Hacks for swimming with kids – less faff more fun

Taking the kids swimming seems like such a wholesome activity. The joy on their faces as they splash, swim and jump in. But then you enter the seventh circle of hell.

Getting changed. 

Whether you’ve got one kid and multiples, dressing sticky children while you’re also freezing cold yourself and usually naked, with a precariously locked door, it is not fun.

Going away on little caravan holiday this year with my nephew and sister and my three children we discovered a few hacks. 

Hacks to make swimming with children easier . 

Let’s get into it.

1. Take two plastic bags

When you first get unchanged, pack everyone’s dry clothes into one bag. When you get out of pool, you’ll have everyone’s dry clothes ready. When the bag is empty of dry clothes you can put all the wet swim clothes in and the towels in another bag.

 2. One adult gets out the pool first

If you have a baby or a young child that really struggles getting out of the pool because of the cold, then that adult should also take this child. In our case, it was my eight month old baby. The adult gets out for pool, gets dry and dressed.

Here’s the major swimming with kids hack: The adult lays out everyone’s clothes in piles and sets out the towels. If your kids are at the age where they can dress themselves, that’s the absolute chefs kiss. If not, at least you can easily give them a towel and find their clothes quickly.

3. Shower at home 

Skip the stress. Shower at home. Swimming pool showers are not the one.

4. Have snacks ready to go

Avoid the argument over the strategically placed vending machine on the way out. Bring some fun snacks that are easy to access and ready to go. Ideally they’ll wait until they’re out the changing room but if you have multiple kids to dress, you can give them a snack while they wait in their towel, or once they’re dressed to distract them from playing with the door lock 

5. Wear easy clothes to change into

This should be a given really. For babies choose baby grows. Big kids dresses, shorts and T-shirt. AVOID JEANS AND LEGGINGS. Thank me later.

6. Have a smaller bag in your big bag

In this bag you can pack snacks, car keys, your phone, and the locker token. There’s nothing worse IMO than getting out to the car and digging around for car keys or snacks.

These swimming with children hacks, are going to change your attitude when the kids “ask can we go swimming?” You’ll be grabbing your two plastic bags and you’ll be first in the car.