Why do Aquatots have Snorkelling and underwater scooters in our Child levels? Child programme creator and Teacher, Ultan, explains all.
Learning to snorkel and using underwater scooters may seem like unusual activities to include in a young child's swimming programme but both have enormous benefits. As far as we are aware, Aquatots are the only swim school which provides dedicated snorkelling lessons to young children which are integrated into our child swim levels.
Let's break it down. Using fins - yes I said fins, Flipper is the name of a Dolphin - can really help to improve a child's kicking technique. Fins, help to develop strength and co-ordination of the leg muscles, through the delivery of gentle but effective techniques.The flutter kick used in front crawl and backstroke are identical, the use of fins, exaggerates the role that the legs play in propelling a swimmer through the water. This, helps to accelerate the learning technique required for the swimmer to master correct leg action when learning these two swim strokes.
The application of a correct, or indeed, an incorrect technique, becomes exagerated when wearing fins, the swimmer receives greater feedback through the increased movement wearing fins. Kicking with straight legs and pointed toes, allows the child to "feel" the additional propulsion provided by the legs as they move more rapidly through the water with less effort. Incorrect techniques, such as "Bicycling" with bent knees will be more obvious, to both the swimmer and the teacher, making it easier to spot and correct. Most important of all, the use of fins is alot of fun whilst assisting the swimmers with their learning.
Use of a snorkel teaches airway control and aids the swimmer in the mastery of effective breathing techniques. The use of a snorkel has another very improtant role, aiding the swimmer to more easily maintain a horizontal, streamlined, head down postion while learning a new stroke. Having the head down, assists the swimmer to feel the efficient use their legs play in their propulsion. Streamlining is key to moving quickly and effortlessly through water. While breathing through a snorkel, most young children will also breathe slightly through the nose and this is where the mask comes in.
A mask, allows the young swimmer to see clearly underwater. This encourages, young swimmers, along with the snorkel, to look around underwater. Both sets of equipment, help to keep the head down and maintain the important streamlined position. A mask, differs from swim goggles, due to a mask having an important additional component of a nose pocket, which will helps to maintain swimmer comfort by preventing water from entering the nose whilst learning to swim. The reasons above, may help to explain why we discourage the use of goggles while snorkelling.
Snorkelling is also great low cost activity for the whole family to enjoy whilst on holidays. Please take into consideration anytime you are planning to go snorkelling in water that is too deep to stand up in, employ the use of a snorkelling vest for added safety. They are available in bright colours making them highly visible and can be inflated to allow a tired snorkeler to rest at the surface. Snorkelling vests are demonstrated in our higher child levels. You can be try one in your class.
Child's Mask Fins and Snorkel SetIdeal for our swimmers for level 14 onwards
This is the perfect childrens mask fins and snorkel set, produced by Seac Sub one of the world's leading scuba diving manufacturers. Included in the package is : Plage Mask and Snorkel & Speed Full Foot Fins
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Underwater scooters are also a fun and effective way of improving body position and streamlining in the water.
Adopting a streamlined body position while using the scooter will reward your child by allowing them to move even quicker through the water and who doesn't want that?
This leaves Parents with two little issues:
If all of the above wasn't enough, the most important reason we include these activities in our swim programme is that they are just SO MUCH FUN so make sure you don't miss these sessions on week 6 and 9 of every Aquatots Child level!
If you would like to purchase your own snorkelling kit, Aquatots have a range of high quality and competitively priced fins, masks, snorkels and snorkelling vests in both adult and children's sizes available at our web shop. We also have wetsuits and we even have the same underwater scooters that we use in our classes available for sale.
