| It’s important we teach parents how to support their babies on their front, in relaxed positions in the water. The holds we teach promote buoyancy, independence and active participation from baby. We also teach parents how to help their babies firstly use natural reflexes to encourage babies to move their arms, bodies and legs in the water, and later turn these in to voluntary and learnt paddle and kicking, and propelling themselves forwards! |
6 Weeks – 6 Months
Young babies have not yet gained head control, they will need extra support, while being held on their front to prevent their face from falling in the water.
Babies should be supported but not ‘gripped’ by parents hands. Encourage relaxed hands and open palms, forming a gentle platform for baby to lay on.
Babies are encouraged to gain head control by looking at parent and toys in front of them in the water. Parent to encourage baby’s reflex movements of arms and legs.
Holds:
- Underarm hold
- Front float hold
- Basic Safety Hold
- Safety Hold
- Seat hold
- Hug Hold
6 Weeks – 6 Months
Actions:
Arms: Parents helps baby – Splashing, Swishing, Paddling, encouraging baby. “Paddle, Paddle”
Legs: Reflex kicking. Parent helps stretching legs, and stroking side of baby feet. “Kick Kick”
Head/Face: Resting on parents hands/forearms. Gaining head control. Looking to front.
Body: Buoyant, Floating flat on the water.
Progressive Activities:
- Front float hold in the water. Without/with head control. (Stationary)
- Front float hold and movement on the spot.
- Underarm hold. (Stationary)
- Underarm hold and move baby gently side to side.
- Underarms and rotate baby’s body and legs around; like stirring. (Stationary)
- Introduce Safety Hold. Without/with head control.(Stationary)
- Safety Hold, and movement on the spot.
- Safety Hold and move around the pool.
- Introduce Seat Hold. (Stationary)
- Bobbing baby up and down in Seat Hold. (Stationary)
- Front float hold, and moves across/around the pool.
- Seat Hold and bobbing/ moving around the pool.
- Bobbing baby up and down in Seat Hold and moves around the pool.
- Introduce Flip flops – from Safety Hold, parent supports head and neck and flips baby onto their back.
- Introduce Hug hold. (Stationary)
- Hug Hold and movement on the spot.
- Hug hold and move across the pool.
- Safety Hold and roll baby from front to back.
6 Months -12 Months
Older babies are getting stronger now, they have head control, and are rolling over and sitting up out of the water. They are becoming more aware of their surrounding and other babies. Splashing and kicking has become voluntary and with purpose. Babies enjoy the feeling of water rushing water up and down their body, and react by ‘joining’ in with arm, leg and whole body movements.
Holds:
- Underarm hold
- Front float hold
- Front Swim Position
- Safety Hold to Front Surf
- Seat Hold and Seat Throws
- Flip-flops
- Hug Hold
- Rolling
- Little Harbour hold
- Two woggle boats
- One woggle boats
Actions:
Arms: Starting to do voluntary splashing and swishing. Parent helps/encourages paddle arm actions. “Paddle, Paddle”
Legs: Reflex to voluntary kick action with legs. Often bending and stretching legs together. Parent encourages “Kick, Kick”
Face/ Head: Chin just above water. Looking to front. Interacting.
Body: Buoyant, Floating on the water, Wiggling movements.
6 Months – 12 Months
Progressive Activities:
- Underarm hold/Front float hold and movement on the spot.
- Underarm hold/Front float hold and Bubbles/ Face in / Submerge.
- Front swim position and move across/around the pool.
- Safety hold/ Front Surf hold and movement on the spot – baby going feet first in the twirl.
- Safety hold/ Front Surf hold and move baby backwards and forwards on the spot.
- Safety hold/ Front Surf and move across/around the pool.
- Safety hold and Flip-flop from front to back
- Hug hold. (Stationary)
- Hug hold and move across the pool.
- Seat holds and throws move across/around the pool.
- Safety hold and Roll Over – baby rolls up parents outstretched arm to shoulder and down arm to front position again.
- Front swim position and Roll Over to back.
- Introduce Little Harbour hold (Stationary)
- Introduce Little Harbour hold, move around, on the spot.
- Introduce Little Harbour hold and move across/around the pool.
- Introduce Little Harbour transition to two woggle boat. (2 short woggles)
- Introduce one woggle boats. Open.
- Introduce one woggle boats. Knotted.
