Speedo event day feedback: non attendees: all your comment about swimming to win a Speedo goodie bag! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This thread is for the Mumsnetters who attended the Speedo 'Underwater World' VIP event on Tuesday 29thOctober.

Here's what Speedo have to say, "After new research revealed that 81% of kids wished they could go swimming more often and that a third would rather get a new badge for swimming than be able to ride a bike without stabilisers, Speedo wanted to celebrate this by hosting a unique Underwater World event for kids and parents."

Non-attendees: Is swimming something you do with the whole family? Have you got any tips to share on how to introduce your children to swimming? Everyone who adds their comments or tips about getting kids in the water will be entered into a prize draw to win a Speedo goodie bag.

Attendees: Below are a few questions for you to answer but please feel free to add any other comments you may have.

• What was your and your DCs overall experience of the Speedo VIP day? Could you describe the day to non attenders?

• Did you find the swimming lessons and Q&A with the Speedo ambassador helpful and informative, or not? If so, why? If not, why not? What questions did you ask and what response did you get?

• What did you think about the Speedo products shown to you on the day? Did you like them, or not? Do you think you'd be likely to purchase any in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?

• What was your DCs highlight of the day?

• Do you think the day overall helped encourage your children, and yourself perhaps, to go swimming more often and / or to learn to swim?

If you took any pictures on the day feel free to upload them onto this thread. Remember, however, only to take and upload pictures of your own children.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

[ninjathegersh]

Attendee
Myself and my 2 daughters were very excited to be invited along to the Speedo VIP day and had a great time in our half term holidays swimming & having fun in a beautifully decorated pool in London's South Kensington.
Once we'd got changed (and locked and unlocked, then locked and unlocked again the pin number lockers - a novelty for us not to have to use a locker key & token..!) we got to the poolside to be greeted by the Olympic swimmer who then led a warm up session and talk on how important swimming was.
After a little fashion show and demo of Speedo products (we liked the look of the pool toys that flew through the air!), the girls were then shown their swim lesson groups and got in the water. My 5 year old really benefitted from the teacher being in the water with her and having to share him with only 1 other child, as he was able to give her some great pointers on how to improve her swimming technique.
My 3 year old however was a bit shy, so just clung to me in the water and didn't want to interact with the teacher unfortunately. She did however perk up slightly when the Speedo toys were used, and delighted in being given a little bucket with some of the toys in it at the end of the session (easily won round with some free stuff..!)
Once the lessons were over, we enjoyed some 'fun time' in the pool, jumping around on the big inflatables. The water was so deep that I also had to make use of the Speedo floats & woggles to keep afloat while trying to get the girls onto the inflatables.
We were reaching the end of the session as most people had already got out and gone for their lunch, so I took some photos and out we got.
Once dressed we went back upstairs to the cafe area for our lunch - unfortunately as we were probably one of the last ones up, there was not much lunch left, or whatever was leftover was not particularly 'child friendly' (wraps with spinach & egg, along with some vegetable crisps). With 2 grumpy hungry children, I was being hassled about where their 'goodie bags' were, so I went to ask one of the ladies where I could find them. She was very amenable and delivered 2 goodie bags to us, and very kindly even changed the swimsuit for us as one of them was too small. The girls were thrilled with their new bags, goggles, swimsuits and floats, they made do with a packet of nuts I bought them and after being interviewed by someone, we strolled off in the general direction of the Science museum having had a great time in the pool.
To answer the other questions:
The swimming lessons were fantastic, and my daughter definately learnt alot more with the instructor in the water with her, watching her and giving her feedback on what she could do better. I asked the other instructor a question about how to cope with my daughter that (due to shyness) just clings to me in the water when we have our usual swim lessons - he recommended swimming in a pool that is nice and shallow to give them confidence.

The Speedo products seemed fine - I would consider buying them in the future, but it really depends on the availability of them....most products at our local pool are Zoggs. The only time I would search out a Speedo product would be when buying a new swimsuit for my children, as they really do last alot longer than the cheap one you get at the supermarket.
Highlight of the day for the girls was going swimming in a lovely pool and getting to play with all the inflatables, and (of course) getting the goodie bag..!

