* Learn, and all will benefit enormously . . .

07 July 1999 (Barbara and Jasper)

Commitment, Consistency, Patience, Play, Practice, Repetition and Positive Parenting are the pillars of a successful program where swimming is concerned.

• As a parent, you will be secure in the knowledge that you are helping your child to learn the survival skills that he or she will need for LIFE.

• Infant and preschool aquatic programs are designed to introduce preliminary aquatic activities which, with maturation, patience, practice and time, may lead to the development of age - appropriate aquatic skills in infants and preschool children.

• On health grounds, it is not advisable to start going swimming for infants under 6 months of age. Besides the risk of chilling, young babies have very little natural immunity to disease.

• The infant and preschool aquatics teacher's (skilled advisor and facilitator) role is to provide knowledge and support for parents (supporters and teachers) and to demonstrate, through an effective program, appropriate methods of teaching infant and preschool children (the learners). Main focus is to allow your baby to discover buoyancy through feeling and understanding the water.

• Water experience offers parents good opportunities to teach their children many important developmental skills, even language skills. Three important principles to remember are sequential progression and skill mastery, modeling (imitating), and signaling and cuing.

• Many parents expect their babies to be able to swim soon after they are introduced to the water. It all depends on what is meant by swimming. From birth to nine months, babies adjust easily to a water environment. The later babies are introduced to the water, the more likely they are to object to the unfamiliar sensations and thus experience fear. Some infants may move freely in water after just a few lessons, it is very rare that they become able to swim unaided to a target before entering their second year. By focusing on enjoying being in water with your baby as your main goal, you avoid putting pressure on achievement and expecting quick results, both of which are often counter - productive.

• Swimming can be the first sport you have fun with together and can be enjoyed for a lifetime .

• Develop baby's natural response in the water. A relaxed and positive approach will give your baby confidence in the water, but if you are feeling anxious and nervous he or she will detect these feelings. And don't feel guilty, it's all part of the learning for both of you. Practice and you'll both do better each time. Teaching your baby the joys of swimming is a bonding and challenging experience for both parent and child.

• Don't be over - ambitious for your child. Allow your child's strength and stamina to gradually develop and improve at his or her own pace. No baby has a smooth, even progression towards unaided swimming. Regularity is most important for babies. Never try to hurry. There are no shortcuts! Improvement often comes naturally with plenty of practice. Your child will learn much more in short frequent regular visits than in the occasional long one. A child's attention span is extremely short. The younger the child, the shorter the attention span. Babies' concentration and movement intensity dwindles noticeably after about twenty minutes of activities.

• Don't be pushed off when the child does not or no longer seem to enjoy the water, continue your regular visits but don't undo all the earlier good work. It is a good idea to just hang around and watch as the others carry on, rather than skipping lessons.

• Success for some children comes sooner and for others later, depending on each child's ability to process information. It is important to bear in mind that every child is a unique and special person so don't compare!

• Don't ever show panic. If your child suddenly slips and disappears under the water, lift him or her out quickly, efficiently, and put a big smile on your face (even if your heart is beating two hundred times a minute). If the child chokes during practice, do not make an alarmed or distressed expression, which may worry him or her. It is a healthy process, which you should acknowledge as such, and congratulate with a sense of humor. This way the child will assume that going under the water is fun and it's not something to be afraid of. Keeping your sense of humor in the water is an essential parenting skill. Babies and children need to discover the consequences of their actions.

• Mind your reactions and your words if your baby cries in the pool. Remember each child is different, some like water more than others. Rather than jump to the conclusion that your child does not like water, check for other possibilities. And don't ever shame or embarrass your child when the child cries. Shaming the child will only serve to increase the child's anxiety and fear. Build self - confidence and gradually self - reliance in the water through closeness, communication, trust, play and lots of praise.

• Swimming tends to relax children to the point where they will often take a short "healthy" nap after the class. Children who swim regularly will often sleep through the entire night. Z z z z z z z...

• Discipline is a must during swimming lessons. It is the parents' entire responsibility to discipline or control their children and at the same time help them to participate in an orderly manner during class activities. Inactive or passive parents can contribute to disrupting the smooth flow of instruction. These inactive or passive parents will not accomplish anything, but instead will create a lot of frustration not only for their own child, but for everyone else nearby. Most parents who cooperate, in turn, will catch on quickly. Set clear rules at the pool about what is permissible and what is not. Take action firmly, without alarm. Decisive and firm, yet calm and steady movements are essential for successful submersion. At every stage in your baby's development, your challenge and commitment as a "water parent" is to offer as little support as possible in the water until your baby shows signs of being ready to take off.

• Early swimming skills will help your child to develop strength, co - ordination, confidence and greater mental agility. It also helps in the development of a stronger respiratory system: Stronger heart and lungs.

• The water adjustment phase is a stage where children will learn to get comfortable with their new water classroom environment. It is important to ensure that your child is confident and content in this new water environment, as these early experiences provide the foundation for the development of invaluable aquatic skills.

• Children, through consistent learning and repetition, can happily propel themselves with ease and confidence in water. The emphasis throughout is on allowing children to proceed at their own pace without being pressurized. Praise, hugs, kisses and the joy of their accomplishments motivate them to take on new challenges.

• Watching, interpreting and signaling what comes next are all part of water parenting. Being in water with you is a rich multi - sensory experience for your baby.

• Experts believe babies who have an early swimming experience show improved physical and psychological development. Swimming also enhances a baby's balance, strength, coordination and endurance, concentration and sense of independence. Swim training for babies is becoming ever increasingly popular.

• Swim caps are great as it helps maintain body heat loss through the head. Always keep the shoulders and torso immersed in the water for as much as the session as possible and avoid sitting on the pool edge wet on cooler days. In all cases should the child becomes chilled or their lips begin to quiver, it's time to stop the swimming for the day!

• If you are a non - swimmer yourself, consider enroll in an adult course and learn to swim. Silicone swim caps are good as they don't stick to the hair.

• Swimming is undeniably the most widely recognised, best all - round exercise to stay fit and toned.

• A person's desire to pass water grows during and in particular after being in the water due to the Gauer-Henry-Reflex. Also called Diuresis reflex. The renal passing of water is regulated by stretching receptors in the left auricle. Through the increased amount of blood in the heart the desire to pass water grows while in and shortly after leaving the water, thus resulting in more urination.

• Always leave on a happy note. Just as with beginnings, endings are important to create happy memories. Babies and children like saying goodbye to the pool.

"  Learn  A  Little  Bit  On  A  Lot  Of  Days  "

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