subject: Nine Things To Consider When Teaching A Young Child How to Swim [print this page] Nine Things To Consider When Teaching A Young Child How to Swim
All through summer, parents find time to teach their kids alternative skills. This allows parents to have quality bonding time with their little ones. Nevertheless, there are quite a few factors that one ought to consider when teaching children. This is to ensure that the learning process will be a fun and enjoyable encounter for both you and your child. This will also guarantee the success of the learning process.
Overcoming Fear
Naturally kids are afraid to swim in big pools. Generally, they fear drowning and swallowing water. Some are afraid to hurt their eyes or some other factors that make kids afraid of deep waters. Then again, successful programs start with the right approach to convince kids from learning.
First, secure your child's safety Do not to leave you child unattended. Your company is vital for your kid to conquer his fear. Knowing that parents are there for support can surely assist a child do away with his fears. This is also one indispensable way to safeguard them.
Second, make them feel that it's all fun and play. Through playing and having fun your child will build his assurance and trust. Start in a padding pool where they can plop around and sit up. This is a good learning approach. By slowly introducing them to the wadding pool, it helps them cherish and take pleasure in the swimming activities. Kids are naturally inquisitive. This is why introducing them to the idea of exploring the swimming pool can provoke their attention.
Third is to make their tub bath fun. The first encounter should always be fun. If it's a traumatic one, chances are your child would not want to do it another time. He will have a fear of water and of taking a bath that could last until early or late childhood. A beginning phase of good water encounter starts at home. This is a critical chapter for a child. This is where trust and confidence is built. This is also the stage where their interests can lead to an open water adventure later on. But begin with small areas like his baby tub or baby waddling pool and then eventually move to a larger space. Do not make a big move by going from tub to full sized swimming pool. Small accidents like getting water inside your child's nose can already create fear and a bad impression which your child could keep in mind for a long time.
If you believe that your kid is practically ready for the big pool then bring him to the water and make him feel assured. Don't scare him by immediately dipping his whole body including his head into the water. He needs to achieve your trust until he feels more comfy and at ease with the pool.
When you see that he feels cozy already, be creative with activities like putting his toes first and make movement to create some froth.
How To Start The Swimming Lessons
Perhaps the child is ready to take the swimming lesson as you see him fully at ease, comfortable and having fun in the pool. Let him glide, do some bobbing, floating, holding breaths, kicking, blowing bubbles for a while. By doing these activities, you child will reflect some aspect or confidence in swimming while boosting his confidence and driving away his fears. However, swimming is a type of sport that requires ultimate care and safety.
There are still few important things you need to prepare before the formal swimming lesson begins or simultaneously while he is learning.
CPR
If he is old enough, demonstrate your child CPR or Cardiopulmonary revival. If you don't know how to do this, you can enroll on a CPR course on the American Red Cross or research on how-to CPR over the internet.
Vigor
Swimming involves a lot of turning and twisting. It involves difficult activities and it is considered as an extreme outdoor recreation activity. Before starting a proper training, always check the health of your child and make sure he is fit and proficient of exhausting activities.
Exercise
To avoid swimming connected injury, perform stretching exercises first. Stretching exercises will optimize your kid's capabilities and keep all body system in top shape.
Sunscreen or Sunblock
Make sure you put sunscreen or sunblock at least 15 SPF 16 minutes prior to getting into the water to avoid suntan and ultimately skin cancer.
Water Temperature
Always check the water temperature to ensure that it is adaptable to the child. The ideal temperature of the water should be average 85 92 degrees.
T-shirt or Rush guard
If sun gets too much to your child despite of sunblock cream application, always have a ready t-shirt or rush-guard to protect his skin and prevent him from getting more suntan.
Ear drops
Ear drops is a preemptive approach for the child from getting an ear infection or earache.
Time
Keep in mind that your child has short attention span so keep the coaching short at the commencement and gradually increase. An average of 15-30 minutes for 2-4 years old and 30 minutes - 1 hour for 5 years and above will be enough the coaching curriculum. Kids gets easily jaded and deadbeat so keep the training short, considerate and fun for them.
Nourishment
Ready snacks so that your child can have something before he swim and to avoid cramps as well.
Swimming is a good recreation and one of the best stretching exercises that will benefit the whole body and over-all health of a person. It is certainly a great activity to do with your child. So coach your child how to swim and make the experience fun and pleasant. Who Knows? Maybe he can be a professional swimmer someday!
