Swim Steps Product Reviews & Swim Stories

"All summer long we have been teaching Savannah how to swim, while introducing Arabella to the water.  I can't believe how quickly Savannah has picked up the knack of swimming and for most of the summer became a fish not wanting to leave the water.  When she wasn't swimming in our pool, enjoying the beach for the first time, or visiting Nana and Papa and using their pool, she would be practicing her doggie paddle in the bath tub..."

"...Just 2 weeks ago we were visiting friends and he was swimming on his own. I'm so proud of how far he's come with his swimming skills and we have Swimways to thank.  He's really an incredible child and I'm just amazed at how quickly he learned now shows so much confidence even with putting his face underwater and being able to hold his breathe while underwater and coming up for air when he was ready. Just look at him go!! ..."

"...Being part of the 2012 SwimWays Swim Team has allowed our children to become far more comfortable in a pool than they were at the beginning of the summer. They have had so much fun being part of this program. SwimWays even sent them personalized "Olympic" medals as keepsakes for being part of the team. I cannot tell you how thrilled they were to see their names on the backs of these medals and how proud they were to wear them. ..."

"...Our Swim Steps gear has definitely been a huge help to us this summer as the boys continue to practice their swimming skills. I love that their is something for everyone, no matter what stage they are at, and the gear gives my boys confidence in the pool so that they actually practice and move around. We will absolutely be continuing to use these products as they keep progressing through the different stages..."

"... I eventually learned how to swim.  But, when I began thinking about introducing my daughters to the water, I wanted to go a more safer and fun route.  This is when I stumbled upon SwimWays and their step swimming program.  Where were they when I was growing up.  If I had their swim floats, I don't think I would have been as reluctant to get into the water as I was.  And, learning how to swim would have been more enjoyable. ..."

"I am going to be honest, when it comes to my children, water terrifies me. Water safety is a big concern of mine and that is why it is important to me that my children all learn how to be good swimmers. The three oldest takes lessons at the lake and I try to reinforce what they learn on our own in the pool. I love the SwimWays Swim Steps line of swim training gear for teaching my boys to swim because they offer a wide range of products for every swimming level. ..."

"...While my girls have a little bit of experience with the water and swimming…I know there are many children that don't know to swim or are terrified of the water. Maybe their parents are like I was and don't know how to swim either and are intimidated by it all…well, rest assured that SwimWays understands and their main focus is provide families with water education and safety tips.  Visit Teach me To Swim and you'll find  great ideas, tips and suggestions on how to have a fun yet safe summer. ..."

"...I think what gives our youngest son confidence is his complete trust in his Dad and having his SwimWays Power Swimr flotation system on as a back-up.  After a few more lessons, he might be ready for us to start gradually removing the flotation pads inside the front and back.  His twin sister uses the same flotation system, but she is very timid and only wants to cling to us in the water. Our 5 year old son also is not afraid to put his face in the water, while it took me several tries to get his big brother to do so. ..."

"...Our next adventure was at my Sister-in-law's pool.  I was nervous because Andrew really got freaked out swimming in water that he couldn't touch in, so bad that he would scream and cry and give us the death-grip around our neck. We finally coaxed him into the pool with the Swim Sweater. Again, they were a bit baggier than I would have liked on my boys, but it really didn't matter, because the tube is under their armpits - so there's no bunching at the top by their faces. ..."

"Learning to swim can be an exciting but scary experience for kids especially when they first get started.  We normally spend at least a couple of days out of the week swimming during the summer so my kids get plenty of practice testing out their skills.  Jeremy learned how to swim without a life jacket last summer and is getting better everyday but Aubrey still needs a bit of assistance to help her out especially in deeper areas of water. ..."

"...My daughter has generally been pretty comfortable in the water, as long we're holding her and letting her splash around. Now that she's getting to be a big girl, this year will be the first time she'll be venturing out "on her own" - i.e. in her SwimWays Swim Sweater, with us letting go, but staying right next to her. She is an independent soul, so she has truly been enjoying her new Swim Sweater. ..."

"...What the Step 3 Power Swimr from Swimways does for him is give him the confidence when he's in the water to keep his head above water and yet still feel as though he's swimming to keep himself up and build his confidence at the same time.  Just look at him go. ..."

"... Apparently the Swim Vest helped her build her courage up more than I knew. A few weekends ago we were at our friends' house and when I went out to the pool area I saw the vest lying on the ground next to her as she was getting ready to jump in. I couldn't believe it! Up until that day, there is NO WAY Rylie would have jumped in the water with no floatation device. With just a little bit of encouragement from her dad, she decided to take the leap! ..."

