| 1.
When should I start teaching my baby to swim?
 Young babies have natural affinity with
water-in fact they often relax more in the
water than out of it. It makes sense to use this
positive relationship and expose your baby to warm, secure,
loving water environment as soon as
possible after birth.
Begin with warm, quiet,
soothing bathtime. Make the bath as deep and warm
as is comfortable for you and baby. Talk to
your baby; sing to him; maintain close eye
and skin contact; feed, caress and massage
him; sway him through the water supporting him while on
his back, and also on his tummy with his chest and chin resting gently
in your hands. Very young babies need stimulation but beware not
to overload the senses. Focus on one activity at a time, regularly changing
the position and type of stimulation.
 Aim to start your baby
in a quality swimming program from around 4 to 6 months.
Your baby should be immunized and in good heath. If your
baby was premature- check with your doctor first.
From as early as 10 months your baby may
start becoming wary of unfamiliar people and places. By 18 months babies are
developing an imagination and may even
start waking after bad dreams. To prevent the
possibility of water related fears, it is important
to expose your baby to regular pool sessions
in a playful, secure environment well before
this stage.
Babies who swim from
an early age are relaxed and confident in the water
and avoid the emotional stress that
may come when starting later. From
as early as 4 months babies can
safely and happily enjoy shared
water experiences with their
parents in a quality baby
swim program.
''A good aquatic program
will educate
parents to start activities
in the bath with their
baby from birth. In this
safe water environment a
very young baby who still
has little voluntary movement
on land can start to experience
a wide range of movement-with lots of
wonderful stimulating sensations, all of which reinforce
the learning
process. Once baby is old enough to  move
into the group programs
at the pool (usually from 4-6 months)-the social aspect
adds another
new and wonderful dimension."
Julie Zancanaro, B App Sc OT
2. What can my
baby learn?
When prepared gently and consistently, very young babies
quickly learn the cues for going underwater. They will
submerge comfortably and happily, enjoying the magic
of short underwater expeditions. Initially an experienced
teacher will guide you when allowing your baby
underwater. You will learn to read your baby's posture
and
facial expressions-don't be surprised if your baby is
ready
before you!
 Some other important skills your baby will learn include:
- Confident enjoyment in and under the water
- Independent
and unaided movement through the water
- Jumping
in, turning underwater
and swimming back to
the wall for safety
- Reaching up to a high wall
and climbing out
- Holding a pool wall and negotiating
along
it to steps
or shallow water
- Relaxation in the back floating
position
- Popping up to breathe in order
to see the wall and swim longer distances
- Realistic awareness of swimming
ability without floatation aids
- Important
safety
rules, such as
never entering
the water with-
out an adult watching
3. Are there
other benefits from
baby swimming?
A quality, play based, aquatic education
program can offer lots of stimulation
(physically, socially and intellectually) to
enhance the development of your child.
Swimming is also a wonderful
life skill. It will eventually develop into
activity, sporting activity, or perhaps both.
 Perhaps
most importantly, baby
swimming is an education for
both you and your child. You
will learn how to continue
your child's aquatic education outside of
lessons, and
to make the most of your time in the
water together. The bonding and trust that will develop
between you
and your child as you share water experiences and
learn together will be
something to treasure for the rest of your lives.
"
We often refer to a young baby as "taking it all
in"-and it is obvious to many parents
(as well as child development experts)
that this is precisely what the baby
does from the moment it is born.
The colour, movement and smiling
faces (in the pool) are very strong
stimulators to develop baby's vision,
and the music, rhythm, laughter,
splashing and variations in voice
tone further stimulate baby's
brain. From birth children are carefully watching
adult faces to imitate, and the more often they're exposed
to happy, smiling, positive social interaction the more positively
they
will develop in their own social and interpersonal skills.
The most
powerful potential enhancer of baby's development is in the
area
of skilled movement and co-ordination. The
water environment provides invaluable sensory information
for the development of good
movement and co-ordination skills. By exposing the young child
to a
range of stimulating, safe, and age appropriate sensory experiences,
we aim to enhance and extend the development of the child."
From "Are You Just Teaching Swimming
and Water Safety?"
Julie Zancanaro, Australian Swimming Coaches & Teachers Association
Journal, Nov-Dec 1994
| 4. Are all swim
programs safe for my baby? |
 |
To ensure a safe environment for
your baby, pools must be warm (between 30 and 34 degrees)
and very clean. Programs must be designed and delivered
by specialists who understand the development of young
children and the importance of teaching skills in a
positive and consistent way.
