Win 1 of 5 copies of new Barbie DVD ‘A Mermaid Tale 2’

To celebrate the launch of the splashing new Barbie DVD A Mermaid Tale 2, we have 5 copies of the film on DVD to give away!

For your chance to win one of these amazing DVDs, answer the simple question below in our dedicated competition page (USE ONLY THIS DEDICATED PAGE – DO NOT SEND MESSAGES AND DO NOT POST MESSAGES HERE AS WE WON’T ENTER YOU OTHERWISE) https://new.londonmumsmagazine.com/competition-area. The question is: ‘What’s the name of the UK’s leading swimming trainers for babies and children?’ The deadline to enter is 20th April 2012.

Universal Pictures have teamed up with Puddle Ducks – the UK’s leading swimming trainers for babies and children who are backing the Barbie campaign to get encourage families to learn more about the country’s coastline and improve their swimming skills this summer.

Here are the top tips for mums to get their children more confident in the water and to better enjoy their time on British beaches this summer:

Swimming on holiday

Ensure the water temperature is not too cold – If the water feels chilly to you as an adult then it will definitely be too cold for your child.

If there is a strong current or undertow, don’t let your child go into the water no matter how strong a swimmer they are, even in shallow water the strength of the current can be enough to pull a child down, so always be close by.

Ensure your child understands the dangers of swimming in open water, such as depths being deceptive and cold water tiring you out quicker.

Try to discourage the use of large inflatable toys in the sea. Your child could quickly and easily be blown out to sea.

Swimming – general tips for the fives and overs:

Encourage floating – allow them freedom in the water by encouraging them to hold on to you.

Stroke development comes before stamina so look for quality in lessons.

Make sure children initiate their own little swims. Allow them to lead and provide the support and encouragement they need, praising every achievement.

Younger children should be given a float to hold on to and allowed independence to explore the aquatic environment. They will learn their own buoyancy quickly and know to hold on until they can swim confidently on their own.

Learning to swim should be fun. If your child isn’t enjoying lessons, don’t get frustrated with them. Listen to the teacher’s advice on how to help and praise any small improvement. Puddle Ducks use nearly 100 songs in their swimming to make it extra fun.

Never force your young swimmer underwater – it takes a long time to build water confidence and seconds to shatter! Let them lead on how deep to go, have fun and be really positive about all achievements.

“Surface with a Smile” – a phrase which Puddle Ducks Super Teacher Nici Wragge came up with. Many teachers are now using this when a child comes up from being underwater. If you are smiling, they will smile.

Don’t let them see a panic stricken parent/carer when they re-surface. It will only make them think that something is wrong and may panic them. Smile and they will smile with you.