Water babies

All parents would agree that it is important that children should learn to swim. At the very least they should to be able to get themselves safely out of water in the event of an accident. It is also a valuable way of keeping fit, developing physical stamina and strength. The sooner they can be confident in water, providing themselves with a little bit more independence and security, the better.

The best way to develop confidence in the water is by regular exposure to it in a warm and pleasant atmosphere, so that youngsters can enjoy the experience of water while developing techniques to help them to swim. This often happens on holiday while children are in and out of the water regularly and they make great progress. Once the family is back at home in the everyday routine, however, it becomes much more of an effort for a parent to take one or more children to the pool. The prospect of struggling to put clothes on an overwrought, screaming toddler at the end of the session is enough to put off all but the stout hearted. However, the benefits are great, so it is more than worth the effort to a parent.

Small babies will have learnt a lot in the bath where the water is warm and chemical free. Very young children learn their skills by imitation and read more