Exercise for Kids

Why Swimming is Good for Your Kids ?

To stay happy and healthy, kids should be getting at least half an hour of aerobic exercise every day.   If your kids need to get moving, or are just bored with their current exercise program, why not take a trip to the pool.  Swimming is a great way for kids to have fun and stay in great shape.

Most activities children participate in don’t really work the whole body.  Sure they move their arms and torso, but most of the work is being done by the legs.  Swimming works the arms, legs, and the rest of the body by providing resistance all over.  Regular swimming promotes good health from head to toe.

Like all aerobic exercise, swimming regularly helps improve your child’s endurance level and increases stamina. They’ll have more energy to keep going throughout the day.  Increased endurance may also improve their performance in other activities and sports.

If you want to get a good workout, you usually have to run.  Whether on a football field or a track, running is the main component of many exercises.  Running is a great workout, but it is really hard on growing bodies.  It puts undo stress on bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.  Swimming is low impact.  It provides resistance without jolting or shocking your body.  This means it’s a great way to get your child in shape without causing damage health problems, now or in the future.

Swimming is a great way to for children to make friends.  They can join a swim team or just meet new people when they go to the local pool.  Not only will this help with their socialization process, it will also teach them to think of exercise as a fun activity, not a chore.

How many times has your child gotten scratches, scrapes, or a more serious injury while playing?  While falling down and hurting yourself is pretty easy with most exercises, it’s actually difficult while in a pool.  If you fall down in a pool, you may make a splash, but you’re not going to break your arm.  You also have the assurance that if something does happen, there’s a lifeguard there trained in first aid and CPR.

Even if you never take your child to a pool, what do you think their chances are of never being near deep water?  They’re probably pretty low.  Swimming is a good skill to know to help kids stay safe for the rest of their life.

Swimming is Fun

Splashing, wading, and paddling — it must mean a great day in the water. Playing at the beach, at a water park, by a lake, or in a pool can be a real treat on a hot day.

Swimming is a lot of fun, but drowning is a real danger. Even kids who know how to swim can drown so, let’s find out how to stay safe in the water.

Why Is It Important to Be Safe in the Water?

Fish are able to live and breathe in water, but people need air to breathe. People drown when too much water gets into their lungs. When that happens, the lungs can’t carry enough oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body.

Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. Drowning can happen so fast — sometimes in less than 2 minutes after a person’s head goes under the water. That leaves very little time for someone to help.

Many drowning and near-drowning occur when a kid accidentally falls into a swimming pool. But accidents can happen anywhere — at someone’s home or even at your own house, and that’s why you need to know how to be safe around water.

Swimming Pools

Pools are awesome! What could be better than a dip in the pool and fun in the sun? But remember a pool’s sides and bottom are usually made of concrete, a rock-hard material. A slip or fall could be painful and dangerous.

Have you seen those big numbers painted on the side of the pool? Those are called depth markers — they tell you how deep the water is at that point. You should always look before you jump into a pool. You should also only dive off the diving board. Never dive off the side of the pool unless an adult says that the water is deep enough. The water may be shallower than you think. If you hit the bottom . . . ouch! You might get knocked out or you could hurt your neck very badly.

Test the pool’s water temperature before you plunge in. Cold water can shock your body and make your blood pressure and heart rate go up. You might accidentally open your mouth to yell and accidentally breathe in some water. Cold water can also slow your muscles, making it hard to swim.

Other rules to follow:

• Always have an adult watch you when you are in the pool — even in your own backyard. Never go in the pool if there is no adult around. Always call an adult or lifeguard if there is an emergency.
• Gates are around pools for a reason — to keep kids away from the water when there isn’t a lifeguard or adult around to watch them. Never go through any pool gates when they are closed. Stay safe and stay out! Always obey pool rules.
• Swim with a buddy.
• If you’re learning to swim, ask your mom or dad to make sure your flotation devices are Coast Guard approved.
• Walk slowly in the pool area. Don’t run.
• Swim at a depth that is safe for you. If you’re just learning to swim, stay in the shallow end.
• Don’t push or jump on others. You could accidentally hurt someone or yourself.
• Toys to help you float come in many shapes and sizes (an inner tube, air mattress, or beach ball, for example). Although they’re fun and can help you while you learn to swim, what they can’t do is save a life. They’re toys that can lose air or float away.
• Don’t chew gum or eat while you swim — you could choke.

Lakes and Ponds

Lots of kids swim in streams, lakes, or ponds. Extra care must be taken when swimming in these beautiful places. You can’t always see the bottom of the lake or pond, so you don’t always know the depth of the water. This is an additional reason to always swim with an adult.

Although the fish swimming around won’t hurt you, some ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken bottles, or trash. Wear something to protect your feet. Also, watch out for weeds and grass, which can trap even a good swimmer. If you panic and try to yank yourself free, you may get even more tangled. Instead, shake and pull your arms and legs slowly to work yourself loose and call for an adult’s help.

If you’re going out on a boat, always wear a life jacket. (Again, the life jacket should be Coast Guard approved.) Even if you are a good swimmer, something could cause the boat to tip over and you could be trapped underneath.

Beaches

It’s hard to resist a day on the beach, but you’ll need to know some safety rules for swimming in the ocean. Swimming in the ocean is trickier than the pool because of waves and currents, which can change. When you first get to the beach, check with the lifeguard to find out how strong the waves are. Some places fly flags or write notes on a chalkboard to give swimmers an idea of what conditions are like.

