Mermaid tail for kids (Set)

For children who love to swim and bathe, there will likely come a time when they wish to be a mermaid or merman. That's why mermaid tails for children can be a great idea, as they provide a realistic feeling of being a mermaid or merman.

Essentially, a mermaid tail is a monofin that functions as a double flipper, covered with fabric designed to look like fish scales. Therefore, it's a big advantage if the child has experience swimming with flippers or a monofin.

What does it take to swim with a mermaid tail?

Since a mermaid tail is a type of swim gear that keeps the legs together, it also requires that children can swim with their legs together. Their technique in the water should not be hindered by needing full leg mobility to stay afloat. It requires a lot of self-control and, most importantly, swimming technique.

A good indication of whether the skills are sufficient for a mermaid tail can be tested by having the child swim butterfly. Since it's a swimming technique that also requires keeping the legs together, it would be wise to learn this technique before trying a mermaid tail. Due to the safety and different mobility in a mermaid tail, it's important that the child is a good swimmer and feels comfortable in the water.

For this reason, it is also recommended that children be at least 6 years old before they start swimming with a mermaid tail, but it all depends on technique and swimming skills. To make it a bit easier to grasp, we've listed the criteria we recommend children should meet before trying a mermaid tail:

• They should be able to swim butterfly - both on the stomach and back - and feel confident in this technique. This way, they avoid the urge to kick separately with the legs and panic when they feel the limited mobility. The legs should function as a unit.
• They should at least be able to swim 25 meters without assistance or aids
• They should be able to float on the surface for at least 30 seconds. This way, the child has the opportunity to rest on the water surface if they experience fatigue in the legs or arms.
• They should be able to turn around in the water without losing control of their body. This way, they can maneuver better and thus avoid accidents.

We also recommend never letting a child swim with a mermaid tail without supervision. If the child gets a cramp or experiences fatigue, it can quickly lead to accidents. But if you keep a watchful eye, swimming with a mermaid tail is both fun and safe.

How to properly put on a mermaid tail

There are some simple steps on how to properly put on your mermaid tail. This is one of the reasons why mermaid tails from Fin Fun are so popular, as they are incredibly easy to put on. However, you need to make sure that your feet are securely placed in the monofin. Our monofins are strapless and zipper-free, so you can quickly take them off if an accident should occur while the child is swimming. Therefore, they are also incredibly easy to put on if you just do it right:

1. Pull the fabric of the monofin well over the feet, so it fits snugly around the ankles. Just like with regular flippers
2. Then pull the fabric - which forms the tail - well over the bottom and hips, so it fits tightly. If the edge sits too low, the tail will come off as soon as the child starts swimming.
3. Always put the tail on at the poolside so the child is ready to jump into the water immediately. This way, they avoid having to walk with the tail on, which can damage the fabric and the monofin.

It's a really good idea for the child to practice kicking off the mermaid tail while in the water. Since there are no straps or zippers, children with the right technique can free themselves from the tail while in the water. This way, they can act quickly if they encounter an accident that requires them to use both legs separately.

Swim correctly with a mermaid tail

Since the legs in a mermaid tail are locked together as a unit by the fabric the tail is made of, it's important to use the right swimming technique. And if children have mastered their swimming skills, they will quickly experience a truly unique propulsion in the water. It will give them a feeling of being a real mermaid or merman.

The best way to swim with a mermaid tail is by using what is called a butterfly kick - or more aptly - a mermaid kick. Essentially, it's about kicking with both legs at the same time and in the same direction. This technique can be practiced before putting on the mermaid tail.

The best way is to keep the legs together while making a wave motion that goes from the fingertips, through the body, and ends in the feet. Once that's in place, you're ready to try with the mermaid tail on.

It might be a good idea to start by only wearing the monofin in the water, without the rest of the tail. This way, the child can quickly become comfortable with this way of swimming.

Afterwards, you can try with the whole set on, where the child tests it in a water depth where he or she can still stand. Before venturing into the deep water, it's important that they can take off or kick off the entire suit without help.

We also recommend only using a mermaid tail for children in the swimming pool, as it can quickly become dangerous to use it in the sea. Here, there can be both waves or unpredictable undercurrents that can make it difficult for children to stay afloat. If they do venture into the sea with it on, it should be in completely calm water, somewhere they can stand, and always with a watchful eye on them.

Make swim training extra fun

Although a mermaid tail for children can fulfill any child's dream of becoming a real mermaid or merman, it's also a good and fun way to improve swimming technique. Since you swim with the whole body in a unified movement, it strengthens the core muscles, which helps to strengthen many different muscle groups.

Ultimately, it will enhance their balance in the water, and they will therefore swim much more streamlined, even without a mermaid tail. And a mermaid tail for children just makes swimming laps even more fun, which can break the monotony of swim training.

Have the right gear in order

Here on the site, you'll find mermaid tails for children, all coming in sets, but that doesn't mean it's complete. Even if you have a mermaid tail in a certain color or pattern, your child can always put their own touch on the outfit with, for example, a mermaid bikini top or bikini set in matching colors.

Since much of the swimming time with a mermaid tail takes place as much under as above the water surface, it would of course be a really good idea with a pair of swimming or diving goggles. Both to protect the eyes, but also because a mermaid or merman should of course be able to see underwater. This way, you can make the whole experience complete.

Take good care of your mermaid tail

Although mermaid tails for children are generally very durable, they are fragile in other areas. The monofin itself is made of carbon fiber and covered with neoprene. This makes it incredibly flexible while being comfortable to wear. But even though the fin may seem robust, it also has a limit to how much pressure it can withstand. If you want to extend the life of the mermaid tail, we strongly recommend following these tips:

1. Never stand on the edge of the monofin! If you need to place your feet on the bottom of the pool, it's important to stand on the monofin parallel with your feet. Otherwise, you risk it breaking, turning the monofin into an unusable duo fin.
2. Avoid sharp and rough surfaces. Since the fabric of a mermaid tail isn't very thick, you can quickly tear a hole in it if you rub it against rough surfaces. The same applies if you hop around in it, for example, along the poolside.
3. The fabric is designed to be in both chlorinated and saltwater, but that doesn't mean it doesn't wear on the material over time. It's therefore important to rinse it thoroughly with cold fresh water after use and let it air dry.
4. If the fabric is predominantly cotton, you can wash it in the washing machine at a maximum of 30 degrees. However, it cannot withstand the dryer or being ironed at too high a temperature.

Buy your mermaid tail for children here at Watery.ie

For children who love water and may have seen The Little Mermaid, there will quickly be a desire to become a mermaid or merman themselves. With a mermaid tail for children, they can live out the dream while it's good for their swimming technique. Therefore, it's a fantastic fun way to combine play and swim training.

So find a mermaid tail that suits your child, so he or she can be fully ready to live out the dream of being a real mermaid or merman.