The many wonderful reasons to teach your child to learn to swim:  Being part of that process can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences a parent can have with their child.

By Julia Ham (Hampton Swim School) Some parents choose to delay the commencement of their child’s swimming education, believing that their backyard pool plays a more important role in aquatic development than structured lessons. BUT WAIT, in 2009 alone in Australia over 50 children between the ages of 0-17 years died by drowning, with many more near-drowning incidents and accidents occurring around the pool or beach. As previously reported, many of these children were left unsupervised, so it's easy to see why swim lessons sooner rather than later provide an additional barrier against drowning. Safety aside, swimming is a great form of exercise and, as well as being fun, it promotes time with the family and opens the door to many water sports such as water polo, sailing and nippers. The most common question asked by prospective parents of children of Hampton Swim School is, “when is the best time to start swimming?” Opinions on this topic vary. Given Qld’s lifestyle, the likelihood that a child will be...

Some parents choose to delay the commencement of their child’s swimming education, believing that their backyard pool plays a more important role in aquatic development than structured lessons.

BUT WAIT, in 2009 alone in Australia over 50 children between the ages of 0-17 years died by drowning, with many more near-drowning incidents and accidents occurring around the pool or beach. As previously reported, many of these children were left unsupervised, so it's easy to see why swim lessons sooner rather than later provide an additional barrier against drowning. Safety aside, swimming is a great form of exercise and, as well as being fun, it promotes time with the family and opens the door to many water sports such as water polo, sailing and nippers....

There are plenty of wonderful reasons to teach your child to swim, and being part of that process can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences a parent can have with their child. Swimming encourages fun and learning, and helps a child develop confidence and a positive self- image. Research has shown that early swimmers perform better both socially and academically and that swimming from an early age enhances not only gross motor skill development and coordination but also the personality development of a child...so swimming...

The physical benefits for children of swimming at all levels, from birth through to competitive swimming, are numerous and well known. Less well known perhaps, is that swimming serves as a wonderful aid to the development of the social skills and behaviours of the child. Infant, toddler and pre-school swim classes provide the child with an early introduction to learning to follow instructions, and to the concepts of sharing, turn-taking and structured learning. Swim classes also promote social interaction between participants and, through structured play during which the child learns appropriate behaviours (both right and wrong) through listening to instructions and watching others, they provide a vehicle for nurturing and enhance the social and cognitive development of the child. At the primary school age level, the social skills acquired through early swim classes are able to be refined and further developed. Children who become team-mates in a mini or junior swimming squad are able to enjoy a group environment...

The wearing of goggles in swimming pools is commonplace and indeed goggles are often worn by children in swimming lessons from a very young age. However, it may surprise many parents to learn that the decision to have their child wear goggles is one that may potentially endanger their child’s life! Goggles are typically used to increase a child’s comfort, relaxation and orientation in the aquatic environment. Goggles encourage the child to submerge and allow them to open their eyes and ascertain their position under water clearly. Goggles are also an aid for preventing pool water and...

Many parents struggle with the decision regarding whether or not they should allow their sick child to participate in their regular swim lesson. While the busy schedules of many families often make lesson rescheduling difficult, parents should consider the following advice in respect of the appropriateness of allowing an ill child to swim. Swimmers who are sick with diarrhoea or a vomiting bug should not be swimming, as they risk contaminating pool water with the diarrhoeal germ that can live for days even in the most well-maintained pool. Such infections are passed via even the smallest...

Bathing an infant may seem like an intimidating task, especially for first-time parents. However, bath time can be an enjoyable cleansing ritual, and can offer the parent an opportunity to bond with their new infant in a soothing, relaxed environment. Aquatic experiences like that afforded by bath time also stimulate a newborn’s numerous senses, and allow the baby the freedom of movement through buoyancy and floating that gravity prevents. The following issues regarding bathing a newborn are worth considering. Bathing does not increase the risk of infection to an umbilical cord stump, so there is really no need to wait for the stump to heal completely before getting your newborn into the tub....