We do already go swimming alot (my husband's default mechanism is to take them swimming or to the park!), and they also have lessons once a week.

I have emailed the photos to Mumsnet...hoping you see them....the girls are holding up their ages in numbers, and then I got them to find the ages they'll be soon...we may use those photos for cards..!
Thanks again for a great day.

[Willemdefoeismine]

Hi Michelle, could you just say thank you to Lucy from Speedo for sending on a towel to DS - the trunks in his goodie bag weren't big enough and she'd promised to send something else instead. He was very happy!

[MichelleMumsnet]

Thank you everyone for your feedback and comments. Congratulations to SweepTheHalls who has won the prize draw for a Speedo goodie bag! We'll be in touch shortly.

[BonzoDooDah]

We love swimming as a family. Makes a lovely family time boo we take turns with who plays with each bike and they love the attention.

I started going to the pool when mine were young (a few months old) so they have always been used to water. We used to take a favouritefloating bath toy with usand just splashed around with it, chasing it and dunking it. Made the pool friendlier with a 'known toy' there. Another big favourite was a plastic watering can - both children loved just pouring all the water. Then came mermaid Barbie (spit) but DD loved swimming with her in the pool.

[Helspopje]

non-attendee: we swim a lot - 2-3 time a week and have done since both babies were tiny. My 3 yr old now has her rainbow 10m badge and is very water confident - to the point that one of the lifeguards once suggested to me that perhaps my then 18-mth old toddler hauling themselves up onto a big float, running across it then diving in off the edge was not something to be encouraged.
Swimming is a big part of our world and they don't remember being introduced to it as they came along with us from v early on.

[Notcontent]

Non-attendee.
My dd, 7, has been going to the pool since she was a toddler so she was very confident in the water before starting formal lessons at 5.
I think there is a need for more pools in the UK. Also, they are often too cold in the winter.

[SparklyFucker]

I'm a non-attender. The only reason we don't go swimming is because it's so expensive. To take myself and two children it costs £10.50 in our local pool - that's a seventh of my food budget for a week. So perhaps my husband and I shouldn't eat for a day each?...

[soontobeslendergirl]

I won a prize on the last survey they did - it took ages for the voucher code to come through and when I went to use it it was expired so, stuff Speedo!

[sharond101]

non-attendee. My 18mo DS wasn't keen on the water until a few months ago when I took him to a Mother and Toddler swim class. They showed me things to do with him in the water I would never have thought of. I now take him weekly when it is quiet and we take a ball from his ballpit with us as it's light enough to float he throws it and jumps in with me to go and fetch it. He loves this and also has learned in the few weeks we have been going to kick his legs which I am most proud of. We time it so lunch is eaten as I get dried and dressed then straight home for a well earned nap.

[Spirael]

Non-attendee here. We try and go swimming every week with DD and have done since she was about a year old. As a result she now absolutely adores the water and seemingly has no fear of jumping in or going under the water.

We make it a really fun family and friends activity, inviting various people to come along with us. It's good fitness too, as while someone stays in the shallow end with DD, the other adults usually end up swimming a few lengths.

They don't start swimming lessons around here until children are 4 years old, which is a bit of a shame because she'd love to start them already! She's 3 at the moment. She can already do most of what is required for the early stages.

So, my suggestions would be to start early and swim regularly!

[BikeRunSki]

Non attendee

I love swimming, always have and can't remember not being able to swim. Apparently I taught my sister to swim when I was 8 and she was 4.

When I was expecting my first child was really looking forward to baby swimming classes, and took him to our local baths "Little Nippers" when he was 7 weeks old. There is am absolutely fabulous children's instructor there, and ds went until he started school in September this year. Unfortunately amazing instructor only teaches during school hours, so ds has changed pools to fit in better with school. 2 year old DD goes to amazing instructor's classes now though! I didn't ever really get her going regularly before because I always had DS too, and I wasn't allowed to take both of them in the pool at once.