"Summer is finally here which means we can swim day and night! I thought it would be a good time to give you an update on my sons progress with the SwimWays Swim Step products.  Last year my son was in Step 2 of the program and this year he's starting Step 3. ..."

"...While I was still sure to be close enough to Little Sister B in case she needed me, the Power Swimr allowed her to jump in off the edge, swim around on her stomach, float on her back and more without feeling that she needed to hold onto the side of the pool the entire time. It also provided me with a huge sense of relief that it was providing her some extra help in the water! ..."

"...If you are anything like me, you walk into the store and are a little bit lost while looking at the swimmies, life jackets, tubes and various floating devices. I want to make sure that I am buying the best for my kids to use while in the water, but it is confusion. And it doesn't help that I always have at least one of them with me begging for this toy or that one. ..."

"... If you're getting ready to do some swim training with your children like we are this summer, then you should arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible about the dos and don'ts of teaching children to swim.  A wonderful resource for swim tips is the site TeachMeToSwim.com.  You can also connect with experts and other parents by joining the interactive Swim Steps Community.  The dangers of drowning has always been something that has made me nervous about allowing my children to play in or near water.  I want to do our swim training the right way. ..."

"My 5 year old daughter Elizabeth really likes wearing her dolphin vest. She says it helps her swim and it does. She is trying more and more swimming techniques when she wears the vest than when she doesn't. It doesn't give her the floatation that a life vest would give. The Swim Assist Vest gives kids the confidence they need to try to swim and actually learn how to swim. It is an amazing product! ..."

"I haven't ever been able to swim in the lakes here in Minnesota before July 4th. It's always way too cold. We had a little string of hot weather here over the weekend and headed up to our family cabin to enjoy the weather. We were shocked at how warm the water was! I was so excited to get the kids in the lake and swimming. I really want to teach my kids how to swim this Summer and I'm excited to be using the Swim Steps program again this year to get them ready to learn the basics. ..."

"...Before she had the Power Swimr on, Elizabeth didn't want to try to swim, even with me there holding onto her. She just wanted to play. Once she had the Power Swimr on, her confidence was boosted.  She started moving her arms and kicking her legs. She let go of me and swam to the side of the pool by herself. ..."

"I don't talk about it often, but when I was a teenager, I had to be rescued from the Klamath River in Northern California.  To say that was one of the scariest moments in my life is an understatement. Fear, panic, and helplessness set in as I found myself being carried by the river's strong current. I never formally learned to swim as a child, and while I wasn't afraid of pools, oceans, and water parks, I wasn't prepared when I fell into the river that warm summer day. Saturday, May 19th is National Learn to Swim Day and as part of my continued relationship with SwimWays, my hope is to raise awareness about the topic of swim safety. ..."

"My sweet little guy can't wait to start his swim lessons!  OK, so, he's a little scared.  So is mom.  But he really needs to learn to swim for his own safety- and the sanity of every adult in the vicinity  :)  It's important that kids learn to swim at an early age so that they will be safe at parties, the beach, vacation- you don't want your fun day to end in tragedy.  It's something we should all do.  If you can't swim?  Now is a great time to learn. ..."

"May 19th is National Learn to Swim Day! With the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend and May being National Water Safety Month, OurKidsMom has teamed with Swimways in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim. Hopefully by providing resources to parents for teaching their kids to this important skill, we can prevent tragedy from happening this swimming season. Our community has already experienced a water death just this past week. This brings home a huge reminder that it is never too early to expose your children to water even if it's just to dangle their toes in. ..."

"...There are many ways to get involved with your community on National Learn to Swim Day. Some good ideas for tomorrow would be to introduce your children to the water with at home swim instruction, host a group swimming lesson, visit a community pool as a family, or enrolling children in swim lessons at a local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club. Take advantage of this special day!! ..."

"I didn't learn how to swim until my Sophomore year in highschool and that is totally unacceptable. There could have been so many times throughout my life where I could have been in danger and not knowing how to swim could have led to me being overwhelmed by the waters. ..."

Maya, my 7-year-old, just started swimming lessons last weekend. Her first session went even better than I expected. The progress she made in that short 45-minute class was impressive! She went from holding her nose at the beginning of the lesson, to blowing bubbles for a while, and then keeping her head under water for 10-15 seconds (without pinching her nose!) only a half hour later! I was amazed by what I saw. I think it's all about timing it right and making sure you put your kids in the right level, which the swimming instructor can help you with, of course.