Waves can knock you down or push you to the ocean floor. Stay close to an adult or get out of the water when the waves get rough. People also get into trouble when they start to panic or become too tired to swim. It’s important to know your limits, so if you start feeling tired, get out of the water and rest for a while.

In some places swimmers may encounter strong undertows or ocean currents. Rip currents (also called riptides) are so strong that they can carry swimmers away from shore before they know what’s happening. If you are caught in a current, swim parallel to the shore (alongside the shore) rather than toward the shore until the water stops pulling you, then swim back to shore. If you can’t get back to the beach, tread water and wave for a lifeguard’s help. In this situation it’s really important to stay calm and not panic.

You probably won’t see any sharks (although a friendly dolphin may splash by) where you are swimming. But you might run into some jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars. These umbrella-shaped, nearly clear animals can grow to be as large as several feet in diameter! They are often found floating near the shore. Getting stung is no fun — it can hurt and blister your skin. If you get stung, tell an adult as soon as possible.

Other rules to follow:

• Never swim alone!
• Always swim where a lifeguard can see you and in areas that are marked for swimmers to use.
• Wear protective footwear if surfaces are rough or rocky.
• Don’t swim out too far.
• Never pretend to be drowning. The lifeguard may take you seriously.
• Don’t swim close to piers — those big, wooden structures that jut out into the water. If the water moves suddenly, you could hit a piling or a rock.
• Store drinks in plastic containers at the beach — broken glass bottles and bare feet don’t mix.
• Face the waves, instead of turning your back on them. Then you’ll know what’s coming.

Water Parks

Kids love water parks — and why shouldn’t they? Wave pools, giant slides, and squirting fountains are a lot of fun. To stay safe, find out what each attraction is like and how deep the water is. Some wave pools can get rough, so it’s a good idea to have an adult nearby.

Here are other water park safety tips:

• Wear a life jacket if you don’t know how to swim or if you’re not a strong swimmer.
• Read all of the signs before going on a ride. Make sure you are tall enough, old enough, and don’t have any of the medical conditions that are listed. If you have questions, check with a parent or ask the lifeguard.
• Always make sure there’s a lifeguard at each ride and listen to his or her instructions. Wait until the rider ahead of you has passed a safe point for you to go down the slide.
• Always go down the water slide face up and feet first. This is the safe and correct way to ride.
• When you go from ride to ride, don’t run — it’s slippery! Also, remember that each ride is different. Read each sign and note how deep the water is in the pool.

Plouf

The Floating Swimsuit!

“Plouf”, floating and safety swimsuit for children aged from three to six years old, has been designed for children to have a safer approach to water and faster way of learning how to swim.

Its light fiber allows the child, free movement and keeps its head above water at all time. It has been a favorite all over the world and especially in Europe and America where it has been sold widely over the years.

It is not a safety vest; it is a floating device that allows child to come back to surface in case he would fall. Once used to it, the child will balance himself and naturally will start “swimming”. It is a French design and It has European and American standards.

It is recommended that the child should be at least thirty month old to use this device; younger children will not be able to find their balance. The swimsuit should also be worn tightly to the body.

Sold in Bali and Jakarta in famous landmarks such as Carrefour, Centro, Waterboom park and surfer girl stores, its success speaks for itself. It has various designs and colors for girls and for boys.

In addition to the child swimsuit, we also offer a “Plouf” swimsuit for ladies who would love to enjoy water better, such as snorkeling or other aquatic entertainments. Men swimsuits are still at present under development. There is also a “Plouf” mattress that, using the same fabric as the swimsuits, doesn’t need to be blown and floats by itself. It can carry up to 100kgs in weight. It also can be used as a “beach mattress” and it easily dries up.

If you have any question regarding our product please leave your comments bellow or email me at amelia_kodrat@yahoo.com

Belajar Renang mulai Usia Dini

Sebuah penelitian di Jerman, menyatakan bahwa melatih bayi berenang sejak usia dini sangat bermanfaat bukan hanya pada perkembangan fisiknya namun juga kemampuan berkonsentrasi, gerak reflek, kecerdasan serta perilaku sosial saat mereka memasuki usia taman kanak-kanak.

 Penelitian tersebut juga menyatakan bahwa anak yang telah berlatih renang sejak dini, terutama pada masa tiga bulan pertama usianya tidak hanya berpotensi menjadi anak berbakat, tapi juga lebih mandiri dan percaya diri serta menampakan kecerdasan intelektual yang lebih tinggi dibanding anak sesuainya yang tidak dilatih renang.

Di bidang sosial, anak-anak yang telah berlatih renang sejak dini akan lebih mudah beradaptasi dan menyesuaikan diri dengan anak-anak lainnya serta mudah beradaptasi dengan lingkungan baru. Hasil tersebut bukan disebabkan pelatihan fisik dari aktifitas renang itu sendiri, namun juga pengaruh dari proses treatment fisik dari aktifitas tersebut, dimana memungkinkan sikecil untuk memperolah berbagai pengalaman baru dengan mudah. Pengalaman-pengalam inilah yang meningkatkan kepercayaan diri dan kemandiriannya. Pada waktu yang sama, pengalaman tersebut juga berpengaruh pada sikap anak dengan orang lain.  Kepercayaan dan kemandirian itulah yang berpengaruh terhadap prestasi dan perkembangan intelektual anak itu sendiri.