It is especially important when it comes to conditioning and submersion areas.
Creating and maintaining bonding experiences, confidence and trust in the water.
All of these interactions need to be repeatedly and passionately explained to parents, so they feel knowledgeable and confident, are able to best connect and read all their babies actions and reactions correctly.
- Eye contact – Parents gains and try to maintain to keep eye contact with baby/toddler through activities and especially needed before and during submersions. To keep focus and attention.
- Communication – Parent and baby – Talking and Listening to each other. Giving instructions and asking questions. Explaining what happening as simply as possible.
- Verbal cues– Cueing baby, baby understanding the cue and what there doing. Parent listening for responses.
- Facial expression (parent) – Smiling, happy, calm and funny faces. Some exaggerated expressions are also helpful.
- Facial expression (baby/ toddler) – Happy, smiling. Remaining calm and showing signs of preparation on approach to submersions.
- Movement – Copying parents and moving together in rhythmic movements helps sync parent and child.
In submersion the Lift and Lower movement for submersion becomes primary cue– babies sign of preparing themselves to wet face/submerge. Older babies/toddlers often put their head down ‘ready’ to go.
- Body language (baby/ toddler) – Excited, relaxed and moving/floating happily. In submersion remaining relaxed and floating in parents arms.
- Body language (parent) – Happy and relaxed. Playful and encouraging. Correct level of support and confident in what their doing. In submerging remain relaxed and calm, with gentle, smooth movements. Not rushing at parts of submersion.
- Touch – Skin to skin contact helps relax and give confidence to babies and improves the bonding experience. As the baby becomes independent, stroking touches while correcting body positions should still be made. When touch is removed lots of verbal communication should be given to keep confidence up.