2 August 2010 Ducklings 2 Badge

Today Sam was presented a certificate and badge for meeting the requirements for Ducklings 1 and 2 swim levels. In 10 weeks she went from being scared to let go of me in the water to trying to swim on her own, face in the water, without any buoyancy aid. The parents are quite pleased with her progress and the instructors at the local pool, but… Kellogg’s? The Kellogg’s ASA Duckling Award? As in Battle Creek, MI? As in Rice Krispies? Apparently. Kelloggs, along with British Gas and a number of other corporations, is a major sponsor of British Swimming and the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association). And in addition to making Rice Krispies and Frosted Flakes (known as Frosties here in the UK), they also make swim certificates and badges for children. Who knew.

The Brits seem to be big into certificates and badges. I don’t mind, as they give Sam something concrete to work toward, and she doesn’t seem to get hung up on whether or not she gets a badge. Although this afternoon, after we left the pool, she was positively floating.