Studies in Australia suggest children begin to master water confidence and basic aquatic locomotive skills at around four years of age. But babies can begin getting familiar in the water from the age of six months.
Guidelines from AUSTSWIM, the national swim teaching body, help inform the programs at AquaBuddies, defining the correct age to introduce babies into the water with their parents.
Lessons can help a baby get used to water, put their face under the surface and learn to close their mouths. It is also a lovely opportunity for parent and child to bond as both are in the water together. AquaBuddies’ parent and baby classes at Coogee have proved particularly popular.
“The most important thing when introducing a baby to water is the temperature – 32 degrees is the ideal temperature. Babies can’t regulate their body temperature the way we do, so cold water, including the beach, can cause a baby to lose temperature quickly,” says Bianca Ion, owner and director of AquaBuddies.
In terms of using public pools – the jury is out on whether or not to wait until they are vaccinated.
“I personally waited until six months with my bubs, however I suggest consulting with your doctor if you are unsure, as each baby is different,” says Bianca.
Parents can gradually encourage their baby to get comfortable in water by how they manage bath times. It’s an opportunity for beautiful parent-baby bonding time with skin to skin contact and making baths as much about play time as it is about wash time.
Research also suggests that swimming in the early years can benefit physical, cognitive and language skills among three to five year olds.
At AquaBuddies, early years classes involve play-based activities that help develop confidence combined with learning skills such as floating, submerging and life-saving safety skills such as returning to a wall and climbing out of a pool.
If my child is frightened of water, should I delay swim classes?
Being afraid of water is a very normal childhood fear. Like any other fear it’s important to be patient and understand that it can take longer to develop the skills that other children seem to be flying through, says Bianca.
It can be very frustrating and exhausting for parents to manage a fearful child and there is a temptation to cave in and postpone swimming lessons altogether. But it’s not usually the case that a child outgrows their fear over time without professional guidance.
“It’s important to discuss any fears with the swim school before starting lessons and maybe even come for a visit before the child has their first swim.
‘Regular water exposure and consistency is even more important when a child is fearful. Giving up at the sign of anxiety will just reinforce the idea in a child’s head that the water is an unsafe place,” says Bianca.
What about children who start swimming classes relatively late?
As children grow up, there tend to be more social occasions based around water, such as a friend’s pool party or an outing to a water park. Even if you think your child is big enough to get out of a dangerous situation in water, the fact is that anyone – whatever their age – is susceptible to drowning if they don’t know how to swim properly.
It’s never too late for a child to learn to swim, insists Bianca. However, when a child gets a bit older they may have reservations and feel embarrassed about being in a class with younger children that are at the same level.
“Every child is different, but if you feel that your child will feel embarrassed, I recommend private lessons to begin with until they reach a certain level of skill to transition into a group class.”
Another option is to sign up for an intensive swimming program. This involves a lesson each day, for a week or more. Practising and repeating activities each day helps fast track the development of skills and get a child up to speed so that they can swim with their peers.
“Whether your child is older or just starting out in the world, the most important tip for parents is to have fun with your children in the water and have regular water plays. Building confidence and a love of swimming all starts with you.”
