We have a pool at home and I want to make sure my kids enjoy the water and are safe. When can I start swim lessons? Well, it depends on how old your kids are and what you mean by swimming lessons. The American Academy of Pediatrics used to recommend that you not begin formal swimming lessons until kids are at least 4 years old. That is the age that children are thought to be 'developmentally ready' for swim lessons.
That advice has changed though. While the AAP still recommends that all children who are four years old and older begin to take swimming lessons, they are no longer against aquatic programs and swimming lessons for younger toddlers and preschoolers between the ages of one to four years old.
That doesn't mean that your younger child who takes swimming lessons will become 'drown-proof' though. Infant and toddler aquatic programs are very popular among parents and kids and are a good way to teach your kids to enjoy being in the water. They can also help teach parents about how to be safe around the water. However, these types of programs may not decrease your child's risk of drowning and are not a substitute for adult supervision and safety in the water, although some small studies have found that 'some drowning prevention skills can be learned' by these younger children.
Keep in the mind that the AAP is not going out of their way to say that all children between the ages of one to four years take swim lessons. They are simply saying that it is okay to take swim lessons at this age if a parent wants to.
Will starting swim lessons early help your child learn to swim faster?
Probably not. Another study, Children's readiness for learning front crawl swimming, showed that whether kids 'started lessons at 2, 3 or 4 years of age,' they learned to swim well at 'approximately the same mean age of 5 1/2 years.'
Whenever you are thinking about your kids and their being in a pool and around water, keep in mind that 'drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the pediatric age group' and that 'drowning rates are the highest among children ages 1 through 2 years.'
So have fun in the water, but keep safety in mind at all times. Remember that swim lessons do not 'drown-proof' younger kids and that they should always be supervised in the water, whether or not they know how to swim. Even with floaties or a life vest, you should learn to practice 'touch supervision', which the AAP describes as a caregiver being 'within an arm's reach or able to touch the swimmer at all times.'
Drowning and Near Drowning Facts
in 2006, 1100 children under age 20 died from drowning, and for every child who drowns, three or four receive emergency department care for near-drowning or non-fatal submersion injuries, some of which lead to serious injuries including brain damage.
most drownings in younger children occur in the child's home pool
most of these children were left unsupervised for less than 5 minutes
drownings usually occur in the summer months, from May to August
drowning rates are highest on the weekends (Friday to Sunday) and at noon and 6pm
A 'layers of protection' safety program can help to keep your kids safe around your home pool. According to the CPSC, 'this includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency.'
Monday, 11 March 2013
Youth Sports Profile: Kids Swimming
Swimming is an essential lifesaving skill, plus an excellent form of exercise. Are lessons or competition right for your child? The basics: In competitive swimming, athletes compete using one of four strokes: freestyle (sometimes called the crawl), breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly. A race using all four strokes consecutively is called the individual medley (IM). Swimmers may also compete as part of relay teams. They may swim distances of 25 yards, 25 meters, or 50 meters; the Olympic standard is 50 meters.
Age kids can start: 4 (to learn real strokes); prior to that, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends water safety/swimming readiness classes only. Swim teams begin accepting kids as young as 5 (once they can swim a length of the pool unassisted). Skills needed/used: Aerobic capacity; motor skills and coordination. Swimming provides both an aerobic and anaerobic workout. Competitive events include sprints as well as endurance races. Participating in a swim team teaches teamwork and sportsmanship.
Best for kids who are: Self-motivated and who love the water! Season/when played: Year-round, as long as an indoor pool is available. High school and college swimmers compete in the winter. Team or individual? Both. Kids can swim on their own anytime; as members of a team, they race in individual events and/or as part of a relay team.
Levels: Typically, kids swim in age groups of 10 and under, 11 to 12, 13 to 14, 15 to 16, and 17 and 18. Meets may also include events for kids 8 and under or for adults. Many colleges and universities also have competitive swim teams, and amateurs can continue swimming competitively into adulthood. The very, very best swimmers compete in the Olympic Games.
Appropriate for kids with special needs: Yes. Coaches can work with kids and adults who have various physical and mental disabilities. The moist, humid environment of the swimming pool can be good for kids with exercise-induced asthma, allowing them to participate in exercise more easily than they might outside. Olympic superstar Michael Phelps has attention deficit disorder (ADD) and found swimming to be a great confidence-builder. Its rhythmic, repetitive motions can be calming.
Fitness factor: High for team practices or individual workouts; swimming is a full-body, cardiovascular exercise. In lessons, watch out for instructor/child ratio. If there are too many kids, your child may spend a lot of class time sitting on the side of the pool waiting for his/her turn to swim.
Equipment: Swimsuit and goggles; swim cap; accessories such as towels, padlocks, flip-flops, and team gear (t-shirts, warm-up suits, etc.). As swimmers progress, they add dry-land workouts using free weights or weight machines. Some clubs may require swimmers to have their own practice equipment (such as fins or kickboards).
Costs: Club/team memberships range from $300 to $600 for beginners to $1000 to $1500 or more for elite swimmers. USA Swimming membership is $52/swimmer/year. Meets costs extra: $4 to $5 per individual event, plus a small entry fee, for a typical total of about $50 (plus travel costs). Many clubs require parents to volunteer their time at meets, or else pay an additional fee.
