My Staff and I spent time learning from world renown baby swimming specialists, Rob and Kathy McKay, of Lifestyle Swim School. Here we learned the Gentle Journey method while expanding my skills on how to teach infants and babies how to swim in the most natural, gentle and positive way. The program they have developed is amazing and we are excited about bringing their child-centered swimming lesson format to Central Florida.
Gentle Philosophy
by Rob and Kathy McKay
Build the stage around the show…Little people 6 months through 4 years old, deserve special “handle with care” treatment. Nurturing the needs of each child, allowing them to unfold at their natural pace. To optimize your aquatic classroom for learning, combine an interactive curriculum with a well organized, yet spontaneous lesson plan. Together with mom and dad, through games, songs, laughter and engaging activities, you can create a warm, loving and safe environment.
Baby swimming has many positive benefits, like sunken treasures beckoning to be discovered. In order to unveil these awaiting treasures, we need to build the stage around the show, to adapt the class to the level of experience and understanding of the children involved. Introduce skills when the children are relaxed and ready, and only skills that are age and developmentally appropriate, accommodating for individual differences. Patience, consistency, play, repetition, commitment and positive parenting are the pillars of a successful program.
However, these treasures of the water are just as easily denied if children are not treated with dignity, understanding or respect. The program needs to be taught from the child’s point of reference, teaching them the way that they would want to be taught. Placing adult values and compressed time frames on infants and toddlers creates an imbalance and undue stress on all parties concerned. If skill acquisition becomes the only goal, meaningful learning on many levels can be lost. The priority must be focused on the positive development of the whole child, with swimming skills mastered as the child’s capabilities and “readiness” allows. Parents should never let panic (the fear of drowning) dictate an aggressive/intensive course of action in swimming lessons. “To avert an even graver outcome, great care must be taken.” (Omega) We must distinguish between short – term quick fix remedies and long-term responsible positive cures. A comprehensive strategy for water safety needs to be implemented, of which swimming is a part, however, the well being of the child should never be sacrificed in swim lessons to meet this end. Parents need to be well informed and implement all aspects of water safety. (i.e.. supervision, barriers, pool safety fencing, CPR and child centered swimming lessons).
Swim lessons were never meant to be grim. Infants and toddlers should never be exploited in swim lessons to fulfill the accelerated expectations of a teacher or parent. Whether created out of a fear of drowning, compressed time frames, financial short-cuts or impatience. Parents need to realize that they can not live vicariously through their child’s accelerated achievements. Children should feel safe, be comfortable and experience trust. Pressuring children as a “necessary evil” to submit to rigid techniques and skills in swimming lessons that they are not ready for lacks compassion and understanding. This should not be a race for gold medals or a quest for imposed survival swimming. Often these “firm but gentle” techniques fueled by fear, place more emphasis on the firm than on the gentle. Society has learned that perpetrating violence or aggression toward children, perpetuates a cycle of violence and aggression. An adult simply would not tolerate such unrelenting acts of domination when used against them. Babies are not capable of fighting back. The emotional well of an infant runs deep; they possess a keen awareness of what is happening to them. Often the only avenue available to communicate their distress is through crying or non-verbal symptoms. These protests are not manipulation as their fears are real. Too much stress to the innocent child can lead to a surrender and malnutrition of the spirit. Science has documented the fact that the seeds we sow in infancy, both negative and positive have a profound influence on the development of the mental and emotional blue print for the child’s entire life. Dominating or forceful methodologies fail to see the whole picture or the whole child. Intended to give parents “peace of mind”, they throw the child’s “peace of mind” right out the window. It is crucial to approach baby swimming more in human terms and less in clinical terms. The ripple of a pebble in the pond’s smooth waters, radiates outward in multiple concentric circles. So to does our teaching influence, affecting our young students on multiple levels. Not only must we seek the beauty of aquatic motion, but also tap into to the beauty of the child. Those individuals committed to this endeavor must be devoted to the highest good of each child with whom they come in contact.