"With summer just a few weeks away (yay!) and just in time for National Learn to Swim Day on May 19, I'm so excited to announce that we made the SwimWays Swim Team. This is another fun ambassadorship that will allow us to give you the scoop on great kid gear. ..."

"I live in the south east and we spend most of our summer days around a pool or at the lake. One of my biggest fears is having my children fall into the water if I'm not around. May is actually National Water Safety Month and May 19th is National Learn to Swim Day. SwimWays has provided me with more information in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim and provide resources to parents for teaching their kids the important skill. They sent us a pack of swim products for each of my children depending on their Swim Step. ..."

"...I can't express how important it is to get your child involved in a swimming program. A few weeks ago I saved a little girl from drowning in the pool. It was the most horrifying experience. The parents were standing right by the edge of the pool and were in shock. I knew that someone had to move right away or this girl would lose he life. That's how quick it happens. ..."

"...This upcoming Saturday, May 19, 2012, is the first annual National Learn to Swim Day. This nationwide campaign, which coincides with National Water Safety Month (May), aims to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim as well as providing resources for parents to teach their children this important skill. If you have never given water safety much though, here are some super alarming facts ..."

"In our family, the most fun parts of the summer all revolve around water so teaching Emma to swim is very important. Quite honestly, I can't believe it's already here.  I am so excited to see her in the water I can't quite contain myself.  Summer as a kid conjures up such emotions of freedom and joy. ..."

"...May happens to be National Water Safety Month and so SwimWays has announced that Saturday, May 19 will be the first annual National Learn to Swim Day. This is an effort to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim, and provide resources to parents for teaching their kids the important skill. ..."

" ...Thanks to the swim lessons that both girls have been taking for the past few months, they are much more comfortable and confident in the water - something that makes all of us extremely happy. I love seeing them kick and splash and laugh in the pool, all the while knowing that they are learning life-saving skills for now and far into the future. ..."

"...I can still remember an incident as a child where I was out just a little too deep (it was a 5′ area, but it seemed deep at the time) in our local pool while there with friends.  I started panicking, and thankfully a lifeguard came over and helped me get to the side. It just goes to show that even in "safer" areas of pools kids can still struggle - it's so important to teach them early on how to do basics like treading water! My parents enrolled me in swim lessons and that helped a lot with my confidence around water. It's definitely something we plan to do with our boys, too! ..."

"Growing up, I spent a lot of years swimming. I took swimming lessons as a child, did a summer swim team starting at age 8, and swam competitively in high school. Since I'm so at home in the water, naturally I want my kids to feel that way too. We've had Chandler in swimming lessons and this summer I am going to put special focus on teaching the boys to swim. ..."

"May is National Water Safety Month and May 19th is National Learn to Swim Day! It's so important to learn how to swim and it's a life skill that we can give to our children. It's something that everyone should know how to do and by teaching your children how to swim you will give them the confidence to enter the water and have fun! As a SwimWays Swim Team ambassador I am happy to once again this year bring you updates on my children's progress as they learn how to swim. Last year presented some trials, most specifically a fear of the water, and I'm hoping this year goes a little more smoothly. Despite it's trials it is so worth it once your child conquers that fear and learns how to swim! What an empowering gift to give them. ..."

" ...There are many ways to get involved with your community on National Learn to Swim Day. Ideas for participating locally include introducing children to the water with at home swim instruction, hosting a group swimming lesson, visiting a community pool as a family, or enrolling children in swim lessons at a local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club. Please encourage your readers to take advantage of this special day. ..."

"...We all love the Swim Sweaters! The kids were able to paddle around the pool without assistance, but of course we stayed very close just in case. The Swim Sweaters allowed them freedom while they learned to keep their balance, and they did not flip over or go under the water at all. What I really like about the Swim Sweaters is since they are worn like a shirt, the kids cannot slip out of them like they can an ordinary swim ring. ..."

"May 19, 2012 is "National Learn to Swim Day".  I firmly believe teaching your child to swim is a very important thing.  Even if you are rarely around water it is important for them to know that water is not something to be afraid of and when they get older knowing how to swim in the event of friends having a pool, moving to a neighborhood with a pool, summer camp, swimming with school and so many more things.  Knowing how to swim could save your child's life!  No better reason to teach them than that right there. ..."

