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WHEN CAN BABIES START: Healthy babies (as young
as 1 month) can start when the circumcision is healed and the umbilical
cord has fallen off.
WHY START SO YOUNG?:
The younger the babies, the more likely they are to accept the water
and instruction. Human infants are adapted to swimming. The behaviors
of automatic breath holding and swimming movements begin to fade
as early as 3 months of age. Exposure to swimming provides the ideal
exercise. They are not restricted to gravity and benefit from the
cardiovascular exercise it provides. It gives babies a head start
in learning basic swimming skills and improves bilateral coordination
and balance.
SHOULD PARENTS BE VISIBLE DURING THE
CHILD'S LESSON?
If the child is constantly asking for "Mommy or Daddy"
throughout the lesson and if the teacher is having trouble competing
for attention, it is generally best to have the parent "out
of sight and out of mind" until the child begins to bond with
and trust the teacher. Often, if the child thinks there is a sympathetic
person close by who will "save them" from their "plight,"
they will likely become melodramatic and emotionally distressed.
We want parents to watch the entire lesson, but often prefer that
they hide whenever their child becomes distracted by the possibility
that Mom or Dad might bail them out of their situation.
WHAT IF MY CHILD DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE
LESSONS?
Please read the article "Safety First and Fun Later" and
"In your child's best interest." Remember the benefits
and the alternative. At first, the child may have very resistant
behavior -- but eventually, the teacher will bring out THE BEST
in your child. We guarantee that you will be indescribably proud
of your child (and of yourself) for having persevered.
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The confident swimmer considers floating to be an alternative to swimming.
Visualize a child or person floating in water - face up (supine) with
an appearance of DOING NOTHING! Face is out of the water (maybe even smiling),
This child is actually DOING IT ALL with Comfort, Trust, and Knowledge
of Skill.
COMFORT
TRUST
KNOWLEDGE
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