Children should enjoy the water experience from day one, providing a rich, supportive setting allowing them to develop into healthy and happy individuals, as well as competent swimmers. Parents (and teachers) need to be relaxed, in tune with their child and create a positive, proactive and happy atmosphere. It is important that they too enjoy class. Children need to be comfortable and confident above water before they can ever begin to swim with their face in. Celebrate each small step along the way. Create an environment that unlocks the sunken treasures, generating a life long love and respect of the water, as well as, a life long hunger for learning and exploration. All serving as a catalyst, planting a seed, for the child to reach their full potential.
Benefits of Baby-Friendly
Infant and Toddler Swimming
The benefits of “baby-friendly”, infant/toddler swimming are unique, uplifting and contribute to the positive development of the whole child. Through the soothing medium of water, we are able to tap into the child’s potential, both within and without.
Researchers have documented that the stimulating effect of child-paced infant/toddler swimming lessons has the potential to increase intelligence, concentration, alertness, and perceptual abilities. Improvement in social, emotional and physical development has also been published. Of course, the manifestation of such inspired cognitive, personal and motor development takes time, patience and repetition. I have personally observed this phenomena and have confirmed this with other veteran instructors, especially in children who started lessons prior to12 months old, but it’s never too late to receive these unique and subtle benefits of infant-toddler swimming. These babies eventually become extremely peaceful and relaxed in the water.
Water is a forgiving healer, its caressing and stimulating effect on children with special needs is most remarkable. Its buoyancy is like an invisible helping hand. Zero gravity allows for freedoms that do not exist on the dry land. Optimal learning conditions, combined with kindness and patience can even release a withdrawn or hurting child from their shell.
In what other medium are you able to bond face to face, skin to skin and share the joy of learning together?
Early swim lessons set a positive foundation towards a lifetime of participation and enjoyment in a variety of water sports and aquatic venues on, in and under the water.
Each class is an interactive recreational activity in a new and exciting liquid environment. “Go Pool” are often among the first words spoken by young “Diaper Dolphins”. Swimming imports great joy into the lives of infants and toddlers. It also fashions healthier and stronger individuals.
This is often a child’s first social experience out of the home that involves their peers. They learn to relate and interact with each other and look forward to seeing their class mates. Caring and patient moms and dads of young children have an ideal opportunity to meet like minded people who share common interests.
For the right people, in the right situation, baby swimming can nurture a connectedness to family, community and to the outer world.
Safety skills are a primary reason why many people initially enroll in lessons. But, as you now know there is much more to infant/toddler swimming than merely one aspect. However, with the acquisition of safety skills not only is early swimming life enhancing, it can be lifesaving. The younger a child can begin their swimming adventure the sooner they will be able to build a foundation for the eventual ability to perform age appropriate safety skills (never imposing techniques on a child against their will or with the use of force). We must note that it is always the parents’ responsibility to ensure the safety of their children. Swimming safety skills and home pool safety will be discussed on following pages. (i.e.. supervision, barriers, pool safety fencing, CPR and child centered swimming lessons).
Early swimming fosters a growing sense of self-esteem, confidence and independence. As a child’s ability to freely move through the water increases so does their sense of well-being . Eventually, for those families who persevere, a point is reached where their child truly feels at home in the water and becomes a Diaper Dolphin.
“My happiest time is when I can play in the pool with my mom and dad.”
Take it slow, have fun, enjoy the journey, go the distance– the pay off is for life.
What Babies Can Learn
The journey is …as important as the destination. Learning is a process, not a product. It takes place at the child’s pace, not when the teacher says it, not when the parent wants it, but when the child is capable, relaxed and ready. Create a positive learning environment, enjoy each session for its own sake.
