Everyone knows that life originated in water. It is no coincidence that almost everyone likes to spend time on ponds or in the pool. The benefits of swimming are undeniable. In the process of swimming, all muscle groups work, the cardiovascular system strengthens, and lung function improves. After water procedures, it turns out to relax perfectly. Swimming became possible throughout the year. In summer, there are excellent ponds for this, and in winter, numerous pools offer their services.
Learning to swim from the first days
To teach a baby to swim from the very first days of his life is quite simple. After all, children have an innate swimming reflex. All 9 months of fetal development, the fetus is in the aquatic environment. It is no coincidence that many parents decide and give birth in the bathroom.
The first lessons with a newborn can be done at home. Up to two months, the baby generally feels fine in the water and practically does not need the help of his parents. But if you miss this time, you will have to start training from scratch. A newborn child is able to hold his breath underwater on his own and make special swimming movements. Many adults are interested in how children swim underwater. There is nothing surprising in this. Nature has made sure that the newborn feels safe in the aquatic environment.
Swimming lessons with a baby up to a year
Training should begin only when the umbilical wound heals in the newborn. The first swimming lesson must be done at home. A bathroom would be enough for a small person. Training is preferably carried out under the supervision of a specialist.
The lesson begins with the fact that the baby takes a bath with one of the parents. The water temperature should not be lower than 37 degrees Celsius. Water temperature can drop by several degrees with each subsequent occupation. For the year of study, you should reach the mark of 28 degrees Celsius.
Very important during the training is the well-being of the parents. Fears and bad mood can be transmitted to the newborn. You should also know how to properly hold the baby while swimming. If the baby is lying on the back, it should be held by the nape and ass. In the position on the stomach, you need to support the child by the chin.
Watching how small children swim is always a pleasure. And the realization that such exercises also bring great benefits, gives rise to even more positive emotions. Swimming gives you the opportunity to quickly grow stronger for a small body. Kids learn to sit much faster, stand on their own legs and walk.
Swimming from the first days - a healthy and calm child
There is no doctor who denies the benefits of swimming for infants. Starting classes from an early age, parents solve several problems at once. A very important argument is security. The child with whom we learn to swim from the very first days of his life will never be afraid of water. So, the likelihood that he will choke on a pond or even be afraid to enter the water is practically absent.
It is also not a secret that the future health of a person depends on how well he was looked after in the first years of his life. Swimming is a great simulator. Lessons allow you to lay a really solid and reliable foundation for future health. Therefore, it is so important to start the first swimming lessons from an early age.
Another positive side of swimming is hardening. Children gradually get used to the lowered temperature of the water and tolerate temperature extremes. Such babies feel much better in winter cold and practically do not get sick.
Cons of Infant Swimming
Despite the great benefits of swimming with a newborn, parents should also be aware of the second side of the coin. In some cases, swimming can adversely affect the baby’s health. The main reason is that the newborn still does not know how to express his emotions. He cannot report that he does not like the procedure at all. In addition, while swimming, water can get into the baby’s ears or nose. And this is fraught with otitis media and other inflammatory processes.
Before you teach your child how to swim, you should definitely consult with your local pediatrician. It is not recommended to conduct classes with newborns who have birth injuries, as well as a low score on the Apgar scale.
It should initially decide where to teach the child to swim. Indeed, during a diving baby can swallow a little water. A chlorinated pool is definitely not an option. After such lessons, the baby may have an upset stomach, or colic will torment. Ideally, you should use boiled or filtered water for swimming.
Lessons with a child older than a year
Swimming with an adult kid will be a great pleasure. The procedure is sure to please the child. Today, in large cities, there are many swimming pools in which groups are recruited for various age categories. Kids splashing fun in the water with their peers. But parents should know how to swim in the pool correctly. After all, the depth here is much greater than in the home bathroom.