Time commitment required: For swim lessons, once or twice a week for 30 minutes; or 30-60 minutes a day for one to two weeks in a row. For competitive swimming, kids under 10 may practice two or three times a week for 45 minutes. As they move up the ranks, swimmers' practice time increases (up to 18 hours a week for elite swimmers). A meet can easily last for several hours or an entire weekend.
Potential for injury: Low, since this is a very low-impact sport. Drowning is always a risk anytime a child is in the water, but any reputable coach or team will have rigorous safety procedures in place. As with any sport, repetitive stress injuries (in this case, to the shoulder, knee, and hip) are possible if a child specializes too early or intensively. You can get a tip sheet on preventing swimming injuries from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Source: http://familyfitness.about.com/od/waystoplay/a/kids_swimming.htm
Age kids can start: 4 (to learn real strokes); prior to that, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends water safety/swimming readiness classes only. Swim teams begin accepting kids as young as 5 (once they can swim a length of the pool unassisted). Skills needed/used: Aerobic capacity; motor skills and coordination. Swimming provides both an aerobic and anaerobic workout. Competitive events include sprints as well as endurance races. Participating in a swim team teaches teamwork and sportsmanship.
Best for kids who are: Self-motivated and who love the water! Season/when played: Year-round, as long as an indoor pool is available. High school and college swimmers compete in the winter. Team or individual? Both. Kids can swim on their own anytime; as members of a team, they race in individual events and/or as part of a relay team.
Levels: Typically, kids swim in age groups of 10 and under, 11 to 12, 13 to 14, 15 to 16, and 17 and 18. Meets may also include events for kids 8 and under or for adults. Many colleges and universities also have competitive swim teams, and amateurs can continue swimming competitively into adulthood. The very, very best swimmers compete in the Olympic Games.
Appropriate for kids with special needs: Yes. Coaches can work with kids and adults who have various physical and mental disabilities. The moist, humid environment of the swimming pool can be good for kids with exercise-induced asthma, allowing them to participate in exercise more easily than they might outside. Olympic superstar Michael Phelps has attention deficit disorder (ADD) and found swimming to be a great confidence-builder. Its rhythmic, repetitive motions can be calming.
Fitness factor: High for team practices or individual workouts; swimming is a full-body, cardiovascular exercise. In lessons, watch out for instructor/child ratio. If there are too many kids, your child may spend a lot of class time sitting on the side of the pool waiting for his/her turn to swim.
Equipment: Swimsuit and goggles; swim cap; accessories such as towels, padlocks, flip-flops, and team gear (t-shirts, warm-up suits, etc.). As swimmers progress, they add dry-land workouts using free weights or weight machines. Some clubs may require swimmers to have their own practice equipment (such as fins or kickboards).
Costs: Club/team memberships range from $300 to $600 for beginners to $1000 to $1500 or more for elite swimmers. USA Swimming membership is $52/swimmer/year. Meets costs extra: $4 to $5 per individual event, plus a small entry fee, for a typical total of about $50 (plus travel costs). Many clubs require parents to volunteer their time at meets, or else pay an additional fee.
Time commitment required: For swim lessons, once or twice a week for 30 minutes; or 30-60 minutes a day for one to two weeks in a row. For competitive swimming, kids under 10 may practice two or three times a week for 45 minutes. As they move up the ranks, swimmers' practice time increases (up to 18 hours a week for elite swimmers). A meet can easily last for several hours or an entire weekend.
Potential for injury: Low, since this is a very low-impact sport. Drowning is always a risk anytime a child is in the water, but any reputable coach or team will have rigorous safety procedures in place. As with any sport, repetitive stress injuries (in this case, to the shoulder, knee, and hip) are possible if a child specializes too early or intensively. You can get a tip sheet on preventing swimming injuries from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Source: http://familyfitness.about.com/od/waystoplay/a/kids_swimming.htm
Teaching Swimming is an Art - Teaching Swimming is Poetry
Very recently I visited my local swimming pool to observe two new swim
clients of mine who regularly took part in group swimming lessons. To
say I was shocked at the lack of interest from the swimming instructor
would be an understatement. I am not willing to accept that she was
having an off-day. There are many adults and children who are anxious,
or have a fear of water and desperately want to learn to swim, and enjoy
their swimming journey. The majority of these swimmers will book swim
lessons at their local authority swimming pool, expecting understanding
and enthusiasm from the swim teacher or instructor.
