There are many auxiliary materials that can help our little ones in these first phases of learning in the water, but perhaps the best known and most used are "churros" and belts.
The "churro de ague" is a long, flexible polystyrene cylinder that can be used in multiple and fun ways. They can be great allies when teaching children to swim as it helps them control their position and feel safe while having fun.
Cork belts or swimsuits with built-in corks: They are very safe and practical when the little ones are starting out. It allows them to move freely, maintain their posture and, in the case of the belts, corks can be removed as the child progresses.
Styrofoam sleeves: like the belts, they have several discs that we can remove depending on the level of the swimmer.
Read to know about how to get lifeguard certification which need be a certified lifeguard.
Pool materials that we should avoid
But not all auxiliary pool materials are valid and safe for our children to start swimming. Experts agree that the following utensils should be avoided due to the dangers they entail:
Plastic sleeves: they are not appropriate for learning to swim because they limit movement and also could slip out of the arm. However, they can be useful in the initial phase of adaptation to the water and buoyancy. They should always be used under the supervision of an adult and choose the appropriate size for the child's arm.
Floats: experts totally discourage their use due to the risks involved. Being made of plastic it could puncture or deflate, if it is too big the child could slip under it, and if it is too tight it could tip over and prevent the child from coming to the surface again.
Cork bubbles: the classic cork bubble tied on the back is also not appropriate and safe because they force the child to be bent over, hindering their movement and coordination. In addition, the tape can be nailed to them, move and the bubble end up going up to the neck.
Vests: unless they have a harness, they are very unsuitable for children because they tend to climb up to the face and be really dangerous.
Other basic recommendations
Even if our children have learned to swim or we see them safe in the water, we must never lose sight of them!
It is also important that we instil in them certain basic rules when it comes to bathing, which will provide us with some extra security measures to enjoy the bath without surprises:
Do not get into the water without previously notifying an adult
- No head diving without adult permission or supervision
- Do not get into the sea when there is a red flag and always bathe in the delimited areas
- Use other methods of protection such as sunscreen, flip-flops to prevent fungus in pools, or goggles to protect your eyes from chlorine or salt
- Do not run or play on the edge of the pool as they could fall into the water inadvertently or scrape and injure themselves
- And remember that although our children are bathing with some of the auxiliary materials that we have seen, we must never trust or think that they will be completely safe with that.