Parents are always responsible for the safety and well-being of the child. Therefore, during the lessons you can not leave the child a single step. Despite the fact that swimming lessons are most often held in the "paddling pool" (shallow pool), the baby may slip or lose balance. Therefore, before teaching a child to swim, it is advisable to acquire safety equipment. It can be foam products or rubber rings. Often, special devices are rented in pools.
What if the child is afraid of water?
Some children do not tolerate even the usual hygiene procedures in the bathroom. In this case, the bathing process turns into a real test, not only for the child, but also for the parents. One has only to imagine how the child will behave in front of a large volume of water. Fear must be dealt with!
Fear of water is not a whim or disobedience. The baby at a subconscious level worries about his safety and life. Therefore, in no case should you shame the child, scold him or put him as an example of peers. After performing a few simple steps, parents will help the baby overcome fear without any problems.
Overcome fear and go to the pool!
Do not scare a child with a large amount of water. Initially, a small basin will be enough. It is necessary to turn the bathing process into an exciting game that will stop at the very first request of a small person.
Psychologists argue that the fear of water is largely a reluctance to drown. It is necessary to teach the child to hold his breath correctly. This can easily be done with a spray. In this way, you can have fun with the child in the bathroom, gradually accustoming him to the water. Bathing in the bathroom can also be replaced with a shower. And swimming lessons for beginners should be sent only when the child will normally perceive a large amount of water.
Open water swimming
Outdoor swimming is somewhat different from conducting classes in the pool. Although clean air and sunlight can enhance children's health, swimming in the open can be unsafe. First of all, because we cannot know for sure whether the water is suitable for water procedures. In addition, many unscrupulous visitors leave a lot of garbage on the beaches, some of which are in the water.
Those who nevertheless decided to conduct the first swimming lessons with a child in a pond should give preference to proven places. Ideally, this should be a paid beach, which is regularly cleaned and checked by the sanitary services. This is the place where you can teach your child to swim with the least damage to health.
For those who have a cottage in the country, an outdoor pool can be a great alternative. And it is not necessary to build an expensive structure. On sale there are frame pools, which are quite simple to put and disassemble. This option is inexpensive and can perfectly last a few years.
Preparing your child for summer vacation
Those parents who did not timely take care of teaching their children the basics of swimming tend to do this immediately before the holidays. But to teach the baby the basic techniques is impossible in a few days. Begin classes at least a month before the holidays.
It is very important not to rush the child. After all, everyone has their own pace of learning. There are children with a special body design. It’s hard enough for them to stay afloat. Such kids will need more lessons in order to learn how to really swim well.
Before vacation, the baby needs to purchase a high-quality swimming suit, as well as safety equipment on the water. Armlets will be an excellent option. They will not interfere with the child and allow him to feel more confident in the pond.
Learn to swim on your back.
The simplest is considered a free style of swimming. This is the way children learn first. With each lesson, a good instructor improves the skills of the child. Already in the third and fourth lesson, parents are wondering how to teach their children to swim on their backs.
Learning to swim on a back is a must! First of all, because swimming in this way is much easier. A person can be in the water for a long time, and lying on his back can easily restore strength. In addition, this position of the body in water allows you to breathe better. Kids who can swim on their backs have better coordination. This, in turn, contributes to improved brain function and mental development.
It is recommended to swim on the back for children who have problems with the spine and posture. In this way, the muscles of the back and pelvis are perfectly strengthened.
There is also a psychological aspect to backstroke. The problem is that many children cannot overcome the fear of large amounts of water. Those who manage to swim on their backs can forget about fear forever. In addition, children who have mastered this type of swimming use it almost constantly.
Safe swimming is the key to successful development!
The benefits of swimming can be discussed for hours. Teach children this lesson is possible and necessary from an early age. Before you teach a child to swim, one only has to take into account the characteristics of a small organism. If parents do everything right, they will help the baby overcome fears and perfectly improve health.
Swimming is sure to be one of the child’s favorite activities. Moreover, water procedures can be performed at any time and in any weather. One has only to buy a subscription to the pool.