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Jun
25

Classic Swimming Pool Games

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Summer Fun - (0 Comments)

Playing in a swimming pool with family and friends is one way of beating the summer heat. Check out these classic swimming pool games that are bound to keep everyone cooled off while having fun.

  1. Cannonball Contest – A classic pool game that gets everyone splashing around, the cannonball contest involves jumping off a pool board and creating the biggest splash. Players are first divided into two teams. The team goes to the opposite sides of the pool. The playing team will position themselves on the deeper end. Each member takes the diving board and jumps off with all his might, with knees touching the stomach. Whoever creates the biggest splash from the team will get the highest point from the judges, which is the non-playing team.
  2. Chicken Fight – This is another fun pool game that you can play under the sun. You need to form two pairs: One of the players from each team sits on his partner’s shoulders. With all their might, the players on top try to knock each other down into the water. Whoever stays on his partner’s shoulders is the winner.
  3. Whirlpool – Whirlpool is a fun game to play during a pool party. For this game, you need to ask everyone in the pool to form a compact circle. Ask everyone to walk first, then jog, and finally run to create a whirlpool in the middle. You can let the water current carry you around the pool or move against its direction for a challenge.

With these classic pool games, you can beat boredom and the hot summer sun while enjoying the refreshing waters of your swimming pool.

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Apr
30

How to Shock Your Pool

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice - (0 Comments)

Shocking, also known as “oxidization” or “super chlorinating,” is a chemical process that makes pool water clean and safe by breaking down wastes such as dead skin cells, cosmetics, body oil, sweat, and urine. In this process, the chlorine level is drastically raised for a short period to eliminate the bacteria and organic matter that could inhabit your pool.

Shocking is one of the most important routines that pool owners should know in maintaining their swimming pools. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  1. The pool shock should match your pool’s filter system. If you have a non-chlorinated pool, choose non-chlorinated shockers and if you have a chlorinated pool, go for chlorinated ones. Check out Backyard Ocean for a list of pool shock products you can try.
  2.  Read the specifications and instructions from the manufacturer. The amount of shocker you need depends on the size of the pool. When you have determined the amount you need to shock your swimming pool, pre-dissolve the grains of the chemical in a bucket of water. Remember to put the chemical into the water and not vice versa.
  3.  After mixing and agitating the water and shocker for one minute, pour the solution directly in front of a return line fitting while your filtration system is turned on. Pour slowly so that all the shock pool chemicals are distributed to the pool waters by the jet of water from the return line. This keeps the chemicals from reaching the pool floor. Keep your vinyl pool liner away from any un-dissolved pool shock because it may stain or bleach it.

The recommended frequency for shocking your pool is at least once a week. The heavier you use the pool and the more frequently it is exposed to rain and sunny weather, the more often you should shock it to keep your family protected from unsafe water.

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Apr
27

Pool Games for Kids: Alligators and Seals

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Summer Fun - (0 Comments)

Kiddie pools especially those coupled with pool slides are very enjoyable to children. Multiply the fun and learning they can get from this activity by getting them to play “Alligators and Seals.” This game not only brings excitement, but also develops their strategic thinking skills and physical well-being.

Rules of the Game

In Alligators and Seals, one child gets to be the Alligator while the rest are Seals. The “it” is the Alligator, who has to catch all the Seals that he can turn into Alligators. Each new Alligator will now help the original Alligator catch other Seals.

Now, while the Alligator simply lurks around the waters, the Seals have their own starting point. The goal of the Seals is to reach a designated safe place where no Alligator can catch them. If he can manage to cross the kiddie pool to the other side where the Seal base is located, then the Seal is safe. The child that has not been caught by an Alligator gets to win the game.

This game may sound easy at first until you try the Alligator or Seal walk. To do this, the kids lie on their bellies with their hands pressed on the bottom of the pool to support their body. The hard part about this walk is that the legs are not supposed to move. But if there is adequate water that can reach up to the elbow of the player, then his legs could be kept afloat while crawling, making the Alligator or Seal walk a lot easier.

