According to Rob McKay and Kathy McKay, authors of "Learn to Swim: Step-by-Step Water Confidence and Safety Skills for Babies and Young Children," the optimal age for starting babies in water activities--such as swimming--is 6 months. Infants this age tend to enjoy the feel of being in the water and are receptive to various activities that parents can do with them in the water. McKay and McKay say that becoming comfortable in the water is the primary goal when introducing babies to pools.
"Pull and Pull," "Kick and Kick"
Taking an infant to the pool and letting her observe other people swimming is the first step toward introducing a baby to the water, says Virginia Hunt Newman, author of "Teaching an Infant to Swim." Once a baby has observed others swimming a few times, Newman suggests holding the baby on your lap and playing "pull and pull" and "kick and kick." "Pull and pull" is played by holding your baby's hands and pulling her through the water repeatedly. "Kick and kick" is played by holding your baby's feet and helping her kick the water. These exercises help the baby get used to the feel of being in the water and are enjoyable because they allow her to splash and have fun.
Movement Using Floating Toys
Once babies are accustomed to the water, toys can be introduced to encourage babies to reach for and grasp floating objects, Newman says. The goal behind using toys is to encourage a baby to move through the water. This exercise can be done with any floating toy that's large enough to grab and large enough that a baby can't swallow it. Newman recommends using poker chips because they float and are easy for a baby to grab. Floating the toys on the surface of the water and then helping a baby move through the water using her arms and legs is the primary objective of this aqua exercise.
Gentle Movements
Many people believe that throwing a baby in the water is an effective way to teach a baby to swim. McKay and McKay caution against using this technique because it can cause a baby to fear the water. Instead, gentle movement through the water by the parent and encouragement and praise when a baby moves her arms and kicks her legs is more effective, McKay and McKay say. Newman suggests using songs to encourage babies to get active in the water. Julia E. Sweet, author of "365 Activities for Fitness, Food, and Fun for the Whole Family: Super Sports, Great Games, Exciting Experiments, and Nutrition Nuggets," suggests that parents bob their baby up and down while singing songs and to swish him around from side to side as they sing. Hopping through the water is another activity that many babies enjoy, says Sweet. She suggests showing the baby how to blow bubbles on the surface of the water as she becomes more comfortable in the pool.
References
- "Learn to Swim: Step-by-Step Water Confidence and Safety Skills for Babies and Young Children"; Rob McKay and Kathy McKay; 2005
- "Teaching an Infant to Swim"; Virginia Hunt Newman; 2002
- "365 Activities for Fitness, Food, and Fun for the Whole Family: Super Sports, Great Games, Exciting Experiments, and Nurition Nuggets"; Julia E. Sweet; 2001