From humble aquatic beginnings at my local Swim Club and then subsequently through my many years of training up and down that black line in preparation for swimming for Australia, I was fortunate enough to be coached by two gentleman who, apart from their obvious contribution to my success as a swimmer, were wonderful mentors who had a huge impact on my development as a person outside the pool. As an amateur swimmer, my fondest memories are of the positive atmosphere my first swim coach provided. Mr Johns taught through a process of encouragement; realising that young swimmers participate mainly for enjoyment and that winning constitutes only a small part of teaching a child sport. In the athletic arena, be that in the pool or on a field, coaches have a responsibility that extends beyond the provision of a safe environment in which to place their charges in age- or ability-based groups and the implementation of a suitably appropriate program. Most people associate the success of a coach primarily with the technical or racing aspects of their sport. However, the success of a coach should also be determined by their dedication and ability to effectively provide a program for youngsters that will enable them to learn the value of striving to improve themselves; not just whilst participating, but outside the playing field too....

For parents attending their first swim lesson with their child, or for even those seasoned swim school parents – here are my Top 10 “Swim Lesson Etiquette Tips” that will help ensure your child’s lesson goes “swimmingly”! 1) Arrive early so that both you and your child are familiar with the surroundings of the aquatic centre and relaxed prior to lesson commencement. Running late not only disrupts your own child’s learning, it also interrupts the momentum of the class already in progress. 2) Come prepared! Swimmers/sun-shirt, towels (a spare is handy, especially in cooler...

The benefits of swimming can be enjoyed by adults as well as children. Parents should consider jumping in for their own health and fitness, as well as an opportunity to enjoy the water with their kids. In the course of teaching a babies’ class earlier this week I demonstrated a new activity that required both parent and child to submerge and swim underwater together for 3 seconds. I was astonished to observe that of the six parents in the class only one was able to perform the exercise effectively, with three of the remaining five parents appearing uncomfortable and awkward going underwater...

Young babies have a natural affinity to water. However, there may be times when your baby becomes restless or upset in their swimming lesson. No parent likes to see their child’s tears, and a common reaction of parents to tears in a swim lesson is to become panicked or embarrassed over the way the child is behaving, or instead to think “my child just doesn’t like the water”. Parents need to be aware of the potential reactions of their child in a swim lesson, and they need to understand why such reactions occur and how to apply appropriate solutions that ensure the lesson is both enjoyable and beneficial to the baby. Swim lessons can interfere with the sleep or feeding routine of the child. Signs that this is the case may include rubbing eyes, falling asleep, or baby indicating a need for milk/food. If this is happening, parents should check for alternative class times or try and adjust their routines accordingly. Cold is another factor that can upset the child. A sun-shirt or wetsuit can help, as can simply keeping baby’s shoulders under the water as much as possible throughout the lesson away from any drafts or breezes....

Children have so many activities and lessons available to them it is difficult to fit everything in to their busy schedule. How do parents know how when a child is ready to stop attending swimming lessons? One of my swim school parents recently told me of their intention to stop their 6-year old’s swim lessons as they believed that their child was now “water safe”. When pressed as to what exactly they meant by “water safe”, the parent explained that her son had been taking swim lessons for 3 years, and could now swim 25m unassisted and float on their back, and was aware of basic water safety information. Moreover, the little boy had said to his parent that he wanted to start sailing lessons instead. Discontinuation of swim lessons at this early age and for reasons similar to those mentioned above is all too common. However, before interrupting the progress of a child’s swim lessons, there are several issues that I believe a parent should consider. Firstly, there is a popular misconception that attending swim lessons will ensure a child’s safety around water and guarantee them “drown proof”. While swim schools are in the business of providing water skills which are designed to help assist in the prevention of drowning, they cannot prevent drowning from occurring. There is no such thing as being either “water safe” or “drown proof”, and the role of a swim school is to impart knowledge, tools and skills to a swimmer for them use when a dangerous water-related situation arises....

Heading into Easter marks the end of Queensland’s hotter weather, and with this change in seasons many parents choose to forego swimming lessons in favour of other winter sports or activities. WAIT! There are several critical issues to be considered by parents in respect of swimming as an activity that their child ought to continue all-year round. The most important of these issues pertains to the dangers that are posed by water which do not abate just because the months are cooler! While aquatic activities are generally associated with the summer months, Queensland enjoys an inherently...