If
a swimming program places your baby under stress (physically
or emotionally), negative associations with water or
swim lessons may develop. Programs must be gentle, playful,
and in tune with your babies needs to ensure progress
is achieved safely and happily. |
5. Can learning
to swim save my child's life?
There are many cases where very young children have
fallen into pools
and swum back to safety. In fact Hills Swimming babies
(as young as 21
months) have been featured in newspapers and on national
television
after saving themselves. However children are unpredictable
and there
is no guarantee they will remember-supervision is essential.
 Babies who have been
in lessons with their parent and without the
use of floatation aids are less likely to enter a pool
without an adult.
They will have a more realistic awareness of their own
swimming
ability and will have practiced a variety of skills to
get back to safety
if they fall in.
Teachers and parents
work closely together to teach skills in a happy
and playful atmosphere so that if your child finds himself
accidentally
submerged he will be relaxed and buoyant. He will then
have a better
chance of remembering and using the skills he has practiced
during lessons. Turning
back to the wall and swimming
to safety is an achievable survival skill which
requires calm clear thinking.
How
these recovery skills are taught is very important. Teach
your child appropriate
recovery (survival) skills, and then do
everything in your power to
ensure they don't need to use
them. Watch them-always!
| 6. What training
should baby swim teachers have? |
 |
This may be the first educational
program for you and your baby. You need a teacher who
is highly trained, experienced and mature-one who has
the ability to teach both you and your baby.
Anyone
teaching aquatics to children under 5 yrs should hold
the AUSTSWIM Infant and Preschool certification. All
Hills Swimming teachers are nationally accredited, trained
in our unique program, and kept abreast with the latest
developments in infant swimming from around the world. |
7. What do classes
involve?
 You and your baby will be placed in a class with
other babies around the same age. The class
will be small (5 babies) so that you receive all
the attention and individual tuition you need.
Specialised play equipment
including slides, floating mats, underwater "castles",
and swings, will be used to motivate your
baby to extend their skills. Specifically designed
games and activities will develop
confidence, teach important skills, and have
your baby asking for more!
Young children are more
comfortable when they know what to expect and they
learn through playful repetition. As your baby
progresses, activities will be modified
to become more challenging. The atmosphere will be relaxed
and positive for both
you and your baby,
and your teacher
will guide you as you learn and practice
new skills together.
8. How long will
it take?
 Young children learn quickly,
however they are just as quick
to forget! They need regular revision and practice (at least
once a week) to retain skills and progress.
Of course babies are unique
and learn at their own
individual pace. They all plateau (or regress) occasionally.
Continue with lessons and stay positive as your baby "cements
together" new skills.
As
your child grows, swimming skills will also develop and extend.
There is no end-point to the process. You are embarking
on a journey
that begins with water
confidence and will lead to
a respect for water safety and
a love of swimming that will
remain for life!
9. What else
can I do?
Visit the pool and talk about lessons in a relaxed
atmosphere.
 Play with your child in a warm pool
or bath. Have fun! If you relax they will.
Encourage your child to play under a sprinkler
and to have a shower.
Get ready for going
underwater by pouring a small amount of water
over your child's head while saying
our cue, "Ready, set, go!" Use your
hand or washer keeping your
actions slow, confident and gentle. A
playful approach works best.
Arrive a little early,
be positive and relaxed. Like any new experience-
first days can be daunting. If your
child is upset, reassure with a cuddle,
a happy face and lots of eye contact.
If they need some space feel free to take some
toys to a quite corner. Remember to
rejoin the group
as soon as your child is happy again.
Use positive language
and maintain a watchful but relaxed attitude
near water. Avoid terms like "dangerous" or "drown".
Young children
are very in tune with the facial expressions, body
language and choice
of words used by their parents. If you are anxious
near water consider
some classes for yourself to improve your confidence
and skills.
Enroll in a resuscitation
course. Hills Swimming conducts Royal
Life Saving Society of Australia (RLSSA) resuscitation
courses for the
parents of young children.
10. What makes Hills
Swimming different?
-
 The smallest classes you'll find-a maximum of 5 babies
- Personalized
baby certificates featuring a photo of you and your
baby-a new certificate every 6 months!
- Division of the program
into age and stage so that your baby is
with others of similar ability and can make new friends
- Very
warm water and heated air in a modern enclosed facility
- Generous
baby change facilities and room for prams
- Outstanding,
highly qualified teachers, who are experienced
and mature
- A purpose built
pool with a special teaching ledge where your
baby can play and explore independently
- An
ideal learning environment with unique large
water
play equipment
- Variety and innovation so that parents and
children are always
challenged and never bored
- A commitment
to quality, ongoing parent education
- An internationally recognized
and acclaimed program
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