By Debbie Gill, Geelong Aquatic Centre
Children are our most precious resource, but every year in Australia we have a number of young children unnecessarily drowning or left with permanent brain damage through near drowning incidents.
No-one should die from drowning. It is hard to imagine the impact and grief of losing a loved one, knowing that good layers of protection are readily available.
Swimming lessons from an early age provide parents and young children with the avenue to learn to respect the water and be constantly reminded about setting up layers of protection to avoid these incidents.
Ensuring barriers such as proper fencing and gates are in place and well serviced, learning resuscitation and having infants and children taught to swim to safety in a quality, on-going program with qualified and experienced teachers, setting non-negotiable safety rules around the house and aquatic environment and enforcing them consistently.
It is essential to keep your eyes – not just your ears -on young children and toddlers at all times around water, as they can drown in the smallest amount, without a sound.
Studies at the Griffith University in Queensland have shown that infants and young children who have taken part in learn-to-swim lessons are developmentally at least 10 months ahead of their peers. They have a decided advantage over one who is either afraid of, or has no experience in water, other than the bath tub.
The initial reaction to an unfamiliar situation or unexpected entry into the water is panic. A baby or young child who has taken part in an early aquatic program will be more likely to rise to the surface and turn automatically on their back, floating happily, or turn to grasp the edge.
Young children who are happy and confident in the water will always be able to think themselves out of difficult situations and will be in a position to most quickly, safely and enjoyably, learn to swim.
Early aquatics for babies and toddlers is valuable, not just for water safety, but also as a part of a child’s total development, particularly their perceptual and motor development and spatial awareness.
Infant aquatic lessons provide an opportunity to develop your child socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically in a safe, structured, multi-sensory environment. Your child will be able to creatively explore and practise skills safely while developing self-confidence and self-esteem.
Geelong Aquatic Centre offers the ideal environment for babies from four months through to adult swimmers to learn to swim.
The centre is warm and all pools are heated and salt chlorinated. Children are comfortable both in and out of the water, particularly important for babies and young children who lose body heat rapidly.
Staff at the centre are passionate about what they teach and dedicated to the children in their care. They teach them with love, care and enthusiasm and are kept up to date with professional development through conferences, in-services and speakers.
Geelong Aquatic Centre firmly believes in its motto: Swimming Lessons, A Gift for Life.
Ring the centre on 5222 5530, visit geelongaquaticcentre.com.au or attend the centre to watch a class.
