Sometimes swimming takes a little more than just jumping in

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Summer is just around the corner, so it’s time to stock up on everything you need for water fun in the sun. 

Once the hot water arrives, kids love to spend time in the water, whether at the beach, local pool or a sprinkler in the backyard. It doesn't take much effort to jump in the water, however there are a few bits and pieces that make the swimming experience more enjoyable. Some accessories are necessary to keep you little one safe, while others are essential when it comes to playing and having fun. But at the end of the day, you want to be ready to go with the swim bag packed, because once the weather warms up, everyone will be wanting to get cool off in the water as soon as possible.

We've put together a list of must-have swim accessories to set you up with everything your kids need to get splashing in the water or even just playing in the sand. 

Goggles are an essential swimming item that make little eyes more comfortable, whether you're off to swim lessons at a chlorinated pool or swimming at the beach. But if you're anything like us, you might need a couple of spare pairs as it’s the one thing we always seem to lose - and usually right before the swimming lesson is about to start.

Speedo is a name that instantly springs to mind when it comes to swim accessories, which includes a great range of googles. This junior pair features a mirrored lens to help reduce glare, as well as a flexible nose bridge for a more custom fit. Also available in a choice of four chic tones.

These goggles have a speed fit design with a one-push adjustment for easy fitting, plus you can  customise the nose bridge for extra comfort. Best of all, they come in bright colours and feature different squad characters to entice little swimmers.

One parent left the comment, “They fit well and are easily adjustable. My 4yo daughter wanted new goggles as she found her other goggles were letting water in. These fit securely and she finds them comfortable.”.

This of course is an absolute essential and one that offers so much variety. There are many places to shop fantastic swimwear for kids and to help you out we've listed a couple of our favourites below.

The Iconic offers a fabulous range of kids swimwear such as this Roxy long sleeve suit with UPF 50 sun protection. We also love the Speedo Corey Croc Aquashorts for babies and the super cool Rock Your Kid Fast Cars Hot Wheels Boardshorts

For everyday swimwear at great prices, you can't go past Best & Less, with options like this Spiderman suit or Baby Shark Swim Set to thrill your budding swimmer.

Much like a swimming costume, everyone needs one, especially in the harsh Australian summer - it's just a matter of finding one your kids love to wear.

Speedo have a fantastic range of kids swimming costumes and rashies on offer such as this long sleeve option for boys.

Shop Myer for rashies this summer as there's a great range on offer with tops brands such as Bonds, Speedo, Milkshake and Roxy.

These absolutely do not replace adult supervision, however they can definitely help to build your child's confidence in the water

This buoyant vest with foam inserts helps kids to float and build confidence in the water as they learn to paddle and develop arm strokes. However, this should only ever be used under constant adult supervision.

This super cute foam kickboard will be a hit with your little one, offering hours of swimming fun as they practise their kicking in the water. Matching googles are a bonus and the we love the pineapple motif, which sets the tone for the season ahead.

There’s nothing better than setting your kids up with a few beach  toys so they play happily in the sand or the paddling pool in the back yard. It was always essential activity as far as my kids were concerned and we took a bag of beach toys everywhere we went.  You don’t need much to dig, make sandcastles or collect water, but here are few options to get you started.

This glamorous beach toy set is hard to resist with its stylish look and pretty pastel colours . It's also an eco-friendly option  made from unbleached compostable bamboo and bio-plastic, with a hemp rope handle, so you're caring for the planet at the same time. There are four soft summer tomes to choose from, not to mention a host of positive online reviews to read.  One parent commented,"This pink beach set for sand play is gorgeous the colour is so pretty, and it all came in a fab calico bag with mesh at the bottom to let the sand out. Love it."

This beach set includes bucket, watering can, spade, fork and sea moulds for hours of beachside fun and creativity - and is available in six  gorgeous summer colours.

When kids become stronger swimmers they love to jumping in to retrieve toys like these Dive Sticks. “A great aid for encouraging water confidence in young children learning to swim,” said one reviewer

Blow up animals, rings, surf mats, beachballs are all great to play with in the water. But remember they are not swim aids and must only ever be used under constant adult supervision

These Pool Pets are awesome fun for kids and coming from Wahu, they're durable enough to last the summer.  “Son and friends have lots of fun with these in pool,” said one reviewer.

This cute alligator provides hours of playing, riding or - if parents can get their hands on it - lounging in the pool. 

I love hooded beach towels, I even have one for myself. My daughter gets so cold after swimming and a hooded towel is a great way to get her warm and dry. Plus she can just wear it home.

The swim bag is an important accessory when it comes to kids. You need something BIG to fit all their bits and pieces like towels, toys, snacks and water bottles, plus a change of clothes - and that's just for starters.

This stunning beach bag is durable, waterproof and washable so definitely up for a day of swimming. It has a wide top making everything inside easily accessible. It offers plenty of interior space as well as two sturdy exterior pockets, ideal for drink bottles and suncream.

A wet bag comes in very handy for packing away wet swimmers and re-usable swim nappies. This locally made option from Etsy is particularly cute as you can get it personalised. One reviewer said, "Really nice wet bag for baby’s swimming lessons and the personalisation already came in handy when I nearly left it at the pool once!"

If you grow up in Australia, the sun hat is one of the most important accessories to buy - even more so when swimming at the pool or hanging by the beach.

These sun hats, made from durable 100 per cent canvas cotton have a wide brim and adjustable toggle to keep little faces protected from the summer sun. Plus it comes with your child's name on it, which means it won't get lost quite so easily!

This swimming hat offers excellent protection, value for money and a fun design that kids will want to wear. The fabric offers UPF 50 protection and comes in either pink or blue.

This is another absolutely must-have beach item to protect little eyes from harsh summer rays. 

These stylish sunnies offer 100 per cent protection for babies and toddlers from zero to 24 months and come with a handy strap to hold them in place.

Statistics show that  each year kids drown through a lack of supervision,  as well as a lack of water skills. So, it's important when your kids are anywhere near water to do the following:

It is absolutely essential that your child learns to swim, however when that starts to happen can vary. According to the Royal Life Saving Australia website, there's not a lot of research on what is the ‘best’ age to start lessons.

Many swim schools offer classes as early as three months. Starting at this age can be a good way to introduce your baby to being the water and is a lovely bonding experience for parent and child. However it's not absolutely essential. I started my first daughter’s lessons at about 18 months and while it was fun, it didn't help her to swim any quicker. I took my next daughter in the water myself each week and started lessons after she turned three.  Whenever you do decide to start, the important thing is to be consistent with lessons and swimming times.

There seems to be no end of items in our family swim bag, but here are the essentials:

Getting ready for summer? Have a look at the best places to buy swimwear for kids and also our list of the best kids swimming goggles