Swimming lessons have become as much part of our weekly routine, as they have our blog posts but how easy is it really to turn a water baby into a confident swimming toddler?

You know already that we love our Water Babies lessons and the Water Babies toddler programme can take you and your baby right through until they are 4 years old. This term we are working to help the little ones develop a flat, streamlined body position, coordinated legs and arms and aquatic breathing. (easy right?).

Aquatic breathing is something that even the tween struggles with at times but somehow it seems easier for the toddler, although I suspect this has more to do with her love of blowing raspberries in the water ..... which is a step up from trying to drink it at least. Blowing bubbles into the water is fun as far as she is concerned but at this stage, she is not conscious that she is learning the skill, merely enjoying doing something she is not normally allowed to do.

The woggle and float play a big part in our swimming lessons now due to the little ones are learning to swim in a flat position as the instinct is still to almost "run" through the water. Interestingly, Water Babies tell us that children lack the strength and co-ordination to swim properly until they’re 3 or 4 as their little bodies just aren’t proportioned for swimming on the surface, so its unreasonable to expect that she will be getting her 25 metre badges any time soon.

I have been reading a lot about baby and toddler swimming this week and the opinions seem really divided about it. There are lots of forums ( I shan't mention them by name) where mums end up debating the merits (and alleged pitfalls) of baby swimming classes. There are those that adore Water Babies and swimming with their little ones and those that harp on about the cost. I loved one particular womans story who stated that her partner had been put on reduced hours but she was saving money elsewhere to ensure that they could continue with their classes. I think that speaks volumes.

Cost undoubtedly plays a part in the choices we make for our children, the classes they take, the schools they attend, the clothes they wear but for the safety of my children, I am not sure I can put a price on it. The little one has confidence in the water, she can get in and out of the pool safely herself, she can jump in and come back up to the surface unaided and whether she masters the art of a flat streamlined body now she is 3 or when she is 4, I know I can't put a price on that.

So how do you turn a water baby into a swimming toddler?

You just keep swimming!

Have you had experience of baby swimming? What are your thoughts?

Tweet

Please don't judge me on my parenting. Not today. 

We were having dinner with some friends and friends of theirs joined us, as the meals were served, I got out my phone and put it in front of the toddler to distract her while she ate. I held my breath slightly waiting for the disproving looks from everyone round the table to tell me silently that I should be teaching my child to eat properly without the need for distraction only to feel relived when another Mum looked over and simply said "I am so glad we are not the only ones that do that".

It made me realise that people do make judgements every single day and we expect our parenting to be critised by anyone who has ever considered having a child, those that don't, let alone those who have been there and got the t-shirt. Somedays I feel like saying .....

Please don't judge me today for letting my child have chocolate, you don't know that she has been unwell and hasn't eaten much. I am just glad that she is eating something.

Please don't judge me today for using a Disney Princess umbrella on the school run today, honestly .... I have no clue where my umbrella is (it wasn't on today's priority list) and anyway the little one was delighted to be huddled up together under the pink brolly.

Please don't judge me today for wearing a glittery clip in my hair ..... look at the fishtail plait in my oldest daughters hair or the miracle of two small pigtails in the toddlers hair .... they look super cute. Just don't look at me.

Please don't judge me today for telling my daughter to play with her friends at soft play. I want to help her develop her social skills (and I would really like to drink a cup of hot chocolate while it is still hot). (oh and did I mention that I was at soft play, I deserve a wine!).

Please don't judge me today for staying with my toddler until she falls asleep, she has asthma and controlled crying is not an option. (I also worked hard today and I sometimes just want to grab those extra minutes with her).

So please don't judge me today. I am doing the best job I can.

Do you feel judged today?

Ever since she heard the song "let's go fly a kite", my youngest daughter has wanted a kite. 

She asked Father Christmas for one. He let her down (naughty Santa).

The song is on one of her CD's in the car and she gets a little grumpy face every time it comes on and looks at me with sad eyes (nothing like a guilt trip from a toddler eh?).

However, Mommy and Daddy to the rescue and we managed to get a kite just in time for the windiest weekend in some little while. So we wrapped up warm and walked over to the fields opposite our house to go and fly a kite.

The toddler was excited, Daddy was more than a little excited too and we were all beyond excited when we got it flying in the sky.

Up

Up

Up it went.

We let her hold her kite by her herself ...... I however had to hold on to her for fear of her blowing away.

I can't remember flying a kite as a child.

I will however remember the absolute delight on her face today and I hope that she will remember how much fun we had. The kite wasn't expensive but it was priceless to see how much she enjoyed being outside. Unlike me, she is happy to be outside whatever the weather and I suspect it won't be the last time the kite comes out and it goes up in the atmosphere, up where the air is clear ......

When was the last time you flew a kite?

Tweet

Do you remember the life lessons your parents tried to instill into you? My mum told me that I shouldn't always believe everything I hear, especially when you are not sure of what you are listening to.

As a child, I remember singing along at the top of my voice to Paul Young in my parents car,

"Ev'ry time you go away you take a piece of meat with you."

Meat? Because Paul Young was clearly a butcher?

I recall my mum bursting into laughter and telling me to listen more carefully.

Fast forward 30 or so years and I am driving my car while my tween sings along to Taylor Swift, Blank Space. She sung:

"Tell me when it's over, if the high was worth the pain,

calling all those Starbucks lovers"

Here is the song, what do you hear?

These are clearly not the right words, so I had to talk to my friend Mr Google and find out the actual lyrics and it appears that we were not the only people singing the wrong words. According to Metro Lyrics, our ears pick up what the artist says, but our own brains interpret what we hear based on our own experiences and what we picture happens next. 

So the real words are "Got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane" , well this song has driven me insane this week and I go from singing Starbucks Lovers, to the real words, depending on what I am hearing at the time.

So my mom may have had a point all those years ago, you shouldn't always believe what you hear!

Tweet