Posts in category: Baby swimming

Backflips in swimming?

Is my child doing backflips in swimming? We have been swimming for so long, we enjoy all the benefits and suddenly he refuses to do dips or backstroke... What's wrong?

Should I listen to what he really wants to tell me with his body movements or his words?

The “setbacks” or, more correctly stated, the “transitional phases” of the child are not at all worrisome. On the contrary, they are normal reactions to the stages of his development. More specifically, there are three age-related transitional phases, where the child can maintain a plateau (a stagnation) while until now we have observed a continuous rise in his swimming development. So the stages and the reasons why our child reacts particularly, are the following:

10 months – 2 years

At this point the child maintains an upward trajectory and each time learns and gets acquainted with more things. This is where we need to give him all our attention as everything he is learning, he is seeing for the first time. Even though we consider it routine, for the child it is something new. His upward trajectory should excite us quite a bit, but we should also observe when he can continue and when he needs a more relaxed lesson.

It is important to be careful that when our child reaches a point and is now familiar with diving (he does not drink water, the distance of the dive increases and their number) that parents do not exceed the limits and listen to the coaches and their children, as we will lead them to the opposite results, namely to denial towards diving. He will have all year round to fish for octopuses once he starts swimming on his own!

Furthermore, after 10 months when the child begins to stand up, step on his feet and enter the first process of walking, he may make a backward turn from the supine position. This is very possible and logical because children at this stage begin to discover the world and do not prefer the supine position. Also, they have a very increased sense of fear, that is, that they will fall backwards and this is another reason.

2.5 years old – 3.5 years old

Our child has now become familiar with the water and diving and we are now calmer and more confident in what he can achieve. At this point, the separation of the child from the parent in the pool begins. And where everything is going well and nice, we begin the childish... Let's think of it as a double separation. In the child's mind, everything seems more difficult.

At first, we slowly manage to say goodbye to school, with a hundred kisses, hugs, tears and daily friction!!… But we manage. After a while, and while the child has become accustomed to going into the pool with his parent since he was a baby (and it is his favorite activity with mom or dad), he suddenly has to say goodbye to them from the pool. If we are close to the beginning of the school year, the child makes the association with leaving school and everything is more difficult for him. The opportunities he is given to adapt are once a week and not on a daily basis like in kindergarten. So, perhaps for some more emotional children, the separation from mom or dad may take a little longer.

As parents, we need to give our child the time they need to understand that they are ready to trust themselves, their coach, and their teammates and to swim on their own. At the same time, we need to be relaxed and accept the fact that some children are ready to be separated from their parents more quickly, while others need extra time.

5 years old – 6 years old

We're all grown up now and we dive for octopuses, we do somersaults, we jump from high into the water, we're fearless! But, now that we're independent from mom and dad when it comes to our swimming skills, we have more choices in the activities we can do...

Many times the modern lifestyle and fast pace make us burden the child with everything he needs to learn, (mainly our own wants). Many times forgetting that he is a child and that he wants to play. So, at this stage we may observe some elements of denial because our child would like to try another sport, perhaps because his best friend plays football or he saw the basketball cup final on TV and dreamed of himself shooting in a full stadium!

Furthermore, there is a possibility that he feels that his schedule is too busy (e.g., immediately after ballet or soccer he has swimming practice or immediately after swimming he does French or tae kwon do) and while he wants to continue because he likes swimming and is trying for it, he cannot perform and follow his team.

The key to this fantastic relationship between parent and child is understanding and patience to listen to everything the child wants to tell you, whether through their body movements or their words. We need to put a limit on their activities before they reach their limits. In fact, it has recently been proven how beneficial it is – for the child’s brain activity (!) or boredom. With the child bombarded with activities, they don’t have time to find what they really like! But when they get bored, they are forced to find ways to keep themselves busy and therefore listen to themselves!  

It's normal to worry about your child's future development, but every child needs their own space and time to show you how much they can achieve... and if you give them these two important elements, they'll surprise you...
Avgi Hourlia

Read below other articles about baby swimming

What specifications should a good baby swimming pool have?

