The boys don’t have many extracurricular activities outside of school. We’ve decided to do that once they are old enough to express an interest in something. This means that we don’t spend our weekends rushing here and there taking them to clubs. However, one thing I do think is important to learn is how to swim.

I never learnt how to swim properly when I was young, so I’ve always been determined to make sure the boys don’t follow in my footsteps. I believe learning to swim is essential. To be confident in the water is such an important life skill – it’s a bit like riding a bike, once you’ve learnt, you have it for life.

E started swimming lessons when he was three years old. I still remember it distinctly because we’d just returned from a week’s holiday in Malta where we spent every day by the pool building up his confidence. After his first few lessons, we quickly realised that he wasn’t a fan of getting water in his eyes, so we made sure we bought him some kids swimming goggles, and after that, he was much happier getting into the water.

M started his lessons a little later and had not long turned 4. From the start, he was a complete water baby and instantly took to the water with no worries at all. Like E though, he also wasn’t a fan of getting water in his eyes, but we were organised this time and had Simply Swim goggles on standby!

They’ve both come on brilliantly over the last year and a half, especially E who started in a new pool 18 months ago on Stage 2 and is now on Stage 5. He struggled to learn breaststroke, finding coordinating his hands and legs a little tricky but has now got it down to a tee – it’s now his favourite swimming style.

M has also progressed well and is on Stage 2; I don’t think it will be long before he moves onto the next level. We made the switch from group lessons to private around six months ago and its made a world of difference to their learning. Not only are they swimming for the full half an hour session they’re able to hone their techniques and the swim teacher is able to correct them when they go wrong.

As for me, I’m determined to take up lessons in the New Year. I need to work on my water confidence and learn to swim properly so I can join the boys in the pool when we’re on holiday without having to worry about my feet not being able to touch the bottom of the pool!

* Collaborative post