DS's new lessons are at a private gym, with a fairly large teaching pool. They let me take both children by myself, which is brilliant because DH can't swim and us uncomfortable in a pool. Since we've joined the private pool the children and I pop in quite a lot, or spend hours on a week end afternoon. DS would like DH to come too, but DH is adamant that he has no desire to be in a swimming pool.

Basically, I love swimming and do do both children. I take my children to a lesson each and a fun swim at least once a week. I'd love DH to join us, but no one has been able to persuade him in 40 years !

Swimming is the only thing I am vaguely pushy about. It is a life saving skill, but also an accessible sport for life. I do, or have done, many sports, but swimming is the one I always come back to. I swam a mile the day before DS was born and was back in the water the day I had my 6 week check. I love that swimming can be as gentle or vigorous as you want, so can always fit in with your fitness.

[VerySmallSqueak]

Non attendee.

We rarely swim as a whole family but swim mainly on a weekly basis as 'part-family' (always including DC's).

I see swimming as a non-negotiable essential skill.To make the learning process as smooth as possible and make the introduction to water as easy as possible the DC's have been swimming regularly from babies. The main focus has been fun.
Teaching came after they had got the swimming 'bug'.

[BigGapMum]

Non-attendee.
I'm not a massive fan of swimming, but I understand it's importance and I can swim myself, but not brilliantly well.

I took DS to swimming lessons from 5 months, until he started preschool at 3. It gave him confidence in the water and taught him the basics of how to swim. The lessons we had were also quite focused on safety and helping him to preserve his life in water, by teaching him to turn around in the water and find the side of the pool and hold onto it. Later this advanced into jumping in first before finding and holding the side. Before I took DS to the lessons I hadn't considered things like that, but it really is an important skill for him.

We have a fantastic photo on the wall showing DS swimming underwater at 11 months, just like the Nirvana cover. Everyone comments on it.

After DS started preschool we stopped taking him to regular lessons, partly because he was too tired, and partly because there weren't any suitable lesson times available. After taking him weekly I stepped back, and let DH take him to swimming fun sessions when it fits in around the other things we do. They go about once every 2-3 weeks.

Also DS's school has an outside pool attached to it and they go swimming twice a week in the summer term.

[Littlemissexpecting]

Not attendee

I introduced ds at 5 weeks. Hopefully he will grow up to have no fear of water. I'm not very confident in the water so i hope he will be. I chose puddleducks to begin with to help my confidence and the pool is 32degrees!!
I hope to start going as a family too.

[IncaAztec]

Non-attendees: Is swimming something you do with the whole family? Have you got any tips to share on how to introduce your children to swimming?

I love swimming and we do this as a family due to adult:child ratios at the pool. My main tip is to introduce swimming from as early as possible. Even if you just go once a week, it improves water confidence and is an easy to do exercise in bad weather!. I would also suggest choosing a pool that is reasonably warm for little ones, otherwise you can't stay in very long as they start to shiver!

[manfalou]

Non-Attendee.

Myself and OH met because of swimming... he was my scuba diving teacher so we both want our kids to love the water too. Ds1 loves the pool but we don't go half as often as we would like. I use to take Ds1 during the week when it was quiet but since having ds2 I can't take 2 kids by myself and at the weekend its too busy to take a baby in the pool.

We use the bath as fun water time...yes not quite as fun as the pool but until a time comes when swimming is made more accessible for us this will hopefully keep the fun of water alive

[MrsSpa]

I think the key is to get them in the habit of swimming regularly and finding a fun session. We took DD every week to a baby class then to a toddler class from age 4 months. They were really fun, lots of singing and splashing as well as practising arm and leg movements and floating. Once she could walk she had one of the costumes with floats in and the floats were taken out by the teachers gradually. She could swim unaided at 2.5 years! We are about to start regular swimming with DS (4 months tomorrow).

[stephgr]

Non-attendee. My children love swimming and I have been taking them to our local pool once every couple of weeks since they were babies. They have always loved the water but my daughter has been really resisting learning to swim without armbands so she is now having proper swimming lessons. I think swimming lessons would be the best tip for getting children into swimming.

