THE BODY
WATER FOR LIFE
Wow! 8 gold medals in as many days. Michael Phelps had us open-mouthed in awe
and wonder: seemingly uncomfortable in his own body on dry land but fishlike as
he dolphin-kicked his way through the shimmering water of the Beijing Watercube
WITH DROWNING
BELIEVED TO BE THE
THIRD MOST COMMON
CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL
DEATH IN CHILDREN,
TEACHING A CHILD
AS YOUNG AS
POSSIBLE IS VITAL
We can’t all be Michael Phelps nor,
How does water confidence help development? This is approached through gentle, natural play
perhaps, would many of us strive to be
3D environments in water are created through
which builds confidence. The children learn
but safety and confidence in water is
games. This freedom of buoyancy and
incidentally rather than through a formal process of
teaching kicking and paddling. By playing games,
something that perhaps every child should
independence for small children is a welcome break
from playing on dry land where gravity makes
they pick this up without too much thinking. Circuit
learn - a life-saving tool at the very least
exercise harder. In the swimming pool, by moving
games, making the pool like a playground with
but also a way to keep fit and have fun. freely, they can develop their arms and leg muscles,
activities in each corner, using the bottom of the
learn to cross over their midline - where their right
pool, jumping off the side and turning big foam mats
Paula Hickman started swimming at the age of 3,
arm crosses over the left hand side of their body -
into slides are all ways to build confidence and skills.
joining her older brother in swimming classes. Whilst
and start to feel balance; all key elements for early
Paula competed until she was 16, her brother,
years motor development.
James Hickman, continued on the international
In the swimming pool, by moving
stage, becoming a 5 times World Record Holder, freely, they can develop their arms
Commonwealth Gold Medallist and Olympian.
and leg muscles
Paula did a sidestep into film and television but on
the birth of her daughter got back into the pool and
now specializes in teaching young children to enjoy LINKS
Social skills?
Children also learn to socialize with other children
swimming through water confidence courses
which flow in harmony with the child’s body and
Paula Hickman is an ASA Swim Teacher and
and adults in a calm world away from the stresses of
brain development:
Specialist Infant aquatics educator. Her
real life. This is where fathers’ involvement can also
Manchester based company, Enjoy Swimming,
come into play, believes Paula: “It gives dads an
So, what is water confidence?
offers water confidence classes for pregnant
opportunity for “skin on skin” bonding with their
mums and 0-3 year olds: www.enjoyswimming.org
child, something that mothers usually get more of a
Water confidence is based on safety as a priority.
chance to experience. It is often the case that dads
With drowning believed to be the third most
The Birthlight Trust runs classes and training for are more chilled out and are up for playing a bit more
common cause of accidental death in children,
swim teachers: www.birthlight.com and letting their kids go a bit further than mums.”
teaching a child as young as possible is vital.
The Swimming Teachers Association:
Through specially designed techniques which help
www.sta.co.uk
Parents’ fears?
the child relax and breathe properly, children are
But what if, as a parent, you fear water yourself or
The Amateur Swimming Association:
helped to develop survival skills without the added
are scared for your child?
www.britishswimmin.org offer further information
tension of them feeling in danger, or abandoned, as
on qualifications and training
“Parents who themselves are scared of water but
they learn. For example, children are taught skills don’t want to pass on their fears and who want their
such as what to do with air: blowing bubbles rather
The Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents:
children to be confident safe swimmers can also
than inhaling water.
www.rospa.co.uk offers advice on water safety
benefit from the classes and gaining water confidence.”
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