fun together in their little house!  Their consensus was that it was a really "cute", "comfy and cosy", "homely" and "fun" place to stay.

Everything was very well equipped with everything from a bottle opener to saucepans, crockery, cutlery and even a BBQ outside.  The oven and fridge-freezer were both full size and their was adequate storage for food.  There is an Environmentally Friendly ethic to the park and you are encouraged to use water and electricity responsibly, recycle your waste (including glass, paper, cans, cartons, plastic and cardboard) and to walk and cycle where possible.  They even provided a recycling basket to carry your recyclables to the bin area.

The site itself is really impressive.  There is a tropical water park with an indoor area, slides, flume, lazy river and sunbeds.  (Just make sure the men don't wear swim shorts...it's tight little speedos all the way in France or they won't let you in the pool!) The shop sells a variety of essentials including freshly baked baguettes which we bought every morning.  A play area boasted a massive selection of climbing frames, bouncers, swings, roundabouts and bouncy castles!  There was a take-away, a launderette, a restaurant, a bar area (with free wi-fi!!), an outdoor stage where entertainment took place and also a spa.  A shower block provided some very impressive shower cubicles with plentiful hot water which the girls used to avoid having to queue for the bathroom in the mobile home!

The pitches were landscaped with palm trees, bamboo and other greenery.  A mix of mobile homes from various tour operators sat alongside campers in tents.  The atmosphere on site was very friendly and felt safe and secure. It was also very peaceful at night.

The swimming pool was a real hit with the kids and we spent many an hour lounging by the pool and swimming.  I have to admit that the outdoor pools were far too cold for me to get into, but the covered pool was great!  Meg and Kizzy were brave enough for the colder pools and enjoyed the slides and flume.  Freddy really enjoyed the water and Kizzy became a more competent swimmer during the week.

There are a lot of sunbeds and we had no trouble finding space for us all to sit by the poolside.  It really was lovely in the sunshine.  Reps from the resort organised Aquafit and water polo games to keep the younger campers busy and entertained.

There was other scheduled entertainment laid on but we were too busy in the pool or exploring Normandy to really take part.  We were just so busy enjoying the sun and the local attractions!  The Al Fresco rep was on hand with advice with regards to places to go to (or not go to!) which was helpful.

Cote de Nacre is a resort where lots of French people go to, which implies to me that it is a well regarded place.  Many Dutch and German families were also enjoying holidaying there.  We didn't see too many other British families during our week.

The area of Normandy was absolutely wonderful.  We visited Bayeux and the D-Day Beaches, we went to a traditional (if not rather alarming) French circus, visited a fabulous Safari Park and explored the Calvados countryside and Operation Overlord coastline of the area.  It is an area steeped in history and very unspoilt.  We loved it!  It was also lovely to see the British flag flying proudly alongside other flags throughout the area, showing respect for other countries involved in WW2.

I would highly recommend both the resort and the area as a great holiday destination for families.  Getting there was certainly easy enough despite my reservations, and staying in a mobile home was comfortable and quirky!  We would definitely visit again!!  We would recommend the slow ferry if you have kids as the fast ferry (3 and a half hours) had no entertainment on board for them.  There were lots of bored and crying tots on board.

Al Fresco Holidays have luxury accommodation available at 56 of the best holiday parcs across Europe.  These self-catering holidays are ideal for families offering a great range of amenities, facilities and attractions.  Holidays Al Fresco style can be as lively or as relaxed as you want them to be.  Take a look at the website for details on the parcs and facilities available and to book your own Al Fresco holiday.

www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk

Huge thanks to Tots 100 and  Al Fresco Holidays for this amazing holiday!

*We were meant to review the independent spa but unfortunately due to illness, the lady who runs the spa was unable to open it during the week we were there.  I did however peep through the window and it looked really nice and new inside.  It offers various treatments, hamman and sauna, which would provide a lovely relaxing escape for the grown-ups.  It was a shame that we couldn't experience it for ourselves.

They're Getting Sporty in Smurf Land!

Schleich's Smurfs Celebrate London 2012 By Getting Sporty!

