Benefits of Infant Swimming
Sue La Fauce, Aquatic Kidz, Morayfield, QLD March 2005
Teaching a baby to swim is a long term process, however it's the journey itself and not the final goal that will prove to be a most unique and rewarding experience! As the child develops and accomplishes each of the many skills on this special journey, it gives the parents a great sense of pride and personal satisfaction which makes the whole experience so worthwhile.
Babies originate from the warm liquid environment of their mother's womb, and if we can
maintain the newborn's natural affinity for water through their initial bath times followed
by the progression to early infant lessons, they will learn to love and respect the water
from an early age. Maintaining continuity of lessons will prevent the child developing
a fear of the water as they grow older.
There are several factors to consider when parents are choosing a swim school for their baby - class size, teacher rapport, pool temperature, clean facilities etc. A heated pool will ensure that not only is the water warm, but the air temperature is warm and comfortable also. Young babies can become cold very quickly, so they should be kept in the water throughout the lesson and away from cool drafts. Upon exiting, they should be immediately wrapped in a towel and dressed appropriately. Parents will find that swim schools have different philosophies and teaching methods, therefore they will need to choose a program that they feel will benefit their baby the most and which fulfils their own expectations. Each child is unique and individual, and the program should allow for the child to develop and acquire skills at their own natural pace.
Babies will learn breath control, submersion, floating, propulsion, water safety skills etc. They enjoy the feeling of "freedom" that the water provides and are therefore able exercise more muscles in water than on land. Subsequently, infant lessons will enhance the baby's physical development and quite often they will tend to walk earlier than usual. The lessons are an interactive and fun-filled activity that will build and strengthen the bond between parent and child and will also enhance the child's balance and co-ordination, as well as their alertness, concentration and cardiovascular system. The level of activity involved in infant lessons gives the child a good physical "workout" and parents find they usually tend to eat and sleep better on swimming days.
The group structure of infant lessons enhances the child's social development through
interaction their peers, teacher and other parents. The lessons also provide parents
with the opportunity of establishing new friendships as well.
As infants learn to manoeuvre and propel themselves through the water on their own, they develop an abundance of independence and self-esteem, and this further stimulates their interest in learning and experiencing new and more difficult tasks.
The immense enjoyment children experience through their lessons will give them a positive attitude towards continued participation in exercise and sport as they grow older.
Although no child can ever be "drown proof" a combination of supervision, barriers, first aid and providing children with swimming lessons from an early age will give them the best protection in and around water. The earlier a child commences their lessons, the sooner they will develop and acquire the safety skills they'll need to put into practise if they happen to experience an accidental submersion.
