WHEN TO START SWIMMING?

Some people believe that after nine month's in a fluidenvironment babies are born without fear of water an able to swim, so that the sooner you introduce them to the water, the better. Babies naturally move their arms and legs about when they are put in water shortly after birth and there are specific methods for teaching very small babies to learn to swim by which some spectacular results have been achieved. However, on health grounds, it is not advisable to start going swimming too early. Babies should not be taken to a public swimming pool until three weeks after their first immunization. The three weeks give the vaccine time to be absorbed into the body. Psychologically, it is best if a baby is used to going in the big bath at home before being taken to the pool. For many babies, 4 - 5 months can be the ideal age to start going to the pool. By about 6 months, they are usually starting to sit up and will try to do this in the water as well as out of it. By 8 - 9 months they are often becoming more fearful both of water and strange environments. In general, the older a child is when she first starts going swimming, the more apprehensive she is likely to be. However, there is no point in going swimming early if you do not feel that you are both ready for it.

FIRST TIME IN THE POOL!

Go on a day when you have plenty of time and both you and  your child are on good form. Don't go when your child is tired or hungry, or for an hour after a meal or feed. Remember that your main aim is simply to get your child to enjoy herself in the water. A child who is confronted with swimming lessons may feel out of sorts at first: it may be due to the new environment, the pool or the new teacher. A young child may find it frightening to hang in the water without feeling firm ground underfoot. Give your child time to adjust. Lots of encouragement and praise from the parent is of the utmost importance. Even if your child manages to dangle her feet in the water for the first lesson, it should be seen as progress and this deserves recognition!

WHAT CAN I EXPECT OF MY YOUNG CHILD?

Don't become too complacent about your child's ability - supervision is always necessary when young children are in the water. Do not rush your child through the stages of learning to swim or to start teaching him to do the proper strokes too soon. Always remember that your main aim is for your child to enjoy the water. But how long will it take until your child will be able to actually swim? This depends on the
child's personality and innate ability. Some children who are slow starters end up being the best of swimmers in the end! Children of 2 - 3 years need more lessons than those between 3 - 5 years of age. Some children are able to jump in the deep end of the pool and swim after only 16 lessons while many children can only manage this after 32 lessons.

NERVOUS CHILDREN!

Don't force your child in the pool if he is nervous. Continue to watch from the poolside and rather walk around and point out other children enjoying themselves. Do not compare your child unfavorably with others. Encourage him/her to sit on the edge and dangle his/her feet in the water. If the child continues to be frightened, it may be best to give up the idea of swimming for a few months, before trying again.

WHEN TO START STROKES?

Children vary in the rate at which they learn to swim just as they do in other aspects of development. Children do not have the strength to swim on the surface of the water until they are about 3 years old. Then  they may be able to do a dog paddle type of stroke on their front and swim on their back with their arms out to the side. Before a child starts to learn the major strokes, he should be able to swim at least 10 meters on his own. A child is ready for strokes when he can glide and float smoothly in the water. Some children may be able to start strokes as early as age 4 or 5, though this is unusual for a child to have the strength or comprehension level to do them properly before he is 6 or 7.