Sample Video

Learn to Swim Q&A

1) When can I start my baby swimming?
2) How do babies swim?
3) Why is Laurie Lawrence's baby swimming program unique?
4) What are the benefits of teaching baby to swim?
5) What is the parent's role in the baby swimming lesson?
6) What in an appropriate environment for infant learn to swim?
7) How long will it take to teach my baby to swim?
8) Will back floating save my child's life?
9) My child is scared of the water. What do I do?
10) What do I do if my baby cries during swimming lessons?
11) Does my child need to wear goggles when learning to swim?
12) Why does WWSS recommend 2 baby swimming lessons per week?

1) When can I start my baby swimming?

The learn to swim process can start at birth. Newborn babies are like little sponges, soaking up information from their new environment. After being contain protected and immersed in a watery environment for nine months the baby is ready to learn. Water is a perfect medium to stimulate the baby. The bath becomes a place of fun, enjoyment, stimulation and learning. Parents should provide cuddling, playing and communicating opportunities as part of the daily bath routine. These early learning experiences in the bath are actually the child's first informal swimming lessons.

At World Wide Swim School we start babies in the pool at four months. At this age babies are interested in different surrounds and activities, they have good neck control and parents are comfortable handling their children. It is important however that when introducing infants to the water we do so in a controlled environment. Babies should be shaded and covered from the elements and the water must be warm (32 degrees Celsius) to provide appropriate learn to swim environment.

2) How do babies swim?

Children do not have the fine motor skills to perform the correct freestyle action until the age of 4. However, babies can be independently mobile in the water long before this age.

Instead of using the traditional freestyle action, babies use primitive movements to propel themselves through the water. When babies are very young these movements resemble a dolphin like wriggle. As children begin to crawl they use a similar action to propel themselves further through the water.

A child's development on land will have a huge bearing on what children are capable of achieving in the water. The key when teaching baby to swim is exposing them to developmentally appropriate swimming activities that cater for their individual needs while encouraging independence under adult supervision.

3) Why is Laurie Lawrence's baby swimming program unique?

Laurie's passion for baby swimming began after the birth of his first child in 1975. With help from his three children, Laurie carefully researched, documented and developed a baby swimming program which today is internationally recognised. Laurie's baby swimming program is unique in that it,

Integrates baby's physical, social and emotional needs into the swimming lesson

Pre-Conditions baby for submersion, by using a stimulus response method which teaches baby breath control on verbal triggers

Teaches baby to swim without the assistance of floatation devices

Encourages baby to be independent in and around water at the earliest possible age

Teaches baby safety skills that may one day save their life

4) What are the benefits of teaching baby to swim?

Laurie Lawrence Australia's water safety advocate and baby swimming teaching expert has been researching and documenting infant learn to swim since 1975. During this time he has observed infants and young children receive numerous benefits from participating in quality learn to swim programs.

Laurie believes learning to swim from infancy will

Teach children a respect for the water making them less likely to wander into dangerous situations

Improve children's physical development, coordination, health, fitness and muscle tone

Build children's independence, confidence and social skills

Teach children a love of the water - a gift for life

Teach children water safety skills which may one day save their life

During the mid 1970's professor Liselott Diem from the German Sports College in Cologne conducted a study on preschool learn to swim. The study affirmed many of Laurie's beliefs. The study found children who participated in early swimming programs were more intelligent, more socially adventurous, better coordinated, and had greater self-esteem, independence and confidence than those who has not participated in baby swimming programs.

5) What is the parent's role in the baby swimming lesson?

A core belief of the Laurie Lawrence baby swim program is parental involvement in the swimming lesson. Laurie believes that for maximum results, children under the age of 4 must be accompanied by an adult during the learn to swim lesson.

There are many reasons that Laurie insists on parental involvement in the swimming lesson. They include; safe and secure learning environment, fine motor development, education of parents, parent and child relationship and maximum practice time.

Safe and Secure Leaning Environment
Drowning is the greatest cause of accidental death in preschool children in Australia. In 05/06, 37 preschool children drowned. The majority of these deaths occurred in backyard swimming pools. Similar statistics can be found world wide.

Parental involvement in the lesson is particularly important because children learn a respect for the water and understand that they are not allowed to swim unless being accompanied by their parent. This makes children less likely to wander into dangerous situations.

Importantly, numerous children under four cannot be adequately supervised by one adult. For this reason, early swimming lessons that do not have a one on one ratio can be extremely dangerous.

Fine Motor Development
Form Laurie's physical education background and numerous academic studies, we know that until the age of four, children do not have the fine motor skills, required to co-ordinate "conventional swimming". For best results children need one on one manipulation and instruction. This instruction is best provided by a parent. Children who experience parental involvement in their swimming lesson will co-ordinate better, and, become efficient swimmers long before those who have not had this opportunity.

Education of Parents
Laurie believes that parents should be totally educated on the learn to swim process. This allows parents to become the expert in baby swimming. By giving parents knowledge Laurie believes that a better product can be created as parents can practice the swimming skills outside the formal baby swimming lesson environment.

Parent and Child Relationship
Swimming is perfect for parents and children to learn and have fun together. This becomes a treat for many children as they get allocated one on one time to play with their parents. Here magical bonding can occur between parent and child as they learn together in the baby swim lesson.

Maximum Practice Time
For rapid improvement and acquisition of swimming skills children need continual practice and repetition. With parental involvement the child gets one on one attention and can practice the skills over and over without waiting for the attention of 1 swimming teacher.

Parental involvement in the program until the age of four is a distinguishing feature of the Laurie Lawrence baby swimming program. It sets us apart from many swim schools and allows us to provide the highest quality preschool swimming lessons available in the learn to swim industry.

