As a former school teacher and Physical Educationalist, it is Laurie’s belief that good swimming schools, apart from the obvious benefits of clean warm water, qualified teachers, and a happy learning environment, should like other Educational Establishments, have a sound curriculum.
This curriculum should be graded and age appropriate.
All learn-to-swim should follow progressive teaching and learning of basic skills.
More simply,
- 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.
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 swimming lesson around baby’s developmental needs and readiness for a particular skill.
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.
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.
Maximum practice time where children are kept busy practicing 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.