Children and winter swimming

Joy with kids and winter swimming

– how to make it safe and fun year-round

Winter swimming, or jumping into cold water all year round, can be a super fun and wonderful experience that families of different ages can enjoy together. Especially around Christmas, many families have a tradition of going winter swimming together. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy nature as a family, whatever the weather — and to get the lovely energy boost that winter swimming is known for.

The kids squeal and laugh when they take the cold plunge! So it’s a fun and memorable experience to share.

Togetherness and cozy moments are central, but it’s still important to take some extra precautions, especially with very young children, so they have both a safe and enjoyable experience.

Here is our mini guide to how you can safely introduce your children to winter swimming. We look at when they can start, which safety measures you should take, and how to make it a cozy activity for the whole family.

When can children start winter swimming? There is no fixed rule for when children can start winter swimming, but it is recommended that they are at least 5–8 years old.

The most important thing is to keep a close eye on each other and to have warm clothes on quickly afterward so the children warm up again fast. Younger children find it harder to keep warm because they are smaller and thinner. It’s important for the experience that they warm up quickly so they’ll want to do it again another day.

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Winter swimming can be healthy and strengthen the immune system, but it requires extra attention and good preparation, especially when children are involved. So remember warm and windproof clothes that are quick to put on. This could be an easy large poncho that the children can cozy up in right after the cold dip. See our Changing Robes here on Camille in size 2 and Celine in size 1 (11 years).

Safety tips for winter swimming with kids. When you take the children winter swimming, safety is of course the most important thing. Here are some good tips to make it safe and cozy:

1. Choose a safe spot: Find a beach with an even bottom or a bathing jetty where it’s easy to get into and out of the water — preferably with a jetty that has steps. It’s easier and quicker than walking in from the beach (remember water shoes if you go from the beach). Avoid places with strong currents or slippery surfaces.

2. Start slowly: Let the children try winter swimming in short intervals. Start with a few seconds and keep them close to you at all times.

3. The right equipment: Make sure the children have warm bathrobes or windproof changing robes so they can quickly get dry and warm clothes on after the swim. Good water shoes are also important to protect their feet from the cold ground and to avoid slipping — especially if you enter from the beach.

4. Watch for signs of cold shock: Children get cold faster than adults, so wrap them up quickly when you get out of the water. A sauna can also be lovely — but most children don’t really like it.

5. Warm-up: It can be fun to move a little before the swim, like doing some quick star jumps or running to the jetty to get the blood flowing. After the swim it’s important to put on warm clothes and maybe enjoy a cup of hot cocoa to warm up again. That’s also cozy.

Here you can see Celine in a size 2 and Camille in a Soft Breeze with cotton terry in size 34-36.

YEAR-ROUND BATHING

How to make year-round bathing fun for kids. It doesn’t have to be just about the cold water — it can also be a cozy and fun experience to see if you can swim all year round, even as temperatures change.

Here are some ideas for how to make year-round swimming something the children look forward to:

• Make it a game: You can create small competitions like seeing who can stay in the water the longest as summer ends, or who can make the funniest face when they come up.

• Combine with other activities: Plan year-round swimming as part of an outing — maybe with a picnic beforehand or a café visit afterwards. It makes the whole experience more exciting.

• Invite friends: Kids have more fun when they can share the experience with others. If they bring friends, it becomes even more fun.

Tips for a safe and positive experience

• Listen to your child: If your child doesn’t feel comfortable, don’t push them. Let them take it at their own pace.

• Create a routine: Regular winter swimming can help children become familiar with the experience, and routines can create a sense of security. Maybe you can swim together once a month as a small tradition? Or a New Year’s dip is also popular in many families.

• Praise and reward: Regardless of how long the child stays in the water, praise them for trying. A small reward like hot cocoa afterward can make it something they look forward to next time.

With a bit of preparation and the right approach, year-round and winter swimming can become a fun and memorable experience for the whole family.

Wishing you lots of fun from the two of us,

Ida & Barbara