"...Statistics show that children in this 1-14 age range drown most often in home swimming pools and were out of sight less than 5 minutes while under the care of one or both parents at the time of these drownings. Sadly just last week a 2 year old in my local area drowned in the small pond right in her front yard, her mom had only took her eye off her for a moment and that was all it took. Being the mom of two young children myself it absolutely breaks my heart to hear devastating stories such as this one and that's why I think it's so important for all of us parents to teach our children early swimming skills and get them familiar with the water as well as teaching them how to stay safe. ..."

"Are you thinking about installing a home swimming pool or hot tub this summer? I'm not telling you not to, just alerting you to the danger and responsibility of it. Drowning is the leading cause of death for kids ages 5 and under. ..."

"It's tough to believe that school is winding down already. Summer will be here before we know it. For us, that means day trips to the beach with hours upon hours of digging in the sand and splashing in the waves. And, of course, swimming lessons! To kick the season off right, SwimWays created the first annual National Learn to Swim Day this Saturday, May 19th. It's the perfect opportunity to recognize and raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim. ..."

Right in the middle of National Water Safety Month, this year National Learn to Swim Day lands on Saturday, May 19th.  Both are something we as parents should acknowledge because, according to the Red Cross, drowning is the second leading cause of death of an unintentional injury-related nature in children ages 1 all the way up to age 14.

"...Knowing how to swim can save your life or a loved one's life.  According to the Red Cross, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years old. Additionally, statistics show that children ages 1 to 4 drown most often in home swimming pools.  These are some scary statistics to look at.  Especially if you now take a stroll around you neighborhood and see how many of your neighbors have swimming pools.  Sure they have fences, but we all know a group of kids will always find a way to get into trouble, so why not help them stay safe, too? ..."

"The SwimWays Swim Steps Product Line offers a great way to practice water safety. The program includes 4 steps and helps children learn to swim at all ages and stages of development. My 3 year old son started in a Step 2 of the SwimWays program this summer and now I'm absolutely sure he's ready for Step 3. This is a goal I was hoping he would achieve so I'm really excited that he met the goal! ..."

"In June, I had announced that my family was chosen to be part of the  SwimWays  Swim Steps Swim Team.  We had waited anxiously for the pool in our townhouse community to open at the end of June only to find out that the Homeowners Association decided not to open the pool this year in order to complete some repairs.  Still wanting to teach our 3 children to swim, we will have to make due with visiting the local indoor pools and various beaches.  Luckily, my mother-in-law's family owns a house on a private beach, so the children were able to do a little swim training on a beach that was fairly quiet. ..."

"Learning how to swim is a life skill that I think everyone should have. You never know when you may need to know how to swim and it is a skill that could save your life. Living in Minnesota we are the "land of 10,000 lakes" so of course I want to be sure my kids are safe around the water and learn how to swim so they aren't afraid of it. Being that we live in northern Minnesota where the weather stays cold for a long time, Danika has been itching to get in the water but it's been much too chilly to swim. ..."

"It was 99 degrees in Orange County today.  As soon as we entered July, we also entered the dry, hot summers that California is known for.  Fortunately, our community has a pool and we've been taking full advantage of it! My son is four years old and hasn't received formal swimming lessons.  My goal was to enroll him in lessons prior to this point, but a series of chronic ear infections with resulting ear tubes delayed that.  Now that he's sporting custom-made ear plugs (which he mostly designed himself), he can spend our hot summer days splashing around in the pool. ..."

"I wrote last week about the gear we received as SwimWays ambassadors. We got a chance on Thursday to try most of it out for the first time when our friends invited us to go swimming with them! This was our first trip to the pool for the summer, and I have to say that going swimming really makes it feel like summer. ..."

"When Big Sister E was around eight or nine months old, she and I started taking swim lessons with friends at an indoor pool. Granted, I didn't expect that she would be learning the front crawl, but it was a fun and easy way to splash around in the water and hopefully get her used to being comfortable in it... plus, she was just so darn cute with her chubby cheeks in a little swimsuit. ..."

"...After a little bit of patience and working with her to get her comfortable in the water she became a little fish. Once she found that she could swim the width of the pool there was nothing stopping her she pretty much knew that she could do it! I was just so proud of her! ..."

"Sometimes I feel like we missed the window when it came to teaching my daughter how to swim.  However when I think back my oldest son was probably in 1st grade before he learned how to swim. Part of the problem is we are not around the water enough to keep the things she has learned fresh in her mind. ..."

"We have 2 weeks left of school and then on June 27, three of them will be starting swim lessons at our local lake. The little guy is too young for this swim program but we plan on having lots of fun splashing in the water as well. Last week I received a huge package from the SwimWays Swim Steps line with lots of goodies to help with swim training this summer. ..."