Harmony with… the water. Smooth swimming, not thrashing, takes practice, patience and a great deal of time. At each level, we are setting a foundation. Each age group has new and more complex skills compatible with the developmental abilities of that group. It is best to introduce skills only when they can be acquired with ease and confidence. Every child gets there in the end, if you put the time in at the beginning.
Together…parents, children and teachers are part of a much larger picture. It’s about developing a parenting style in relation to your child’s learning style; learning to encourage and support rather than demand and demean. Remember to praise, not push. Never compare your child with peers or siblings. Just as walking, potty training and reading all come at different age and rates of acquisition so too does swimming come. There is no deadline. Invariably, the slower we go, the faster they learn and the better the retention and technique of the learner. We must remember that while we teach the children to respect the water, we must never lose our respect for the children in the learning process.
Comfort is the key…
Before we explore what infants and toddlers can learn under the surface, it is important to have your child comfortable above the surface. Your baby needs to be relaxed in the swimming pool with you and feel at ease in the social setting of a group class. Once your child is adjusted to this new aquatic classroom, you will want to slowly and gradually over days and weeks adjust them to water dripped over their forehead. Eventually, you can smoothly pour a small stream of water down their forehead across their face, on the count 1-2-3-pour (just several times a session). Keep it fun and playful, using toys, songs, a washcloth, etc. This will prepare your baby for the learned breath holding “cue” during their initial submersions. The ideal situation would be to initiate this facial water adjustment in the bath tub in the months prior to class (no shampoo and soap). By the time your child is ready to begin class they will have accomplished their first major hurdle in learning to swim like a “Diaper Dolphin”, being adjusted to the water.
Brief Overview of Swimming Skills
The purpose of the following skill profile is to provide you with a broad idea of the potential that exists at various ages. This chart is intended to reflect the skills and abilities of children with long term swimming experience who swim with ease and confidence. Many factors weigh into a child’s progress, such as comfort, experience, confidence, frequency of practice, motivation, innate abilities and the attitude of the parents. Beginners entering a program would need to start with water adjustment and gradually acquire new skills in a sequential learning progression, regardless of age. For example, a 3 year old new to swimming would start with the first level of skills.
Highlighted below is a sampling of skills that can be learned by experienced swimmers:
Some relaxed infants as young as 6 months -10 months old with proper prerequisites and training can learn to hold their breath on cue when dipped underwater. For those who continue to practice, by 12 months of age some will be able to swim 5 seconds between two adults, swim to, reach for and grab onto the side of the pool, as well as, perform a sitting jump off the side. They will also begin to participate in songs, games and express their joy with smiles. For those families whose circumstances do not allow adequate practice time to reach the 5 second swim, familiarizing your child with the water at young ages sets a positive foundation for lessons when they are older.
Some toddlers as young as 19 months-24 months old once they have accomplished the above skills with proper prerequisites and training can begin to learn to jump off the side of the pool, turn around and swim back to the side. For those who continue to practice, by the age of 25 months old, a great spurt in endurance and kicking ability can occur.
Some experienced toddlers by the age of 28 months-36 months can begin to learn to recover up for a breath. However, teaching this skill too young can create vertical “water walkers.” We wait until our swimmers begin to self-initiate this skill and have developed a strong flutter kick before we introduce it.
Some seasoned 36 month-4 year olds will begin to back float. As the 4th birthday approaches, more children will accept the back float. Our experienced 3 1/2 year olds will flip from front to back and vice versa. The vast majority of infants and toddlers are not comfortable on their backs until at least 3 years old. Children love swimming under the surface at this age.
A few year-round students will be able to accomplish the above skills with ease and confidence at earlier ages. However, the acquisition of such skills through forceful means, by an adult over a child, is inappropriate and distressful to the child. We will only introduce experienced and receptive babies to back float exercises. This process is presented through fun games and activities. It must be noted that making back float an imposed priority to unwilling infants and toddlers can have a devastating effect on the well-being of the child. The same holds true for forcing children underwater on their front before they are ready.
