It's time for baby to have some freedom in the waterWatch this special skill in action here
Our ‘letting go swims’ are a chance for parents to briefly let go of their baby in water. This freedom encourages them to use those instincts to paddle and kick independently. When parents are confident to let go, safe in the knowledge that their teacher is close at hand to ensure the swim goes well, It is tremendously rewarding to see those first attempts at swimming and all of the movement that suddenly happens. We introduce a range of swims that incorporate this element of freedom so that your baby becomes more accustomed to the feeling of freedom and enjoys moving through the water the way nature intended.
As you know, the Aquatots philosophy is centred around allowing babies and children to embrace the natural way of moving through the water before we introduce concepts such as stroke work. We don’t use buoyancy aids so that the natural instinct and the understanding of the reality of water is not interrupted. Short, managed free swims are the first step to this understanding.
The benefits. It is very rewarding to see that natural ability and parents are often so impressed that their babies can not only move in that way but are comfortable to do so. Your baby is more likely to move when not restricted and holding them around the torso is restricting to some degree. These short managed swims build confidence in both parent and baby but get your child used to swimming between two trusted swim partners.
What to expect. Usually movement…it may be froggy legs, basic paddling or even bopping action in the body. A lot of time, even when the swim is over and they are picked up out the water, their legs carry on kicking for a few seconds like it is an involuntary action!
What you can look forward to in our higher levels. Letting go becomes a staple for lots of swims and we even build up to your child voluntarily launching themselves into the water from a parent or the side and freely swimming between two people or towards the wall for safety. This ‘volunteer swim’ builds with several stages until your toddler is standing in your hands, freely jumping into the water and swimming naturally towards the wall.
Top tips for getting the most out of your letting go swims. Confident is key. Be brave, your Teacher is close at hand to assist and give you top tips for the next swim so it is even better! Remember preparing your child is key to the success of any swim. Start by obtaining eye contact, saying ready go and use that pronounced lift before entry so your child can take a breath in preparation. Keep swims short, they are still a maximum of 1 – 2 seconds in duration for your child’s comfort. Remember the aim is to let go, so commit to it and reap the rewards.
Next step…tell all your friends as they won’t believe it.