In half term we visited London and I think everyone knows what happened when we were there but we did actually go for a different purpose! We took the children sight seeing and we did the London Eye which we had not done before. The children really enjoyed it and enjoyed seeing London from a different viewpoint. We also popped to the Palace as you do and took the standard photos of us outside the gates.
We were also lucky enough to be asked by speedo sea squad to attend a swimming event at Imperial College. After dashing across London in the back of a cab we finally arrived only a few minutes late. Erin by now was desperate to have some fun in the pool after a long day, we had been doing the TV studios since 5.30 am! We quickly got into our swim wear for a special one to one swimming lesson and meet and greet with the Olympian Steve Parry.
Chloe was taken up to the deep end for someone to one diving and stroke work focus. She found it really useful as her coach explained how and when she should be breathing. Chloe has never had swimming lessons bar the school ones so picked up some advice. Dyl has just become confident with swimming but is a very messy swimmer –much like me. He was helped to swim on his back and the one to one has definitely increased his confidence. He believes in himself much more as a result of that session. Since the session he keeps asking to go swimming, this from a boy who has only been swimming a few months.
Erin was so keen to get in the pool and when offered swim aids by a coach she had a confused look on her face. I told them that Erin is a swimmer and they looked at me and said fine, however they were not expecting what they saw! Erin launched herself into the water and suddenly the eyes of the coaches turned on her! She did her usual things and I could see the speedo team watching her with interest. Steve Parry came and spoke to me about Erin’s swimming asking her age and so on. He thought she had amazing potential especially as she was swimming on her back. Erin has been a water baby since six weeks old.
After our lesson we were given the opportunity to have a better look at the speedo range of swimming costumes and accessories that make swimming fun for children. Mine loved the spinning dive sticks and were thrilled to be given a bagful to take home. They also each got some goggles and new costumes. The sea squad range is visually appealing and challenges the children with fun ideas to try out in the water. The mini kick board is great for Erin as she needs to work on her strokes. Speedo have a great three stage learn to swim programme from start splashing, start swimming and get confident. I am a real advocate of early swimming and learnt from the older two that the sooner you start the better. Erin is obviously testament to this and to her swimming lengths on both her front and back with no swim aids before she was four years old was impressive. The fact that Erin learnt to swim before she could walk shows how easily it can be picked up at a young age. Erin’s surgeon advocates swimming for her hip and joints and it is something I will not stop with Erin. I think Erin is one to watch for the future olympics as I told Steve Parry!