Benefits of the Game

  • - The Alligator or Seal walk improves the upper body stamina of the child. If the child is still learning how to swim, a stronger upper body can be a great starting point.
  • - Alligators and Seals can stimulate the child’s brain as he starts to develop strategies such as where to pass in order to avoid the Alligator.
  • - This game elicits lots of laughter from the kids and laughter is believed to be very therapeutic.
  • - The game adds an interesting twist to an otherwise monotonous swimming activity for the children.
  • - The children get to be more comfortable with water and swimming, which is essential in learning how to swim.

Toddlers are extremely curious about their surroundings and as they experience new things, they begin to know the world better. Allowing them to play in the water, especially in a kiddie pool, will help stimulate their brain to make them discover and learn new things about their environment.

 

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Apr
13

Why Swimming is Good for You

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice - (1 Comments)

Your swimming pool at home may have been calling you to enjoy its waters but you had to refuse because you were busy. Swimming is truly addicting and once you dive in, you’ll find it hard to come up. But if you make time for it and arrange a schedule for swimming even for just a few short minutes, you’ll reap the benefits of this activity in no time.

Here are just some of the amazing rewards you can get from swimming and from taking advantage of that above ground swimming pool you just installed.

It’s a great way to exercise – If you don’t enjoy the aches associated with running, hiking and biking, or if you simply don’t like sweating, you will find swimming a pleasurable alternative while still getting the same benefits. If you get lazy to work out in the gym because of the hot summer sun, just get in the pool and swim. Just remember to keep your body hydrated while swimming by drinking water when you take a break.

It stimulates your cardiovascular system and burns calories even when your pace is slow. Sometimes, swimming even doubles the calories burned when you run.

It’s a great stress reliever – Dipping into the water allows your mind and body to loosen up. If you need a worry-free moment, go swimming and you’ll have a better take on the day. Do it early in the morning to leave you refreshed and ready to conquer your day.

It’s a good way to spend time with loved ones — If you’re juggling your time between meeting up with friends and working out, swimming is a great way to do both. When you enjoy swimming with great company, your social health also profits from it.

Best of all, swimming is a great social activity that lets you bond not just with your friends but also with your family. Make that quality time with your kids more fun and your relationship (and their health) will be better than ever.

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Apr
9

Caring for Your Swimwear

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice - (0 Comments)

Summertime is not just a period of relaxation but also a chance to showcase your taste in fashion with your stylish swimwear. A great looking swimsuit can make you look stunning but its fabric can wear off easily with swimming pool chemicals, high temperatures, sand and even the lotion you apply on your skin.

Because quality bathing suits are quite expensive, it’s only reasonable to gather information on how you can properly wash and store them. Follow these simple steps to keep your swimwear in pristine condition:

  1. After a fun day of wearing your swimsuit for sunbathing or swimming, rinse it with cool tap water and soak it for 30 minutes. Using plain water initially will get rid of most of the elements that may damage the fabric, including pool chemicals and perspiration.
  2. The oil that comes from your body can harm the fiber of your swimwear, causing it to decrease its elasticity while the chlorine in swimming pools can cause it to yellow. Therefore, it’s important to wash it as soon as you remove it.
  3. After rinsing your bathing suit, wash it with one tablespoon of liquid detergent. Powder detergent may not rinse off well, so it’s better to stick with liquid. Don’t use bleach as it may damage the fabric.
  4. When washing, turn it inside out, swish and rinse well. Always wash it by hand and don’t attempt to spin it in the washer. The movements inside a washer can distort its form.
  5. Don’t use a dryer to dry the suit. Instead, squeeze the water out gently, taking care not to wring it. Spread the bathing suit flat on a clean surface where the sun’s rays don’t shine directly, as the sun’s UV rays may cause the color to fade.
  6. If your swimsuit gets wrinkled, don’t iron it. Wet it instead so that the wrinkles will fade.
  7. Make sure the suit is completely dry before keeping it in storage.

Take better care of your swimwear by following these easy washing tips. This way, you keep it in good quality all-year-round, and perhaps for a few more years to come.

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