1 Year-2 Years
1-2 year olds are encouraged to do voluntary and learnt paddle and kicking movements during swims on their front. They often do a lot of splashing, and exploring the water for themselves, with their arms, bodies and legs propelling themselves forward. Parents should watch closely to how their baby moves, and notice which holds/ floats their baby enjoys most and performs best in.
Holds:
- Underarm hold
- Balancing on parent knee
- Front Swim Position
- Front Surf
- Flip-flops
- Seat Throws
- Rolling
- Monkey rides / Piggy Back rides
- Little Harbour Hold
- Shark Hold
- Waist/Hips Hold
- Crocodile along the step
- 2 Woggle boats
- 1 Woggle boats
Actions:
Arms: Lots of voluntary splashing and swishing. Learning paddle arms encouraging stretching and scooping actions. “Paddle, Paddle”
Legs: Voluntary leg kick actions . Legs often swing in simulating action or run/ bicycle kicks.
Face/head: Chin just above water/ on the water, looking to the front. Voluntary mouth/face in and out of the water. Looking for mouth closing at the water surface. Encourage “Close your mouth” “Blow bubbles”
Body: Buoyant, Floating, Wiggling. Stretching long and flat position on the water.
1 Year – 2 Years
Progressive Activities:
- Underarm hold and move on the spot.
- Underarm hold and move across/ around the pool.
- Front swim position and move across/ around the pool.
- Sitting on parents one knee or on the steps; improving balance/correct body position to stay upright and balanced.
- Safety Hold/Front Surf and move on the spot.
- Seat throws around the pool.
- Crawl along the step on front, chin on water surface. (Crocodile along the step).
- Introduce Monkey rides/ Piggy back rides.
- Little Harbour hold and move around the pool.
- Little Harbour to 2 woggles.
- 1 woggle boats. Open or knotted.
- Introduce waist or hips hold and move across/around the pool.
- Introduce Shark hold and movement on the spot.
- Shark hold and move across/around the pool.
- Walking practice – holding hands to independent, along the step.
2 Years – 3 Years
Practices must be lively creative and entertaining. Toddlers are encouraged to do learnt paddle and kicking movements during swims on their front.
Two to three year olds will be able to paddle and kick continuously for a longer time now, and use their arms, body and legs, to help propel themselves through water. Parents should watch closely to how their baby moves, and notice which holds/ floats their baby enjoys most and performs best in.
During front swims, toddlers will often put their face in the water a lot…using cue words “Ready Go!” to give them freedom to explore the water independently or parent can loosen support. Ensure parents do this for short periods of time and give lots of breaks to confident toddlers.
Holds:
- Underarm hold
- Front Swim Position
- Balancing on parents knee
- Front Surf
- Crocodile along the step
- Monkey/ Piggy back rides
- Shark Hold
- Waist/ Hips Hold
- Little harbour hold to 2 woggle boats
- Safety hold to 1 woggle boats
Actions:
Arms: Voluntary, more continuous Paddle arms “Paddle, Paddle”. Arms swishing and splashing.
Legs: Voluntary, more continuous Kick action. “Kick, Kick” – Bicycle kicks, supporting toddler as they explore movement in the water. Encourage long legs.
Face/head: Chin on the water. Voluntary Face/ Mouth going in and out relaxed and controlled. Mouth closing at water entry. Bubbles. “Close your mouth” “Blow bubbles”
Body: Buoyant, Floating, Wiggling. Stretching long and flat position in the water.
2 Years – 3 Years
Progressions:
- Underarm hold and move on the spot.
- Underarm hold and move across/ around the pool.
- Front swim position and move across/around the pool.
- Seat Throws while moving across/around the pool.
- Balance on parents knee
- Safety hold and move on the spot.
- Safety hold/ Front Surf transition to1 woggle boats. Open or knotted.
- Crawl along the step on front, chin on water surface. (Crocodile along the step).
- Little Harbour hold – Swishing side to side with wider arms.
- Little Harbour to 2 woggles.
- Shark hold and move across/around the pool.
- Waist or hips hold and move across/around the pool.
- Walking practice – holding hands to independent walking along the step.
- Monkey rides/ Piggy Back rides
- Introduce walking practices on pool floor when tall enough– holding hands with parent, holding on to the edge of a surfboard/woggle, to independent walking.