It’s actually very easy for children as young as 6 months old to begin to learn to swim. Infants actually feel very comfortable in the water. Remember – they were in amniotic fluid for 9 months! But this doesn’t make mom and dad comfortable with their tiny one being in the water.
There are some activities that parents can do during bath time that will help to prepare their child (and themselves) for the experience.
This is really more about mom and dad’s comfort level than anything else because limiting these activities to the bath tub and to bath time give parents total control over the situation.
Parents can fill the tub and get into it with their child where they can promote their comfort in the water and help them to do exercises that will get them used to the water and therefore, raise their comfort level when they finally get into the pool. Just remember to do these activities before any soap is put in the water.
1. Submerging the head.
This introduces children to the sensation of wetness: how the water feels as it trickles down their faces. Begin with trickling the water before moving on to immersing the entire head.
2. Learning to float without help.
Guide them to lay on the back and gently hold them in the floating position from underneath to help them relax. As they become comfortable, gently release them so that they are floating with no assistance from you at all.
3. Blowing bubbles in the water.
Some children learn this easily by simply showing them how to do it. Others need to make a game of it. Add making noises to blowing bubbles or challenge them to blow a ping pong ball across the water. These games will help children to see how easy blowing bubbles is.
4. Using special items (such as towels) in their bath routine in the same ways that they would use them in their pool routine.
For example, items – such as special towels will help to get children excited (and more comfortable) about going to the pool and using their towels around the pool.
5. Practicing with goggles in the tub.
It often takes children a minute or two to get the hang of goggles. Those few minutes of insecurity can easily take place in the tub instead of the pool.
6. Teaching swim language.
Children’s confidence will soar when they see that they know the special words that are used in the pool. The tub is perfect for teaching and reviewing what words such as “splash” and “kick” represent in the pool.
7. Including toys that encourage interaction.
“Manipulatives” such as bath toys or household sponges, help children practice motor skills while in the water. As a result, they will move their limbs more freely in the pool.
Tub Tips: Make sure the temperature of the water is comfortably warm for babies or toddlers and that children are never unsupervised while in the water. Make sure that you do not have soap in the water while practicing.
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