6) What is an appropriate environment for infant learn to swim?

When teaching infants to swim we must expose them to an appropriate learn to swim environment. There are some key factors that will greatly influence your child's swimming experience.

Having warm water is extremely important when teaching babies to swim as this allows them to be comfortable. Cold water is the most common reason babies cry while participating in swimming lessons. The ideal water temperature for teaching baby to swim is 32 degree Celsius.

Pool depth is very important for both parent and baby. Chest level on an adult is perfect. Here the parent is able to hold the child comfortably and look them directly in the eye. This gives the baby a feeling of real security.

Ledges are valuable assets when teaching babies to swim. It is here that your baby can develop independence, learn respect for deep and shallow water, as well as have a safe haven on which to play while under supervision. Pools with specifically designed teaching ledges of varying water depths are perfect for challenging baby as they grow.

The pools surrounds will have a huge impact on your baby's swimming experience. Considering things like shaded areas and changing facilities will be very important to assist the baby swimming environment. Remember, sun exposure can be very dangerous for little babies' sensitive skin. For this reason where possible choose a covered or enclosed pool. If that's not available swim early morning or late afternoon, use sunscreen and dress baby in an appropriate sun shirt and sun hat.

To ensure the health and wellbeing of your baby it is important that the swimming pool has clean and clear water with correct chemical levels. Ph levels should be neutral. If set at the right level, the chemicals used in the water should not harm your baby. If you have concerns or queries about the water quality at your chosen swimming facility, check with the pool manager.

7) How long will it take to teach my baby to swim?

It is impossible to give an exact answer to this question because every child is unique and therefore learns to swim at a different pace. However practice and exposure are the keys when teaching babies to swim. Therefore, if you want your baby to learn to swim quickly you need to provide them with regular opportunities to practice. This means taking them to the pool two or more times per week.

Parents also need to understand that teaching children to swim requires a commitment. Learning to swim properly takes children years to accomplish. While the goal for infants swimming and preschool swimming is getting them independently mobile. As children grow and their motor skills develop the focus shifts to developing a natural swimming stoke that will last a life time. This good swimming technique will be enhanced by manipulation and repetition.

8) Will back floating save my baby's life?

Back floating has receive a lot of attention is recent years, with some suggesting that teaching back floating will drown proof babies.

World Wide Swim School must stress that no child or adult is drown proof. Children are only safe in or around water when they are being strictly supervised by an adult. Drowning requires a number of barriers to protect child. Visit www.kidalive.com.au for water safety information.

Of particular concern in the back floating fad are the methods in which babies are being taught. World Wide Swim School is critical of any swimming method in which children are aggressively forced on their back while they are crying and distressed. Baby swimming should be a pleasurable experience for both parent and child.

World Wide Swim School considers back floating to be a skill that should be encouraged but not forced. Physical development has a huge bearing on whether children will voluntarily participate in back floating activities. Generally, once infants learn to sit up they no longer enjoy back floating.

The innovative teacher will find fun ways to encourage children to voluntarily back float in the swimming lesson without aggression. Parents and teachers should encourage back floating only if baby is happy and never aggressively force this swimming skill upon them while they are crying or distressed.

9) My child is scared of the water. What do I do?

Infants are very in tune with their parent's body language, facial expressions and tone of voice. Their reaction to people or new situations will be largely determined by their parents. For this reason it is most important that parents are relaxed and comfortable when teaching their baby to swim.

As children grow they begin to form their own fears, opinions, and ideas. If they have not had early exposure to water, they are more likely to appreciate water danger and as a result often have a fear of the water.

There are certain basic principles we must use when teaching frightened swimmers.

Be relaxed, patient and loving towards your child

Do not rush or hurry them, all children are individuals and need to learn to swim at their own pace

Teach frightened children in shallow water where they can be in control

Create a positive learn to swim environment with positive praise, fun games and activities that foster the learn to swim process

10) What do I do if my baby cries during swimming lessons?

Learning must be fun. No parent or child should be subjected to a fearful or intimidating environment when learning to swim. Aggressively forcing children to perform learn to swim activities while they are crying and in distress is totally inappropriate.

However it is unrealistic to say that children never cry during swimming lessons. Infants communicate their needs and problems through crying. In some instances babies become tired, hungry even or cold during the swimming lesson. The astute parent will soon learn to recognise the different types of communicative cries given by their baby.

Once you recognise what is disturbing your baby and it's easier to remedy the problem. For example do not swim during a time that you would normal be feeding your baby and always ensure you are teaching your baby to swim in warm water, ideally 32 degrees Celsius.

It is my belief that parents should try to relax and settle their child while in the baby swimming lesson. This should be done in a relaxed manner using, communication, stimulation and distraction. If you get out of the pool every time your baby cries, then baby will soon associate getting out of the pool with crying. Ideally infants should enter and leave the baby swimming lesson happy and relaxed.

11) Does my child need to wear goggles?

Goggles are not a necessity. However they may help if children have sensitive or sore eyes. With goggles it is important that children do not become reliant on them. This means leaving goggles at home every second week or only allowing children to wear goggles for half the swimming lesson. Remember children need to learn to swim without goggles for safety reasons. If children have only ever swam with goggles on they will get a terrible fright if they fall into a pool without this aid.

12) Why does WWSS recommend 2 swimming lessons per week?

The more children practice the faster they will learn and acquire strong swimming skills. Taking your baby swimming once per week will be like watching grass grow. When they learn to walk they practice every day. If you want to get fit you exercise every day. Think about it if you bring your baby swimming to one half hour lesson per week they are only receiving a total of 26 hours of swimming per year.

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