Newborn babies are like little sponges, soaking up information from their new environment. After being contained, protected, and immersed in a watery environment for nine months the new baby is “ready to learn”. Therefore, stimulating the 5 senses is important in the learn to swim process.
Learning takes place via the senses, therefore we need to consider stimulation of:
- Sight
- Sound
- Taste
- Touch
- Smell
All Senses are Important
All senses become vitally important in baby’s physical, emotional, and psychological development. Therefore, water is a perfect medium to stimulate your baby. In addition, the bath becomes a place of fun, enjoyment, stimulation and learning. Parents should provide cuddling, singing, playing and communicating opportunities as part of the daily bath routine. As a result, these early learning experiences in the bath tub are actually your child’s first informal swimming lessons.
The brain goes through major growth spurts in the first and third year of children’s lives. During the first year of life a baby’s brain doubles in weight as connections are being made between the brain cells. Connections begin to form when a baby has to think about something. Contact with sight, sound, taste, touch and smell promotes baby’s thought processes.
Stimulating the 5 Senses
Stimulation of the five senses is very important to aid baby’s growth and development. Parents who make a conscious effort to stimulate baby’s senses will not only foster their child’s development but share a remarkable journey as their child grows physically and mentally.
Newborn babies have been immersed in the womb for nine months and therefore know no fear of the water. They appreciate, love and enjoy the stimulus that comes from being in warm water, and hence are more accepting of the conditioning process which we use to prepare them for their first underwater experience outside the womb.
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