Splashin' About

"Swimming is fun for all ages and is certainly a skill for life!"

Sue Cackett from Holmewood House Swim School talks about how to introduce young children to the water, water confidence and developing a skill for life.

Learning to swim is an important life skill, but it can be a very daunting prospect whether you are a few months old or an adult. 

Swimming is a good lifestyle choice and can help keep up fitness and mobility during the later years of life.  Babies can be introduced to the water at a very early age.  This doesn't necessarily mean that they need to go to a swimming pool.  Much fun can be had during bath time, especially if some colourful toys are put in the bath for them to play with and rhymes and games are used, such as pouring water over their heads and splashing their hands.  Many swim schools offer adult and child sessions and these can be very helpful in introducing children and their parents to the aquatic environment.  The benefit of these sessions is that parents can meet other parents with similar aged children and be given guidance on what sort of things to do with their children in the water and how to make water a fun environment.

Once the children reach three or four years of age, many swim schools offer classes for the children in small groups without their parents being in the water with them.  This is a big step for little people and they need to be made to feel secure and safe in what can be a large and sometimes quite noisy environment.  These sessions should be aimed at building up their water confidence through games and group activities such as playing "Simon says" and choosing activities like "wash your face" and "have a shower". 

The children, once they become more confident within the group, like to take turns and suggest their own activities, which often turn out to be the ones that they have mastered themselves and wish to show off.  There are various badge schemes aimed at this age group and it is always a pleasure to see their delight when they have achieved their badges and certificates.

Once the children reach school age the teaching becomes gradually more formal with emphasis being put upon the development of correct stroke techniques and various other aquatic skills such as pushing and gliding and sculling.  Again the children can work and progress through various badge schemes and are rewarded when they have achieved various standards.  Once they have worked their way through whichever scheme they are following, then they can progress onto other aquatic disciplines such as water polo, synchronised swimming, lifesaving or competitive swimming. 

It is never too late to learn to swim either.  Many adults have not learnt to swim at all or wish to learn how to swim more effectively.  They quite often want to be able to swim with confidence to make the most of a holiday or enjoy swimming with their grandchildren.  The common cry is "I want to learn how to breathe when swimming front crawl."  This is often achieved much to their and their swimming instructor's delight.  Adults appreciate learning in a calm atmosphere and also encourage each other, which is a good aid to learning.

Article written for Spring 2008 issue by

Sue Cackett
Holmewood House Swim School
Langton Green
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN3 0EB
01892 860035
scackett@holmewood.kent.sch.uk