[runnervt]

Non attendee
I have three kids and since moving the two eldest's lessons from midweek to a Saturday morning swimming has become a real family activity. We now all go swimming every week and the youngest is really confident in the water. When the lessons were midweek after school only the kids went in and then we would try and fit in a family swim at the weekend which often didn't happen.

[NettleTea]

Non Atendee
My little boy was always anxious in group lessons and frightened when he had to swim at school. I think the best thing I did was to find him a place where the water was nice and warm and found an instructor who specialised in SEN and was very calm. He also shared the lessons with his best friend who was also nervous.
its great to see how his confidence has improved. He isnt learning particularly fast, but he is getting happier and happier, so to me thats a huge step forward and I am confident he will carry on.

[activekidsyoubet]

• What was your and your DCs overall experience of the Speedo VIP day? Could you describe the day to non attenders?

My children and I had a really positive fun day. My older children already swim a lot. Due to financial reasons we had to give up our membership at a local health club. I'd take the children many times in the holidays and also during the week. They love the water but I'd not got in with them for a while. My little one commented on how much he enjoyed having mummy in the pool which was nice.

Unfortunately due to trains we were a little late arriving but we quickly joined in a swimming lesson whilst the older children went to the other end of the pool. Ratios were excellent. There were lots of pool toys to play with and this certainly had just all enjoying the activities more. The children were engaged :)

• Did you find the swimming lessons and Q&A with the Speedo ambassador helpful and informative, or not? If so, why? If not, why not? What questions did you ask and what response did you get?

As a previous posted said we weren't so sure there really was a Q/A but the two older children met Steve who was very pleasant and encouraging. I think they would have enjoyed seeing him swim.

• What did you think about the Speedo products shown to you on the day? Did you like them, or not? Do you think you'd be likely to purchase any in the future? If so, why? If not, why not? The products were good. My children certainly enjoyed playing with them and we are likely to purchase more toys in the future.

• What was your DCs highlight of the day?

DC1 Meeting Steve Parry, having a fun pool to play in and remembering what play time in the pool felt like (competitive swimmer)
DC2 Asking Steve to watch his fly and playing with the toys
DC3 Having mummy back in the pool with him,

• Do you think the day overall helped encourage your children, and yourself perhaps, to go swimming more often and / or to learn to swim?

It definitely reminded us about how much fun we have as a family in the water and I'd say we will try and go more often as a result. I think we had simply forgotten.

Thank you to Mumsnet for the opportunity and thank you to Speedo for creating a fun experience in the water.

[SpookedMackerel]

Non attendee.

My children love swimming, but it isn't something we do that often, as I don't like going on my own with two young non-swimmers, even if they wear armbands, I don't like being responsible for both of them. And our local pool doubles its prices at weekends and school holidays, grrr, so it is expensive to go when dh can come too.

So swimming tends to be something we do only when we're away on holiday, which is a real shame.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Non-attendee.
We go as a family most Sunday mornings and have a mess around for an hour or so, and the children have a swimming lesson with school and another that we pay for at the local secondary school. They enjoy the messing around on a Sunday morning more now they have some solid swimming skills from the lessons.

I don't really see swimming as an essential skill, but it's a great way for children who aren't sporty to exercise, so we encourage our kids as much as we can. Clumsiness doesn't show in the water

[Nora2012]

Non-attendee:
DD (10 months) attends waterbabies every week, with either me or my DM, depending who's with her on that day, we've been going since she was 6 weeks old and she loves it. DH and I then take her again every Sunday so he can see how she's progressing and keep her confidence up. It's the highlight of our week and we love splashing around, she's already able to float with armbands and do doggy paddle (or at least a version of). My advice would be to start young and as someone else has said, don't show your worried if the water goes in their mouth/eyes etc. DD loves to dunk her head under or jump in.

[mydaftlass]

Non-attendee
We love swimming as a family. We've taken both girls almost weekly sice they were 6 weeks old. They are totally confident around water and absolutely love our family swims. I let them dunk me, ride me, splash me and jump off me. Swimming is the most fun we ever have together as a family.