Splash About UV Float Suit Review

We LOVE taking our girls swimming at the weekends.  Over the summer holidays we've hardly been swimming at all and I was really worried that the girls would be out of practice; their swimming lessons start up again this week so we decided to get in a bit of swimming practice and Holly (28 months) swam like a mermaid, all thanks to this new gadget - The Splash About UV Float Suit.

We are big Splash About fans and both girls have worn Splash About Happy Nappies or swimming costumes since they first set eyes on a swimming pool but this is the first summer that we've tried one of their Float Suits.  The Splash About float suit is a buoyancy aid which is designed to help children learn to swim.  Unlike armbands or arm floats, the buoyancy part of the suit is around the waist which I think helps Holly for a couple of reasons.

1. It leaves her arms free for paddling with no restrictions
2. Having the buoyancy around her middle I think instantly helped her to understand her own buoyancy - I think it will take quite a while yet for Holly to fully learn to swim without an aid but I think that simply understanding your own body's behaviour in water is a big step towards this.

Holly thought it was absolutely hilarious when her big sister told her that her tummy looked like she was expecting a baby!  It may look a little funny when they are out of the water, but the floats aren't heavy and don't weigh her down at all.  Each pocket in the suit contains two small floats which you can remove one at a time as your child gains in confidence.  In the few times we have used the suit, I've already removed a couple from hers.

It is hard to put into words, quite how much of a difference the Splash About float suit made to Holly's swimming.  Previously she had attempted a width on her own but very quickly lost interest but with this, I witnessed her swim an entire length of the pool aided only by her suit.  Her teeny tiny arms and legs kicked and paddled for nearly an hour in that pool - there was no stopping her.  It put a massive smile on my face.

The UV float suit is also great for holidays because the fabric of the suit offers SPF50+ protection.This digital print design is new to the Slpash About range.  There are two new designs - Funky Flamingos and Funky Fish!  The suits are available in sizes 1-2, 2-4 and 4-6 years for around £27.99.

Netflix #StreamTeam - Music Memories

This month, as part of the Netflix Stream Team, we were asked to explore the wonderful world of music on Netflix.  Now, I'm not entirely sure that my taste in music was really what Netflix had intended this blog post to be about (the hints they sent me were all romantic musicals, not ambient electronic dance epics) so I really did need to dig into the Netflix depths to find musical documentaries, animations and movies that were suitable for our family to share together.

I find it fairly easy to view and get inspiration for very popular, mainstream content on Netflix but I rarely get offered the more obscure stuff by default in the "you might also like..." sections of the Apply TV device, or on my iPad.  I tried just searching for the word "music" and was surprised at some of the content I found.

For example, I spent a happy few hours watching obscure documentaries about Dutch house music (with subtitles) one Friday night!  I also discovered a couple of "live" festival documentaries.  But I didn't think that any of these would be right for bringing the family together.  Lara is really into air guitar at present and likes to try and reproduce the actions from dances both at home and at school so I really really wanted this month's Stream Team to involve them (even though I was encouraged to spend a night on my own indulgences).

I racked my brains for a musical movie that had made a big impression on me in the past, and which I could share with the girls.  Got it.  The Blues Brothers.

Granted, the language is a bit colourful for a 2 year old and a 5 year old but my goodness, did they love it.  What's not to love about memorable tunes, fancy dances and silly car chases.   A bit of slapstick, a lot of fun.

I loved being able to share a classic movie with my girls.  Being able to share a family moment.  A whole afternoon of us all enjoying the same fun on the television (rather than a whole afternoon of kids stuff!).

The Blues Brothers is a movie which features lots of classic tunes which get you dancing.  I challenge you to sit still on your sofa watching The Blues Brothers.  Simply Not Possible!

If you are looking for more musical inspiration, here a few ideas from Netflix.  Of course, now I shall return to my world of Dora the Explorer and the Bubble Guppies.

  

  

Barbie and the Secret Door

I will admit that I secretly quite enjoy watching Barbie DVDs with the girls.  There is something absolutely spot on about a Barbie movie - the target them so well at little girls of about Lara's age without them being unecessarily naff (which lots of kids TV is!).  The new Barbie and the Secret Door DVD is released today and I think they've got it just right again - an animation that ticks every box on ever little girl's list of movie must-haves.

In this latest Barbie musical, Barbie stars as Princess Alexa, a young girl who daydreams of having magical powers.  One day she stumbles across a magical kingdom and makes new friends, a mermaid and a fairy, who need her help to save all of the magic in the kingdom from the hands of an over-zealous ruler.

We loved the funny magical creatures with crazy noses and lively bright colours.  We loved the synchronised fairy dancing, pop musical numbers and glittery magic wands.  I can well imagine, after a few viewings, Lara trying to sing along and re-enact the songs and dancers with her friends.  If you buy the DVD I believe there is an in-pack song book to help them on their way!!!

Barbie and the Secret Door opens up a fun world of imagination - what would you do if you suddenly discovered that you had magical powers?  What parts of your world do you take for granted that others might not know about?

Barbie and the Secret Door is available to own on DVD from today.