How to help your child
Introduction
When a child is leaning to swim they need to spend as much time in the water as possible. So we encourage parents and carers to take their children to the sea to practice and have fun in the water.
This not only builds up their confidence but any additional time spent as a family, whether its practicing swimming techniques or playing in the water is a bonus.
At Bajan Bubblers our lesson last as long as a child can reasonably be expected to concentrate for their age.
Baby Bubbler classes 40 minutes
Mini Bubbler classes 60 minutes
Bubbler classes 80 minutes
Not only do we have scientific programmes for each age group but our trained lifeguards also assess each student. During the induction process students join a class based on their ability.
This ensures that they become competent swimmers and allows them to practice their skills, reaching their fully potential quickly.
Children love to be praised when they do things well so spending addition time with your child/ren to see how much they have achieved during their swimming lesson encourages them to do their best.
Confident “Bubblers”
Blowing bubbles in the water, progressing to putting mouth and nose in water and exhaling, then eyes and forehead, until eventually you can encourage them to submerge their head completely.
Touch the sand with knees, hands, elbows, bottom etc.
How long can they put their face in the water gently exhaling? Count for your child so they always have a target to beat the next time they are in the sea.
“This is What We Do At
Bajan Bubblers”
Building Confidence
We want children to lean how to cope with sea water when it covers their face without swallowing it. They can achieve this by breathing rhythmically in the water. Try to encourage them to put their face in, or whole head under the water and breath out for a couple of seconds.
Then lift their head out of the water and breathe for two seconds. Repeat this until they can do this approximately ten times calmly without swallowing the sea water.
Let your child place their face in the water and count your fingers trying to encourage them to keep their eyes open. When they surface ask them to “blink” the water away instead of rubbing their eyes with their hands.
Push and Glide
“Bubblers” need to practice this skill as it streamlines the body to master all swimming strokes. Bubblers need to push themselves forward with their faces in the water and the sea will help them to glide along. Their arms should be stretched out in front of their heads with thumbs touching. Legs should be long at the back with knees and ankles touching and toes pointing backward.
Star Floats
Star floats should be done on their fronts and on their backs. For front facing, child should have their faces in the water with their arms and legs placed like a star near the surface. Back facing, looking up but not directly into the sun, with ears in the water, tummy and toes near the surface, but do not let the feet come out of the water again legs and arms forming a star. Count how long they can hold this position again try and make it fun!
Mushroom Floats
Ask your child to stand in the sea with their shoulders under the water. Lead back into the water, tucking knees into their chest and clasp their arms around their lower legs. Curl up into a tight ball keeping their chin tucked into their chest. Bob like a ball in the water and count how long they can hold this position. Adults can play and see who lasts the longest under the water.
Adult Bubblers: “You can have fun too!”
