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BACK FLOAT vs. WATER ADJUSTMENT, PLAY, SWIM PROGRAMS

There continues to be the ongoing debate about whether to teach back float to infants and toddlers or whether to teach water adjustment/play ("mommy and me") or "underwater swimming." At WALLYPOGS our belief is that back float skills should be taught prior to introduction of fun and games. We use songs and toys, in our teaching process, for distraction purposes only. Water is serious and the staggering Drowning Statistics and near drownings cannot be ignored. It should not be considered fun or safe for a child who does not know how to handle them selves in the water. Our graduates learn to respect the water and how to successfully get to a safe back float position, before they learn to play in it. Play is naturally and easily integrated into the process once a child has mastered the survival float skill. We strive for a healthy balance of understanding and fun. Those of us who are out in the world teaching babies how to back float feel very strongly that we have a calling to help "make a difference." Drowning is a preventable accident. That is why we strive to have ongoing informational and educational meetings, About Us, so we can continually raise awareness and aide in drowning prevention. Our goal is to help parents come to an informed and educated decision about their child's safety and early water experience. A child's SURVIVAL is our first priority.

DIFFERENCE IN PHILOSOPHY- THREE APPROACHES

* Water adjustment/water orientation classes -These classes are a "Mommy and Me" approach, introducing play from the beginning of a child's early water experience. A "love of water" is promoted through play and fun, with games and songs being the core of the program. We believe that this approach can actually compound the problem and potential for drowning, as a child wants to get to water once they have been taught that it is a pleasurable place to be. Children have no swim skills, sustained back float skills or ability to effectively take care of them selves in the water, in case of an emergency. Adult presence is imperative. We don't teach children to play in the street for a very good reason… it is dangerous. Why should we consider it OK to teach them to play in water, which poses a far greater danger.

* Infant and toddler swim lessons –These classes teach infants and toddlers swimming techniques. Swimming with the face "in the water" or underwater is emphasized and back float may be introduced. The child may be taught to jump in, turn around go back to the side of pool and pull self out. Mommy/Daddy may or may not be involved in the process. Varying methods and approaches are widely used throughout the world. There is no question that young children can learn to maneuver through the water, dive down and get toys, jump in off the side and sometimes be taught to successfully breathe and get back to the side. However, it can be a long process. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "Children are generally not developmentally ready for formal swim lessons until their fourth birthday." They lack the coordination to be able to swim and breath for any significant length of time. There also needs to be extreme caution and concern in terms of ongoing submersion and the unknown amount of possible water intake. Adult presence is imperative when a child is in the water

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The Parents Role

So what should you do as the parent? Click her to find out our suggestions.

WHY WE FOCUS ON SURVIVAL FLOAT

Drowning is caused by an intake of water and loss of air due to a persons inability to keep mouth and nose out of water to breathe. With the lack of success in in ability to breathe, panic begins to set in causing the person to tire. Drowning or near drowning occurs within minutes. This is where the Survival Back Float can be important to the safety of a child. We work with the child to create controlled, movements that aide them in getting to a back float position, without panic, from which they can breathe. They are taught to do this in clothing, as 86% of the children who drown do so fully clothed.

When handled in a positive, loving, gentle and constructive way the opposite actually occurs. How We Teach. A child becomes very confident, comfortable, secure and happy in the water and has a genuine love of the water experience. Trauma is not caused by the back float process,