CAPITAL IDEA!

Swim For Life®-branded swim caps are available.  These excellent quality latex caps are a great way for you to market your learn to swim and survive business or school.  If your school or swim school is interested in branded swim caps, please contact Roger by email or telephone (04) 801 9600 to discuss.

PARENTS & KIDS GET WET

A recent letter to the editor in the Tots to Teens magazine could not go by unnoticed!  WSNZ regularly advertise in Tots to Teens along with a selection of other parent's magazines.  The following is both reassuring and positive for the role of parents in children learning to swim and survive!

"I have a comment regarding swimming lessons for kids.  Both of my children went to swimming lessons from a young age as both my husband and I love the water.  The lessons were fantastic and both the children now swim using correct strokes etc.

What I think is often overlooked is parents' place in teaching the children to swim.  A half hour lesson once a week can only teach so much.  We constantly had the children in and around water right from birth.  This doesn't mean you have to take the kids to the pool all the time though.  We showered with the kids, letting the water run over their faces is a great game, bathed them with much splashing and jumped in pools whenever we could.  All this meant when they did have swimming lessons they were confident around water and learnt very quickly."

Julie, Christchurch

The benefits of not only learning to swim in terms of developing confidence in the water but also a strong parental approach to learning to swim is vital! 

GET IN ON THE ACT

Well-known swim school identity Hilton Brown becomes the 50th operator registered for Swim For Life.

Hilton Brown, one of the largest swim school operators in New Zealand.

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SWIM AND SURVIVE TIPS

Breathing Drills

Breathing is the foundation for life and is as much a part of learning to swim and survive.

• Dry land breathing - This can be practiced on pool deck or standing in shallow water.  Take a breath on 1, blow out on 2, 3, 4, 5, and repeat.  The systematic breathing should be repeated until it becomes automatic for the child.

• Small Plastic Ball - The swimmer standing in shallow water, with chin on the surface, repeat the same system as practiced above.  Breathe in on 1, and blow the ball on 2, 3, 4, 5, and repeat. 

• Face In Water 1 - Breathe in on 1 (face out of water), place face in water and blow out on 2, 3, 4.  Blow bubbles on 5.  Keep blowing and lift the face out of the water.  This is the "Bob", which is an excellent breath control drill and fun for the swimmer.

• Face in Water 2 - Using a kick board, kick and blow bubbles, working on the 1 to 5 system, lifting face up to the front to take a breath.  Advanced swimmers should have the board out in front of the face.