Guest Post by Swim Instructor Holli H.
Picture this, you're on the beach or the pool on a hot, sunny Hawai’i day. Kids are laughing, the smell of sunscreen fills the air, and the water is looking very appealing to cool off in. Looking around, you may see kids with different styles of floatation devices on as well. A popular device you would most likely see are puddle jumper floaties.
You may be wondering, what are puddle jumper floaties? Puddle jumpers are a combination of water wings and part chest piece (as pictured above). As you can see, there is a water wing on each arm and a connecting chest piece in the middle, with a single buckle in the back. These are very popular and you may have seen them around, or you may even have one or more for your own kiddos. Although these floaties look fun and safe, they have more flaws than you may think. These flaws include safety, restrictions, and forming bad habits. Other names you may have heard them be called are arm floaties, wings, swim vests, or incorrectly labeled as life jackets. For the sake of this article, I will use the name puddle jumper, as that is the most common thing they are referred to as. This “puddle jumper” name is not to be confused with the company Puddle Jumpers as many swim companies use the name to describe this model of floatation device.
As a private swim instructor on Maui, with 10+ years of experience teaching swimming lessons, I have seen many kiddos wearing puddle jumpers. I have taught a wide variety of young swimmers from beginners to competitive swimmers and I can usually tell if they have been wearing puddle jumpers outside of swimming lessons. Unfortunately I often have to undo bad swimming habits learned from wearing puddle jumpers.
Children who wear puddle jumpers often often try to swim with dropped legs, dangling arms, heads above water, and have a fear of floating on their back.
If you want your kiddos to learn how to swim properly and safely, ditch the puddle jumpers! The more time your child has swimming with you or an experienced swim instructor without floatation, the better. Children can learn to swim best when their bodies are free to move from any floatation restrictions. However, there may be times that floatation is required or recommended for an activity you are participating in. For example, if you are out on a boat, all children should be wearing U.S. Coast Guard approved floatation devices that fit them. Additionally, you must always be in the water with your child or supervising them closely from the side with or without a floatation device on them.
SAFETY
First of all, puddle jumpers are unsafe because they are designed to put a child in an upright position (as if they were standing or treading water). This vertical position can also be described as the “drowning position”. If a child enters the water without their puddle jumper they will assume that upright position, as they are only used to being vertical. This position can be very dangerous and it’s incredibly hard to ‘swim’ like that. The worst part about puddle jumpers is that they don’t allow children to roll onto their back to float. Back floats are the most important safety skill for every swimmer and essential to learn. Learning to float on your back is so important because it uses very little energy and allows you to breathe. If for some reason a child is in danger in the water, they can float on their back until they receive help. This backfloat position also allows a child to use their voice to call for help if needed. It’s much more difficult to call for help in a vertical or face forward position in the water. If you want your kids to learn how to float, or if you’d like to learn yourself, book some swim lessons at the closest public pool or with an experienced swim instructor (like me!).
RESTRICTIONS
Next, puddle jumpers are restrictive because the arm pieces do not allow a child to move their arms very well. Their range of motion is extremely limited. As I mentioned earlier, this arm restriction also restricts a child from entering the back float position as well. There is no swim stroke (think backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke) in which a swimmer doesn’t use their arms. Arms are a HUGE part of stroke development, so by restricting arm movement, you’re also restricting their ability to swim. This restriction and lack of movement in the water can also decrease a child’s water confidence. Safe swimming and confident swimming go hand-in-hand. You must be a confident swimmer to maximize your safety. As an experienced swim instructor, my number one priority is safety. I love to see swimmers enjoying the water as they build their safety skill set and confidence
BAD HABITS
Lastly, puddle jumpers may create bad habits due to the position it holds the child in. This upright position I mentioned earlier causes children to kick their legs beneath them rather than out behind them. This vertical swimming habit makes it very difficult when learning to swim, as we encourage horizontal body position in the water. The more ‘bad’ habits the puddle jumpers create, the more swimming lessons your child may need to correct them. Although swim lessons are fun and beneficial, they can also be expensive and time consuming! Less time in swim lessons means more time with your friends and family and having fun in water activities! I want your swimmers to be safe in the water as soon as possible, as I’m sure you do as well!
So, what is a better alternative to puddle jumpers? The safest floatation device for a child is a life jacket as pictured above. A life jacket zips up the front (or back), buckles together, and may have an under strap or headpiece. This type of floatation device has padding on both sides to allow for maximized safety no matter what position you are in. There are no arm restrictions, so it can also be used as a tool to encourage safe and correct swimming techniques. It also allows you to float on your back and kick in a horizontal position to help with good swimming habits. Although both puddle jumpers and regular lifejackets are both U.S. Coast Guard approved, a regular life jacket is the best option all around! Here are some links you can use to purchase a life jacket:
If you or someone you know is in need of swimming lessons on Maui, we’d love to talk to you and help you sign up for private one–on-one swim lessons.
About the Author: Holli is a long-time swim instructor, currently located on the beautiful island of Maui! With 10+ years of experience, water safety has always been her number one priority when helping new AND experienced swimmers continue their swim journey! She can be found snorkeling, reading on the beach, or catching sunsets in her free time!
I am a long-time swim instructor, currently located on the beautiful island of Maui! With 10+ years of experience, water safety has always been my number one priority when helping new AND experienced swimmers continue their swim journey! I can be found snorkeling, reading on the beach, or catching sunsets in my free time!