Swimming is now something that has begun to pique the interest of many parents because it is the most safe way to exercise, without stress. It is a wonderful activity that you can do with your child and one of the few activities that you can follow from 40 days to 140 years old!!!

We all want our children to learn to swim, both to strengthen their bodies and for greater safety in the sea, but what should we pay attention to? What should you look for in the coach or staff who will support your child and you?

Here are the 5 basic things a parent should look for in a swimming learning center.

Physical and psychological safety

Water, no matter how familiar someone is, requires caution, so your number one concept should be training of coachesThey have recent knowledge. lifeguard and first aid? No matter how much knowledge you have, instructors are always next to the child, so they are primarily responsible for the safety of children in the water.

Second, but no less important, is the training of coaches and people in secretariat, with regard to pedagogical methods. Above all, it requires love for children and contagiousness. Just because I was once a student, it doesn't mean I can teach, nor, of course, because I was an athlete, I can coach properly. Therefore, training in a gymnastics academy or in pedagogical departments and of course in a series of seminars about new methods of approaching and learning infants and toddlers. Counting tiles while swimming is boring for us adults, let alone for children… With orders, few people loved anything… Through play and laughter, however, knowledge is acquired forever!

Hygiene of the space

When you go to see a pool area you should check the facilities. That is, how comfortable are the places where you will change your child, which ones storage spaces there are, how many net is the space that will host you for your lesson, if there is a waiting area for breastfeeding or if there is a waiting area for the sibling or to drink a coffee like a human being, brother!!! Are there hairdryers and in what conditions are they maintained? Also, we should see if the floors are clean and, above all, anti-slip, because your child will definitely start running like crazy from joy and no matter what slippers you have, if the floor is slippery, the pirouette is guaranteed! Where there are steps, there should be handles on both sides of the wall so you can grab on in case you slip or if you simply want support because you are holding your child in your arms.

It is also very important. the air that we breathe in the pool area. Is it stuffy, cold and humid, or hot and steamy? A proper pool area will be warm but not excessively humid (observe the windows, if they produce water vapor) and of course without a strong smell of chlorine. If the ventilation is not satisfactory, there is a possibility that germs will be transmitted to this area as well, so pay attention to the ventilation of the area!

Water purification

The ages for which baby swimming and learning are aimed are young, which is why it is recommended to avoid a pool that is only disinfected with chlorine. Nowadays, there are so many other ways of cleaning, such as ozone, the bromine, UV, salt etc., where they are not so caustic to the skin, nor do they burden the eyes and respiratory system. Of course, a percentage of chlorine, equivalent to drinking water, is necessary for 100 % of disinfection or some combined methods for better coverage. Also, the pool water should be recirculated frequently, frequent sampling should be carried out, the results of which should be in public view and of course, those who use the pool should bring the necessary medical certificates, but also take a mandatory shower before entering the pool!

Water temperature

Depending on the age group we are targeting, the ideal pool temperature is adjusted accordingly.

For infants up to 40 days old, the ideal temperature is 36-37 degrees Celsius.

From 40 days to 5 years, the appropriate temperature is approximately 32-33 degrees, always taking into account that every child is different and that if a child seems to be getting cold at this temperature, they can reduce their stay in the water.

After the age of 5 up to the age of 105, we ideally swim at around 27 degrees, where it is neither cold enough to freeze, nor hot enough to be sluggish...

Humans need about a quarter of an hour to adjust our body temperature to new conditions, so the right temperature is a very important part of enjoying playing in the water and not making it seem like a chore!

Of course, if you have something to add that we didn't think of, such as having people dry, feed, and dress your children, please add it below 🙂!

Hadjigiakoumis Nikolas

Program Manager

Baby swimming fish

Kalamaria Miaouli 18.

Saint Luke's Clinic –

Egnatia Palace Hotel –

6955 066 413 – 6989 66 57 57

www.babyswimthessaloniki.gr

info@babyswimthessaloniki.gr