Everyone is getting excited about this summer's major sporting event, the London 2012 Olympics and that includes the Smurfs who are joining in with the fun!  Schleich have introduced ten new Smurf characters to their collection, who are all taking part in different sporting events such as swimming, weightlifting and javelin.  One is even proudly sporting a gold medal!  (Here's hoping GB will be winning plenty of those come summer!)

As with all Schleich figures, the Smurf Sports characters have intricate detail and are beautifully made.  They are great collectibles aimed at children aged 8-12 years old (although loved by all ages) and are a fun way to celebrate sporting success!

Just take a look at this selection of Sporty Smurfs we received, ready for sporting glory this summer. Each stands approximately 5-6cm tall.

Smurfette is running in the Relay and is ready to pass on her golden baton as quick as a flash.  

Shotputter Smurf is going for gold and hoping for a personal best. Such concentration!

Swimmer Smurf is on the starting blocks ready to make a splash!

Weightlifting Smurf is going blue in the face as he lifts the weights.  Just look at that effort!

Any Smurfs fans will love these latest additions to the Smurf collection.  They are a fun way to celebrate sport and inspire youngsters to get active, just like they do in Smurfland!!

See the full range and find out more at www.schleich-s.com

The Joy Of Swimming....Memories!

The Joy of Swimming 

As a child, we would always spend the second week of August on our annual family holiday. Back in the seventies, holiday camps were all the rage and the prospect of the hi-de-hi atmosphere would have me counting down the minutes until our week away.  One of the things that made my parents particularly excited was the prospect of unlimited use of the swimming pool.

My dad was in his day an amazing swimmer.  I think he modeled his technique on the legendary Olympian and Tarzan movie actor Johnny Weissmuller!  Dad would dive in at the deep end and swim silently under the water without making a ripple, before bursting to the surface of the shallow end where I would be stood waiting.  I remember the anticipation and the excitement, wondering when my dad would emerge.  Watching the bubbles as he squeezed the last of his breath from his lungs.  Trying to spot the silhouette of my dad as he made his way like a merman across the bottom of the pool dodging around the other swimmers.  I remember the pride that it was my dad who could swim an effortless length on one single breath.  He was my hero!

Swimming at the Seaside

After he broke the surface of the waves he would fling me on his back and give me a ride through the swimming pool.  I would pretend I was riding on the back of a dolphin as he swam with me clinging around his neck.  I felt safe with my dad.   Although I was never a strong swimmer myself and was nervous of being out of my depth in the water, I still remember my dad pushing me through the water like a torpedo as I reached for the side of the pool, stretching my fingers and holding my breath.  I loved the feeling of speed as I whizzed across the surface, leaving a wave in my wake.

Ready for the Pool.

My mum is one of those women who can breaststroke tirelessly for hours and never even get her hair wet!  She would elegantly and effortlessly clock up length after length, with her immaculately made-up face and styled hair daring the other swimmers to splash her.  As she bobbed through the water, rising and dipping, she personified both power and grace. My dad would never dare 'mess' with her swimming chi.  I can only imagine the wrath he would have met had he decided to swim underneath her and hoist her out of the water on his strong shoulders before tossing her into the water!

My childhood memories of swimming are vivid. I hope that my own children will be able to look back and remember the games that we play in the pool with them.  I am still not a strong swimmer as I totally lack the co-ordination to get to grips with an effective technique, but I do enjoy taking the children to the beach or to water parks.  Alton Towers and Centre Parcs have provided us with hours of watery family fun. Our Summer holiday this year is at a French resort with a Tropical Water Park. I have promised the children that we can go swimming everyday.  Kizzy is keen to practice her newly acquired swimming techniques.  I taught her to swim on holiday at Christmas and she's been doing well in her school swimming lessons ever since.  Freddy loves donning a little buoyancy jacket and is fearless when it comes to splashing around, going down slides and chutes and gaining the confidence needed for learning to swim.  Unlike my own parents, I may not be able to execute a perfect dive before negotiating 25m on one lungful of air, nor can I swim an effortless ten lengths without wetting my hair, but I can definitely help nurture a love of water in my own little ones through fun and play that will hopefully lead to a lifelong  joy of swimming.

My Little Mermaids in 2005