THE BODY
PHYS ED
Paula Hickman frequently finds one or two parents in Françoise explains the success of this method:
Paula Hickman strongly believes that gentle
a class who are not confident - she gives them “Relaxed holding is developed so that babies gain an
encouragement is the key rather than forcing
homework too - “putting their face in water in a salad increasing sense of security and freedom in their own
children beyond their will. So, her beliefs sit very well
bowl and blowing out bubbles into the bowl.” time until they are ready to take off away from the
with those of Françoise Freedman.
parents’ arms, preferably without swimming aids but
What about the “dunking technique”
with the use of buoyancy supports such as short
The children learn incidentally rather than through a
or submergence?
foam woggles. From the start, parents are guided to
formal process of teaching kicking and paddling.
hold their babies as little as possible and particular
By playing games, they pick this up without too
There continues to be some debate with regards to
techniques have been developed to this effect.”
much thinking
forced submergence of babies and toddlers. A
number of schools see submergence as a priority for
She passes on her belief in her articles advising
teaching. Paula believes the focus should not be
“Relaxed holding is developed so that swim teachers: “We are in a very special and
entirely on submergence - some kids love it and take
babies gain an increasing sense of
responsible position as Baby and pre-school swim
to it immediately but there are certain risks to
security and freedom in their own time
teachers, as we are sharing with babies & children
consider - potentially damaging the relationship
some of their very first water experiences. Surely,
between parent and child or child and water: “When
until they are ready to take off away
our desired outcome is for the child to experience a
the child feels confident and in control they will
from the parents’ arms”
feeling of confidence, freedom and harmony in the
submerge of their own free will.”
water. We have plenty of time to achieve this.
The integration of “movement, rhythm, eye contact,
There is no hurry. If we go too fast, especially with
Swimming in the Amazon?
speech and song” while babies are held in water is
introducing lots of forced underwater experiences,
These theories are very much in harmony with the encouraged. It is helpful if parents are immersed and
we are at risk of inducing a feeling of fear or
work of Françoise Freedman, who, through her on the same eye level with their babies. She
abandonment. If we look back, this is the opposite
Birthlight Trust, an educational charity set up in explains: “Front rides where you swim on your back
of our desired outcome.
Cambridge, has developed practices inspired by with your baby on your chest are the first stage
yoga and the natural swimming style seen in followed by back rides where babies cling to their
The diving reflex definitely occurs when we put a
Amazonian tribes. parent’s backs while they swim breast-stroke. This
child under the water. We have witnessed it many
then leads to seal dives in which parents with their
times. However, it is a reflex to survive. It is a
Whilst undertaking anthropological fieldwork in the
babies on their backs swim freely and take dives.
response to oxygen deprivation. In other areas of life
Amazon, Françoise saw how Amazonian children we do not desire to put our babies in situations that
learnt to swim in the rivers. Learning was easy and Transition to voluntary kicking and using the arms is elicit survival reflexes very frequently. We must
babies rarely cried. Babies were trained to hold on to an important stage from the end of the first year remember that we have a great deal of time for the
their parents and swim towards them, being picked onwards so special games have been developed for baby to choose to have this experience . . . and
up before they got distressed so the experience was the transition period and keep interaction between
when they do, surely they are more ready. Freedom
fun and easy. parent and child.”
of choice.”
Splash About’s Top 10 Tips for Baby Swimming
1. Firstly make sure you have a qualified Baby swim teacher, there are many excellent schools 6. Smile, smile, smile at your baby, keep eye contact, praise her!
and teachers around. You can search the internet for a school near you or look on
7. Make sure the school you swim with is properly insured.
www.splashabout.com for a list of teachers in the UK.
8. Never make the mistake of using a normal disposable nappy, they absorb and hold the water,
2. Relax, this is a bonding time for you and your baby, something you will remember all your life
weighing baby down. If you are going to use disposable nappies use one especially for
and a great start for your little one.
swimming, they are available at all good supermarkets and some nursery stores.
3. Make sure you are swimming in a warm, clean pool. The pool should be at least 31° and all
9. Don’t ever try and immerse your baby without proper instruction! The beautiful photographs
babies and toddlers still using nappies should be wearing good swim nappies.
you see of under water babies are always taken AFTER a swimming course is completed and
4. Never take your baby in the pool if they are unwell - or if you are. It won’t be a happy time and with trained teachers in full control. Please never attempt to do it yourself.
you are risking your baby’s, as well as other people’s, health.
10. A love of water is a gift for life, play and have fun, even in the bath. There are lots of books and
5. If the water is cooler, or if in a warm pool your baby is chilly, use one of the great Warm in DVDs with ideas of water games to help your little one enjoy and be comfortable in water.
Water mini wetsuits available. Also helps eliminate the pool to changing room shivers!
You will be the expert with your baby and make your own games together!
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