In 1975 Laurie, a former swimming coach and teacher, started advocated the benefits of teaching babies to swim. His new found passion came after the birth of his first child when Laurie observed the absolute joy his daughter had as she learnt to swim. Laurie also soon observed the many social, emotional, health and physical benefits that she and other babies in his swimming program received.
Why Babies Learning to Swim is Important
Babies have a natural affinity with the water after being immersed in the watery environment of the womb for 9 months. It makes sense to maintain baby’s natural affinity with the water and introduce them to the many pleasures as soon after birth as possible. Babies have the freedom to move, stretch and exercise more freely in the water than they do on land. This is fantastic for their physical development and building of muscle tone, strength and cardiovascular system. Play in the bath, and later the pool, gives parents the perfect opportunity to stimulate and educate their baby.
Bath time and swimming lessons promote bonding between parent and child. Here, parents can have that fantastic skin to skin contact with their baby, which helps to promote the child’s emotional and social development. There are so many benefits of teaching babies to swim.
Head over to the Swim Australia website where they list some fantastic reasons for why babies learning to swim is so crucial.