More than 25 years ago, I qualified in England with the ASA as a swimming teacher and since then I have been gaining knowledge to help me in my quest to teach swimming to adults with skill, knowledge, empathy and humor. My understanding of a swimming teacher is they need to have:
When teaching adults the pace must be slow, dictated by the individual or group. The most important skill you need as a teacher is to read the individual's face and body language, and have the empathy to know when to be sympathetic, or when a little pushing is required.Before learning to swim it's imperative that the pupil:
Source: http://swimming.about.com/od/swimcoaching/qt/teachingisanart.htm
More than 25 years ago, I qualified in England with the ASA as a swimming teacher and since then I have been gaining knowledge to help me in my quest to teach swimming to adults with skill, knowledge, empathy and humor. My understanding of a swimming teacher is they need to have:
- A proficient knowledge of scientific principles
- A proficient knowledge of physiology and psychology
- The ability to apply this knowledge to the individual swimmer
When teaching adults the pace must be slow, dictated by the individual or group. The most important skill you need as a teacher is to read the individual's face and body language, and have the empathy to know when to be sympathetic, or when a little pushing is required.Before learning to swim it's imperative that the pupil:
- Needs or wants to know how to swim
- The fundamentals of breathing patterns above and under water
- Floating prone, supine and regaining standing in a calm and balanced way
Source: http://swimming.about.com/od/swimcoaching/qt/teachingisanart.htm
Learn to Swim Without Fear
I recently read an article in the Plain Dealer on how a swimming teacher
taught people who are nervous or afraid of the water. I was somewhat
surprised at his method of swimming instruction. "He told me to get
into the water. His voice had a commanding edge to it, one that had no
patience for hesitation or whining or I can't or the water's too cold."
Is it surprising therefore that with this kind of teaching children and
adults stay away from the water, or they learn to to swim with tension
and frantically scramble across to the other side of the pool feeling
exhuasted?
More than 25 years ago, I qualified in England as a swimming teacher and since then I have been gaining knowledge to help me in my quest to teach adults with skill, empathy and humor. My understanding of a swimming teacher is they need to have a proficient knowledge of scientific principles, physiology and psychology; coupled with the ability to apply them to the individual is vital. Thoroughly understanding these elements allows the teacher to work within the capabilities of the non-swimmer or swimmer both physically and mentally, adapt the strokes, and achieve a comfort level within every session.
As adults we feel emotions of inadequacy, and this is fully exposed in a swimsuit, so it's important adults feel safe before they can relax and learn. When working with people who have had traumatic experiences they first have to accept their fear, and then they need to learn how to trust themselves in unfamiliar territory. This takes time, patience and understanding from the teacher.
When teaching adults the pace can be slow but must be dictated by the individual or group. The most important skill you need as a teacher is to read the individual's face and body language and have the empathy to know when to be sympathetic and when a little pushing is required. Before learning to swim it's imperative that the pupil knows the fundamentals of breathing patterns above and under water, floating prone, supine and regaining standing in a calm and balanced way. When these skills have been taught and the pupil is comfortable then swimming strokes can be introduced. Learning a new skill is about being in a relaxed, safe environment, exploring feelings, exploring fears, having fun, and learning how to be at one with the water in a happy, calm and balanced way.
About the Author: Stephanie Dutton is a Specialized Swimming Teacher and works interantionally. She trained as a student with Steven Shaw, who is the founder of the Shaw Method of Swimming in the UK. This new method of swimming applies the principles of the Alexander Technique. The Alexander Technique works on the relationship between the mind and body, helping us to unlearn automatic patterns of thought and action, which can have a detrimental effect on our health and well-being. It helps develop co-ordination, allowing greater ease and freedom of movement.
Source: http://swimming.about.com/od/helpfornoviceswimmers/a/learnnofear.htm
More than 25 years ago, I qualified in England as a swimming teacher and since then I have been gaining knowledge to help me in my quest to teach adults with skill, empathy and humor. My understanding of a swimming teacher is they need to have a proficient knowledge of scientific principles, physiology and psychology; coupled with the ability to apply them to the individual is vital. Thoroughly understanding these elements allows the teacher to work within the capabilities of the non-swimmer or swimmer both physically and mentally, adapt the strokes, and achieve a comfort level within every session.
As adults we feel emotions of inadequacy, and this is fully exposed in a swimsuit, so it's important adults feel safe before they can relax and learn. When working with people who have had traumatic experiences they first have to accept their fear, and then they need to learn how to trust themselves in unfamiliar territory. This takes time, patience and understanding from the teacher.
When teaching adults the pace can be slow but must be dictated by the individual or group. The most important skill you need as a teacher is to read the individual's face and body language and have the empathy to know when to be sympathetic and when a little pushing is required. Before learning to swim it's imperative that the pupil knows the fundamentals of breathing patterns above and under water, floating prone, supine and regaining standing in a calm and balanced way. When these skills have been taught and the pupil is comfortable then swimming strokes can be introduced. Learning a new skill is about being in a relaxed, safe environment, exploring feelings, exploring fears, having fun, and learning how to be at one with the water in a happy, calm and balanced way.
About the Author: Stephanie Dutton is a Specialized Swimming Teacher and works interantionally. She trained as a student with Steven Shaw, who is the founder of the Shaw Method of Swimming in the UK. This new method of swimming applies the principles of the Alexander Technique. The Alexander Technique works on the relationship between the mind and body, helping us to unlearn automatic patterns of thought and action, which can have a detrimental effect on our health and well-being. It helps develop co-ordination, allowing greater ease and freedom of movement.
Source: http://swimming.about.com/od/helpfornoviceswimmers/a/learnnofear.htm
