do you agree with baby submersion classes?Seems to be lots of views out there...?

Answer 1

I have taught a class such as this once. A skilled instructor can make sure the situation is safe and the actions are done properly. The point of swimming lessons is to offer a safe situation with trained instructors that can allow children to test their boundaries in the water and learn new skills so that they can be prepared in private situations. Most young kids will follow their parents fears or confidences about the water. Those with parents who are cautious, but not afraid, are more likely to be willing to explore the water. Kids with parents who are afraid of what will happen when they are in the water rarely show interest in exploring, especially underwater. These classes let the kids understand that exploring the water is okay to do in a secure environment.

Answer 2

Submersion is a very rocky topic in my adult-baby classes as well. I always offer the option because the baby will benefit from it but I always leave it up to the parent as to whether or not they try it. Some parents will dunk their kid without a second thought, some act like I suggested pouring acid on its head. The natural reaction for an infant is to push his arms down to propel himself up. Many infants can be fully submerged and will use their arms to propel themselves upward. As they grow, this becomes the drowning reflex, which kicks in when an active drowning victim attempts to use his arms in a flailing motion to save himself.

The most common reaction I get is surprise. Parents don't believe that if you blow in a child's face he or she will breathe out (reflex) which allows for a quick dip under water before the baby takes a breath back in. The coolest part is when people try it and see that it works and the babies get all excited when their mom or dad gets excited. Usually if I have a few people willing to try it first others will follow suit. I've seen very leary parents happily dunking junior under the water after watching the others do it for awhile.

Do some kids not like it? Yes. Some babies cry, some get water in their nose or mouth. But the attitude of the parent (submerger) is half of the battle. If the parent is happy and excited when the baby comes up, and the kid doesn't realize what happened then he or she will just take a cue from their environment and react accordingly in a happy fashion.

Some people never dunk their kids and those are the kids I see in my pre-school and school-age lessons who hold their noses or won't put their faces in the water or can't blow bubbles. They are afraid. This fear should be overcome at an early age so that as the chlid progresses in swimming they are able to perform all the require skills and not just swim with their heads up.

Half of it is a safety measure; if my kid fell in the pool, I would want him or her to be familiar with the feeling of having water over their head and in their face. Kids who can dunk underwater are a lot less likely to panic if they fall in water no matter what the depth. The comfort zone has been established and the chlid knows that this is okay and don't panic right away.

Those are my thoughts, I am interested to hear what tohers have to say because I too see this challenge very often!

Answer 3

Most people agree that getting your baby used to water and starting baby swimming early on is one of the best starts you can give your baby. Whilst there are varying opinions about exactly when to start, babies are welcome at swimming courses from as early as a few weeks old.
Swimming with your baby builds confidence, trust and communication skills. Keep sessions short so that your baby can experience the positive health benefits of swimming such as improving stamina and breathing.

Answer 4

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