Swimming for infants and toddlers: teaching and benefits
Just as we teach a child to speak or walk, we can teach him/her to swim from an early age. Baby Swimming is a very rich activity, which brings many benefits to the child, in many countries it a compulsory subject for children.
Benefits of swimming in babies:
- Helps to develop a favorable psychomotor.
- It helps the body to develop better and strengthen muscles, bones and joints.
- As an exercise high in energy cost, helps stimulate appetite and eat better.
- Helps to oxygenate and promote good blood circulation.
- Stimulates the sensitivity of small
- It helps to relate.
- An excellent recreational activity to relax the nerves.
- The baby enjoys the weightlessness of floating.
- There are some studies showing that children who swim at an early age can achieve higher average test scores, both physical and mental and intellectuals who were engaged in school-age against children who have not practiced any sport.
- Swimming can help you develop greater confidence in the young, learning to manage in a different environment. This can help them get a better self-esteem.
- Finally, swimming is a form of additional protection that may save them from aquatic accidents.
Teach your child to swim!
You can help your baby learn to swim very fast; it will be a very rewarding experience because you can promote through this practice a closer relationship between you and your child. And you need not be an expert, just to know certain rules and tips to facilitate this learning, you'll see that both will enjoy it.
Swimming for babies
The first thing to know is that the myth that babies can swim on their own because they have been in the amniotic fluid for many months, is false. While it is true that while the baby floats has the ability to close the glottis automatically as notes that there is water near the throat, and is not afraid of water. That's why babies seem to learn very easily this recreational activity. It is best to start before six months, it is when can adapt better to water, and can easily float and dive, although it is always indispensable assistance of an adult. If the baby gets used to water from this age, soon will achieve independence in the water.
However, if your child already exceeds this age, and you want to teach to swim, most likely have some resistance to water, in this case, it is best to use the following techniques.
How can you help to lose the fear of water?
You have to start by not forcing him, and slowly inviting with games, if he sees that you enjoy the water, will be encouraged. It is best when you begin with small pools begin where they can put their feet and go getting used to water games. Gradually you can begin to go to the deeper pools. You should not be impatient because sometimes this process may take time for some children, but it is very convenient to go slowly. You can then accordingly ask child to get into the deep pool by holding him and carrying a toy or ball.
Once in the water
Once the baby or child is in the water, the following steps and rules are recommended.
- To begin, one must know that every child has a very different rhythm to learn. So you should not pressure you or make strict rules, everything should be a game from the beginning, the baby or the child should note as you enjoy being in the water. So the first thing is to start playing with the water, teach him how to throw a ball or toy and make him notice as a fleet, dive play, as if you were to pull a sled. And do not go to the next stage until you see your baby enjoy the water. Keep in mind that the temperature of the pool, the environment, the movement in the water, can affect the kid.
- Once you see your baby enjoy the water, then you can start with the classes, but not without losing the spirit of the game within the pool.
- It is important not to show fear or say things to show fear when they do something little dangerous. Avoid phrases like "Do not do it, you can drown!" Best use phrases like "This will help you swim faster," accompanied by an example. Do not be intimidated nor suggest that water is dangerous.
- Between games, you suddenly begin to take off the hands and suggest kicking like imitating animals, or pretend that their feet are the driving force behind a boat. Then, go slowly dropping their hands, leave to float for a few seconds by themselves. If you they not want this, you have to wait until they ask. If not requested, then suddenly let go as it is a game for seconds, everything should be in the tone of play and creativity can be used to go taking confidence.
- Once you succeeded to float on the sole, should be stimulated by encouraging them to swim more and farther distances, spontaneously and without further technical or anything, as you can. Letting them swim freely is a way to explore capabilities. You can get a little out and say they have to reach you.
- If they know how to swim, you can put an arm movement and kicking exercises using a table when the child is a little older. If you do not know how to do it, then you'd better resort to a professional teacher.
Swimming is a game, and it’s not hazardous or complicated.
Whenever you want to teach something new, it is necessary that you or someone you know do it as often as necessary. Never force the child to go in the water. You have to please with games and entertainment, he has to see that you are enjoying the water and have to motivate yourself to feel like participating.