29/06/2024
This little one is now 11 weeks new.
When I have taught swimmers that did not enjoy putting their faces near water or having water poured over their face, I have asked the parents what was bath time like? And normal responses have been they have screamed when water goes over their head or they have shielded their eyes.
Now, I’m a firm believer in starting young and persistence. We have been very fortunate he has loved the water from his very first bath, however, the first time I poured water over his face, his mum had that normal mothers instinct reaction to protect her baby, but he was not harmed, he did not cry, he blinked his eyes and got on with his bath like nothing happened. Pouring water over his face is now a constant in bath time and mother has grown in confidence to do this herself.
This week we took him swimming for the very first time, we did not put him in any floats just held him on his back, gentle movements in the water such as sea-weeding, where you move them from side to side. We also did a quick submerging, and again, just like in all his bath times he did not cry, he just blinked the water away from his eyes.
Don’t be afraid to dunk your little ones under, the sooner the better, remember they were submerged in a fluid for 9 months, they know not to breathe in the water.
Remember to always give lots of praise every time they do it, and to never show anxiety, they will see and pick up on it.
