Promotes water enrichment and aquatic-readiness activities for children and their parents or other trusted adults. In this program, the developmental experiences of each child are used to build the child’s self-confidence. Parents learn from the instructor’s example how to guide their children through positive reinforcement and appropriate praise. So let’s just pool it!
Stage A: Swim Starters Water Discovery
Parents accompany children in this class, which introduces babies and parents to the aquatic environment through exploration that encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. The general goals of the program are:
- To encourage developmentally appropriate expectations by parents of babies enrolled in water enrichment programs
- To introduce and emphasize basic aquatic safety to parents
- To provide a positive parent/child aquatic experience and an opportunity to build the parent/child relationship
- To provide parents and children the opportunity to share common experiences, socialize, and interact with one another
Stage B: Swim Starters Water Exploration
In this class, parents are guided to work with their child to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. The general goals of the program are:
- To encourage children to explore their aquatic environment and their own skills with parents’ help
- To introduce basic water skills such as kicking, breath control, and body control or balance
- To encourage children to make purposeful movement in the water and movements in response to visual and verbal cues
- To have fun in the water using toys and floatation devices and interacting with other children
- To emphasize basic aquatic safety to parents
- To provide a positive parent/child aquatic experience and an opportunity to build the parent/child relationship
