6 tips for your family swim

Anticipate, it's already starting to secure your swims. It's also about freeing your mind to fully enjoy these precious moments with your little ones. 🩵

2 - Choose a safe and child-friendly swimming location and time

“Where to swim?” this step is crucial. The swimming location should not be overlooked because not all are suitable for children. This step concerns all bodies of water, whether it's the pool, the beach, the lake, or the river. For a safe swim, we recommend shallow and well-defined areas, calm water without currents, official supervision (lifeguard, marked area), and if possible, spaces adapted for the youngest.

🗣️ At the sea as at the pool or lake, always take the time to explain to your children where they can go and how far. These simple markers promote their autonomy and enhance safety.

💡 Leisure bases are real little paradises for children and parents.
Around large lakes like Lake Chalain, Lake Vouglans, or Lake Montbel, you will find perfect beaches for swimming, playgrounds for the little ones, and a multitude of water activities to share with the family. These places are designed for everyone's safety and comfort with supervised swimming areas, controlled water quality, and equipment adapted for children.

Leisure bases are often set in exceptional natural settings, like the Jura mountains, the Pyrénées-Orientales, or Haute-Savoie. Imagine enjoying a family picnic on a shaded lawn, with a view of Mont Blanc or the Jura forests, before embarking on a bike ride or a hike around the body of water. The breathtaking landscapes and the pure air of nature make these sites ideal destinations for refreshing vacations or weekends. 🏔️

Once the site is chosen (and if possible scouted to know its features), it's time to choose the right moment. Avoid the hottest hours (between 12 PM and 3 PM) when the UV rays are the most intense ☀️: prefer the morning or the end of the day. Even at these times of the day, protect your whole family with a high SPF sunscreen 🧴, UV-protective clothing, a cap, sunglasses, and remember to stay hydrated, even in the water. Finally, stay attentive to the weather. If it's bad ⛈️, it's a good reason to postpone swimming.

3 - Establish clear and positive safety rules

Safety rules for family swims should not be seen as prohibitions but as reassuring guidelines.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of small rules to implement with your little ones:

✅ Never go into the water without an adult
✅ Always stay visible to remain under supervision
✅ Inform an adult before changing areas
✅ Respect your level and that of others
✅ Always listen to the adult accompanying you

Involving your children in these rules helps them understand and integrate them better. It also allows your little ones to learn safety in a fun way, without fear or pressure.

⏸️ Your children do not have the same endurance or reaction to temperatures as you. Therefore, it is important to establish regular breaks, every 45-50 minutes , to give them time to rest and warm up out of the water. This rest time can also be an opportunity to have a small snack, drink, and find a bit of calm. Beyond that, your own supervision may also decrease.

4 - Stay vigilant while allowing freedom

Supervision is essential, but it is not incompatible with pleasure. The idea is not to be tense but to be attentive and present to have a good time with your little ones.

💡 For optimal supervision, we recommend always designating a clearly identified adult, not being on your phone (even just for a second to check the time) when the children are in the water and having constant attention on them, even if your children "can swim".

Some equipment, like our swimsuits floating swimsuits, provide flotation assistance. This aid can allow your children to feel more confident in the water, especially if you are at the beach or in the wild like at the lake or river: a sometimes more impressive context for children.
⚠️ No equipment replaces your supervision, but it can help create a more serene environment, conducive to exploration and serenity.

5 - Offer aquatic activities suitable for the whole family

Family aquatic activities are ideal for strengthening bonds and turning swimming into a pleasant and stimulating sharing moment for your children.

These play moments will foster their learning, their confidence, and their enjoyment of being in the water. They also allow you, parents, to observe your children's reactions and adapt the environment or a third element if needed.

In the water, various activities can be conducive to fun for your children:

🎈 Ball games
💦 Splash games
🌊 Water games
🐬 Fun courses in shallow water
🦦 Learning to float and some movements progressively
⭕️ Immersion games during which your children can retrieve objects

🚣🏼 As a family, it is also possible to try different water sports, such as sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, or even wakeboarding to vary the pleasures and discover new sensations together.

6 - Adapt your precautions according to the season (because yes, you can swim even in winter! ❄️)

Naturally, we think about it less, but winter swimming with family or off-season requires specific precautions. It is important to consider the water and air temperature, the duration of the swim which will surely be shorter, plan for quick drying and prepare warm and dry clothes to change into, and especially pay special attention to shivers, lip color, and your children's fatigue.

Even in an indoor pool, children's bodies cool down faster. Therefore, it is crucial to stay attentive to their sensations to preserve their enjoyment and serenity, without discomfort.

Find the right balance

Family swimming safely is not a constraint, it is a necessary condition to fully enjoy the water together. If you combine anticipation, supervision, suitable equipment, and activities, your swims will become a moment of sharing, trust, and unforgettable memories! 💙