Parent Swimming Directory

• Teachers and swim schools enrolled in our professional development programs are presented with teaching strategies, programming advice, lesson planning and best practice knowledge that Laurie has developed over the past 40 years.
• The teachers and swim schools listed on our site are receiving new training material each month to keep their programs at the forefront of the learn to swim industry.
• This training ensures your child has the best swimming experience possible.

When looking for a swim school there is a wide range of factors to consider apart from the obvious – clean warm water, qualified teachers and a happy learning environment.

Like any educational establishment, a swim school needs to have a strong curriculum.

World Wide School’s recommends you consider the following elements:

1. This curriculum should be graded and age appropriate.
2. All learn to swim programs should follow progressive teaching and learning of basic skills. What does this mean:
   • If children have not mastered breath control they should not submerge.
   • If children have not mastered floating they should not be encouraged to use propulsive movements.
3. In infant swimming, learning age-appropriate skills are most important. It is impossible to teach children certain physical skills before they are developmentally ready. Good swim schools will study and build the baby swimming lesson around their developmental needs and readiness for a particular skill.
4. Parental involvement is essential when learning to swim. Swimming is a complex physical activity in an unusual environment. It requires time, patience and a commitment from the parent.
5. Parental supervision and participation in swimming lessons is encouraged for children under 4. This creates a safe and secure learning environment and assists learning as children get individual attention from their parents.
6. Maximum practice time where children are kept busy practising their swimming is vital. Look for a swim school that:
   • Has patient teachers
   • And that keep children busy and active

Exposure to water will also determine how confident your child becomes in the water. Therefore children with home pools or children who attend lessons more than once a week will learn faster.

If you, as a parent, are not prepared to be patient persist and encourage your child all year round you cannot expect to gain the social, health and safety benefits that children gain from learning to swim at an early age.

Finally, fear is another factor that can slow down a child’s progress.

Patience is a quality teachers require if they are teaching a frightened child to swim. Any swimming lessons that force or terrify children against their will are totally inappropriate.

• Swim Schools should hold professional memberships with AUSTSWIM and Swim Australia.
• In Australia, swimming teachers should hold current accreditation with AUSTSWIM or ASCTA.
• ASSA – the only body where Swim Schools can actually be members.
• Swimming teachers must also have a current CPR certificate.

• We recommend parents take their child to the pool at least twice per week.
• Parents should combine formal learn to swim lessons with exploratory play opportunities in different aquatic environments.
• The more exposure children have to the water the sooner they learn their capabilities and boundaries in the water.
• Parents should also utilize the daily bath routine to consolidate basic swimming skills like water familiarization, breath control and floating.
• Bath time swimming lessons are particularly beneficial for children under that age of 4.