Tuesday Tips: Forget the Floaties

Forget the Floaties (via Parents.com)

You may have bought your child floaties (also called water wings) for his arms to make him feel more comfortable, but experts advise against them. Not only can they give him a false sense of security, but they discourage proper form because they force his body to be vertical instead of horizontal in the water. If your child is used to floaties, taking them away might be tough. “Let him know that he’s only allowed to sit on the pool steps and watch until he learns to swim without them,” Whitehead says. Once he knows how to swim on his own, he can use blow-up rings or pool noodles for fun.

Remember: “Just keep swimming!” – Dory