Did you know -
those with a large head in proportion to their body, will lose body
temperature faster than those who are in proportion with their body
size.
Did you know - swimming skills assist with the development of writing and
mathematical skills. The left and right brain action is stimulated when
arm and leg action are all moving in time. As swimming skills develop so
do the fine motor skills, as required for writing and lateral thinking.
Did you know - left handed children usually have more difficulty learning
breathing because of their dominant right brain function. We have tricks
to make the process easier. If your child is left handed please advise the
pool deck supervisor.
Did you know - Body position is the most important part of swimming, not
what your arms and legs do.
Did you know - Swimming during the cooler months reduces the risk of
asthmatic attacks for asthma sufferers. This is due to the lungs working
in a low impact environment, allowing them to exercise in a warm
environment.
Did you know - colds
and flu are viruses and have nothing to do with going swimming. Those
who learn to swim and survive all year round are less susceptible to
colds and flu, as the regular exercise circulates the oxygen around the
body maintaining a healthy immune system.
You sometimes hear parents talk about what happens when a child falls face down in a pool or pond. Sometimes
the child won’t stand up, even if the water is very shallow and they could stand up in it easily. They stay face
down in a starfish position until picked up.
This is why children – even toddlers – are taught to “recover” from a front float. Unless this skill is taught,
a child doesn’t know how to correct itself from the prone position. It is vital that it is taught to all ages.
This is also why these steps are used to encourage children to put their feet on the bottom. Learning how to move
in the water from a horizontal to a vertical position is not as easy you might think! The size of the head in
proportion to the rest of the body is much greater in a child, and it reduces as we grow.
It is important that this recover skill is revisited if a child has been out of lessons for a period of time.
Balance skills need to be reinforced. Just like riding a bike you are always wobbly when you first ‘get back in
the seat’, but very quickly balance is regained. Should this skill be overlooked, a child’s head will be arched
up when trying to stand and they could possibly ingest or aspire water. Aside from being potentially dangerous,
this will also impact on the confidence of the child.
Revise recovery every swim and survive lesson: Eyes open, feet down, stand up.
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.
