OCR Text |
Show OW CAN an infant who can’t even walk be taught to swim? By imitation—and comprehension! “Babies are a lot smarter than we give them credit for,” says Mary Ann Sears, swim-school instructor at a resort hotel on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach. “They are born with a swimming instinct and without fear of the water. This is what I work with.” The youngest student Mary Ann has had in her 10 years of teaching was a six-week-old tot. But she believes that between two and five months-is the best age to begin. Bythe timechildren are 15 months old, they have becomesuspicious of strange situations. “Babies must be handled gently and with complete assurance and be madeto feel secureatall times,” ~ she says. “Never throw them in. While they mustbe taught to have —— : Mary Ann Sears teaches siz-monthold youngster how to float on back. genuine respect for and a knowledgeable fear of water, they should never be deliberately frightened by any water experience.” Mrs. Sears usually has one or both of the parents of an infant with her in the pool when teaching the child. She explains what she is doing so that the parents may work Teach Your Baby to Swim By NINA HILLS THOMAS “Now, Jimmy, blow bubbles.” Hold him under the armpits. facing you in the water. Put your face into the water in front of him. Blow bubbles, lift your face, spit out water. Scoop up water in your hand andputit in his mouth. Tell him tospit it out. Then, gently bob him up and down showing him how nice the wateris, Don’t duck his head, just bounce him,After he’s aceustomed to being in the water,tell him to blow bubbles. Keep his face close to yours, his chin near the water. First blow through the mouth only, then through the nose. Make a noise throughyournose so hewill notice the difference. Tell him to blink the water out of his eyes, saying: “Blink, blink, blink, Jimmy.” Tohelp him léarn notto swallow water, “dive him.” Thatis, hold his hips, count, “One, two, three, dive!” and swoop him in headfirst (not too far down), then swoop him right up again. If he does swallow water and @ BLOWING BUBBLES: Enter word’s meaning in his mind, say to him in a positive, pleasant, but de- manding voice: nu Family Weekly, July 23, 1967 Once a child has learned the rudiments of kicking and paddling he will prefer to swim underwater. You must insist that he comes up for air. After he gets the feeling of the glide, he must be taught to come up and breathe, It can be done in this way. Release him in the water. Urge him to “pull, pull” and “kick, kick.” Grasp his calves from behind and push them down, This forces his his fault. Then show him how to head up. Say, ‘Look up and point take a mouthful and spit it out. your mouth to the sky.” He will Make a gameto see who can squirt automatically take a breath. If he water thei farthest. has a tendencyto gotoo deep, conIf he takes water up his nose, trol this by grasping his thighs scold him, saying: “No, now you rather than calves. did it wrong, Jimmy!” Show him If he starts to roll over when how to blow out. Rub your finger swimming underwater, bring him down his nose saying, “Sniff out up and turn his head face-up so the water.” water will come out his nose, Once helearnsthatit is his fault, “ @ FLOATING: A child who can he just blows or sniffs, coughs, and float becomes water-safe sooner. ~ forgets it, accepting it quite philTeach himtofloat at the beginning osophically without panic. of his lessons, Help him to lie back @ KICKING: Hold the baby over with ears submerged. Tell him to your shoulder and kick his legs point his mouth to the sky. Hold his héad behindhis earsto be sure it stays down in the water. Put your other hand at the small of his’ back till he learns to keep his bottom up. Tell him to stretch his arms out like airplane wings. When he’s floating easily, take your hand from his backfirst, then from his head. Scold him if his legs drop under him, Make him keep them straight = up whetherfloating or swimming. Babies prefer to swim underwater Even when a child has mastered and must be taught to rise for air. these steps, never leave him in a A successful instructor says: infants are born The following suggestions for teaching are very generalized. Rememberthat eachchildis different and that parents must learn to deal with their youngster’s. individual reactions and capabilities. Use your imagination and let it be fun for ., him to learn. When you have established the the most important step to assure water safety. without fear of water—so take advantageofit with the child at home. the pool slowly, talking gently, telling the baby how nice the water is, Sit on the steps with him and say, “Bubbles!” as you blow bubbles for him repeatedly. Blow on his arm so he can feel your breath. pull,” and guide him to the poolside or steps. Hold his legs the first few times and -steer him so he won’t bump his head. & COMING UP FORAIR: This is A four-month-old child blows bubbles—and learns that water’s fun. chokes, teach him to put his head under water. To choke is the same as to exhale, It doesn’t last long, and when he comes upheis ready for new air. Blame him for drinking the water! Let him know it was for him or put his hands on the pool's steps. Hold his calves and say, “Kick, kick, kick,” seeing that he kicks “from the hips, having knees and ankles relaxed. Count to’six repeatedly; tell him to make a churning noise like a motorboat, Pass the child between the parents (who stand three to four feet apart in the water). Say, “Kick, kick, kick.” Praise him when he does well. @ PADDLING: Hold the child firmly against your side. With your free arm, guide his hands in a dogpaddle motion. Say, “Pull, pull, pull, Jimmy,” starting the: pull in front of his chest. Then, when he has learned to paddle, urge him to try it together with his kicking. Next, release him for brief periods, saying, “Kick, pull, kick, Face of this 16-month-old swimmer reflects her confidence in herself. pool unattended. Nobody should ever swim alone. Have fun, but remember water is the master and must be respected. Play it safe. Make your baby (and your whole family) water-safe. @ |