10 Tips to Maximize Your Infant Aquatics Student’s Safe Water Fun!

Ensuring the safety and confidence of your little one during swim time is paramount, especially for children enrolled in survival swim classes like Infant Aquatics CT. These programs are tailored to teach water safety, buoyancy, and basic movement skills to very young children, setting them apart from everyday swim lessons. Here are 10 indispensable tips for safe swimming that are specifically designed for current students of survival swim classes at Infant Aquatics CT.

1. Targets Are Your Friends!

 Unlike traditional swimming, where reaching for the edge might be the goal, Infant Aquatics CT students excel at swimming towards a target. This could be the pool wall, a pool toy shaped like a castle, your outstretched hands, or even the pool stairs. It’s important to have a clear target in sight for them to focus on while swimming. If you notice your child isn’t floating and appears to be struggling, calmly guide them towards the nearest safe target, avoiding picking them up mid-pool unless absolutely necessary.

2. Let Them Figure It Out (Safely!)

 One of the core principles of Infant Aquatics CT is teaching self-rescue skills. This means your child might jump in the water unexpectedly. Resist the urge to immediately grab them! Instead, allow them to experience the natural consequences. They will quickly discover they have two options: float or swim to the nearest target (remember tip #1!). This empowers them to learn and react independently in the water.

3. The Power of Positive Reinforcement

 When your child successfully floats, celebrate! But how you reward them matters. Always pick them up from a still float. This reinforces the proper floating position and teaches them to maintain it calmly. Similarly, when rewarding swimming, prioritize successful swims to a target over floats. This helps solidify the importance of reaching safety.

4. Reach Out, Don’t Reach In

 Another key principle in Infant Aquatics CT is encouraging your child to come to you, not the other way around. When they’re swimming, present your hand or another clear target for them to reach for. Avoid reaching into the water to grab them. This fosters independence and teaches them to navigate towards safety zones.

5. Less Coaching, More Floating

During floats, focus on positive reinforcement. Phrases like “No wiggles,” “Belly button up,” or “Sleepy feet” can be helpful reminders if needed. However, avoid extensive coaching unless absolutely necessary. The goal is to allow them to find their natural floating position and build confidence.

6. Ditch the Floaties – For Good Reason

 We strongly discourage the use of floaties in controlled environments like pools. These devices are counterproductive in developing the critical self-rescue skills learned at Infant Aquatics CT. They often create a false sense of security and hinder the development of proper swimming posture and independent movement. While safety is our priority, we stress that floaties can do more harm than good while practicing or playing in the water.

However, when it comes to open water situations, such as boating or other water activities, where supervision is not the main source of safety, other measures should be taken such as wearing lifejackets and following local laws and regulations.

7. Heads Down, Focus Up!

 An important safety skill for Infant Aquatics CT students is looking down towards the bottom of the pool or your feet while swimming. This helps with streamline body position and avoids them lifting their heads and potentially panicking if water enters their face. If they do pop their head up unexpectedly, encourage them to float and reach out to you for further guidance. If this becomes a frequent occurrence, consider contacting your instructor for a personalized strategy session (we call it “Dena Time” here at Infant Aquatics CT!).

8. Breathe Easy

Breathing plays a vital role in both swimming and floating. Before a swim, encourage your child to take a “big deep breath” to prepare. During floats, calm in-and-out breathing helps them relax and maintain buoyancy.

9. Pack the “Swim” Mindset

Consider using Infant Aquatics CT swimsuits on vacations or pool outings. While they won’t keep your child afloat, they can subtly nudge them into a “swimming mindset” from the moment they put them on.

10. Practice Makes Perfect (Floats Too!)

Schedule regular float practice sessions throughout your pool time, aiming for every 10-15 minutes. Remember, every child develops skills at their own pace. Don’t hesitate to ask your instructor for additional tips or personalized guidance to address your child’s specific needs.

Bonus Tip: Explore Infant Aquatics CT Resources!

For a more comprehensive understanding of Infant Aquatics CT and pool safety for young children, visit our website, www.infantaquaticsct.com, and explore our blog on Tips for Great Water Play Time for Your Infant Aquatics CT Child for additional guidance. Or CONTACT US with any questions.

By following these tips and working closely with your Infant Aquatics CT instructor, you can create a fun and safe environment for your child to explore the water, develop essential self-rescue skills, and build a lifelong love of swimming!