BABY SWIMMING
I have three children. Their current ages are 5.5, 3 and 23mths. Each of my children began swimming at 2 weeks old. I actually qualified as a swimming teacher in 2003 prior to my first child being born and later in the same year I undertook my specific adult and child water activities!
Due to my extensive experience in both teaching, and taking my own children, I have become passionate about child and baby swimming! There are not many skills in life that have the ability to someday save yours, or somebody else's, life but swimming is one of them! Yes ballet and football can provide all of the benefits I will describe, but could they one day save your child's life?
Taking your child swimming for the first time can be scary! Both for your child, and you! Just be mindful that your child will sense your mood so be upbeat, cheerful and as relaxed as possible! Let your child explore water at home first in the bath where things can be relatively controlled and relaxed and when you do go to the pool it can be a good idea to take their favourite bath toy with them to focus their mind on an enjoyable object that has nice memories for them!
Whilst in the pool take things at your child's pace and give lots of hugs and praise along with positive affirmations! One of the massive bonuses of swimming is the skin-to-skin contact that occurs. You are both skimpily dressed so the bonding opportunity is immeasurable. Use reassuring tones and your can sing quietly or talk in a relaxed voice. By giving your child/baby instructions such as 'kick your legs' or 'blow bubbles' or 'stretch and dig with your arms' you are increasing their awareness and understanding which can result in a mentally sharper child. It is also well documented that talking to your child will increase their speech development.
Through the use of water based activities you are giving your child a workout. Their heart and lungs are working to improve their capacity to deliver oxygen around their bodies and they are using their muscles against the water which will strengthen their body! Another bonus will be increased co-ordination. Evidence also shows that your child will have improved eating and sleeping patterns as a result of their swimming.
In response to the immunisation debate I followed the advice of the NHS which stated you could take your child at any age and any stage of their immunisations. All three started at two weeks and went swimming regularly. I always had them wearing a swimming nappy and appropriate swimwear to ensure their was no leakages.
I have outlined some of the songs and activities I use in my adult and child classes to give you tips on how to achieve a little more structure in the pool. You do not have to sing out loud but the activities will give you and your child something to focus on rather than just sitting in the water. By keeping your little one focused and busy you take their mind off of being nervous or overwhelmed.
If you would prefer a more structured environment with other babies and children you can find adult and child classes to attend. My swimming for adult and child will run on a Saturday at Turnford pool. Babies 3mths-24mths will be 12.30-1pm and 24mths-4.5yrs at 1-1.30pm. Beginner and intermediate lessons run at the same time so older siblings can have their lesson at the same time. Prices are £25 for 6 week term and £23 for siblings for 6 week term. See
www.swimminglessonsforall.weebly.com
Suggested water activities:
warm-up songs: have your child facing you.
GRAND OLD DUKE OF YORK: march up: lift child high out of the water, march down: back down to surface. (judge your child – if confident lots of splashing and submerging but nervous children take things slowly)
DINGLE DANGLE SCARECROW: lots of splashing.
HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT: clap your hands/splash your face/kick your legs.
Moving activities: hold your child under the arms and move backwards or hold onto their trunk and stand to the side encouraging movement from them. You can also encourage correct kicking action by resting their head on your shoulder and holding their leg straight at the knees and kicking their legs up and down – encourage nice and floppy ankles.
FIVE LITTLE DUCKS – encourage swimming using arms and legs 'kick legs up and down' 'stretch and dig with your arms'
WHEELS ON THE BUS – 'wheels on bus' using arms and legs in swimming action, 'engine on bus' blow bubbles like the sound of an engine, 'children on bus jump up and down' lift out of water and drop back in.
Other activities – encouraging baby/child to be relaxed and comfortable in the water through essential skills such as:
JUMPING IN – start with sitting on edge and singing 'humpty dumpty' and letting child fall in (can hold under arms and move to no holding support) – always finish song after the 'fall' by turning child/baby around and swimming them back to the side. You want to encourage them to always return to the edge if they fall into a body of water! The next stage will be to stand on the edge with toes hanging over and jumping in to the song 1/2lb of tuppeny rice.......
At the classes we use many many more songs to fill the thirty minutes. I really do wish I had the room here to describe them all to you! One final point to remember is that swimming should be fun for you both. Never force your child to do something you feel they will not be comfortable with and enjoy your time together.
Resources used in writing:
websites:
www.forparentsbyparents.com
www.immunisation.nhs.uk
www.britishswimming.org
www.nhs.uk
books:
swimming teaching and coaching R Cross and C Wilson