Swimming is the most complete and the only sport that It can be practiced from the first weeks of life. The sooner the baby knows the feeling of swimming, his body and mind will be favored.
Just as each child has their own rhythm to start eating, crawling or walking, there are no deadlines for learning to swim. The process of learning is as or more important than the end in itself. It is not the goal for the child to swim like a dolphin, but to learn to relax and have fun, and to feel safe in the water.
At first, the baby will simply enjoy the new sensations caused by the water. You will feel weightlessness and learn to float. It will be later, when you start diving and learn the basic techniques of swimming. But it is only at three years of age when he has muscular coordination to move only from one side to another.
There are many benefits of swimming for children. In addition to strengthening the cardiovascular system and collaborating in the development of muscles and bones, it helps improve coordination and balance. In the psychological, they discover the wonderful feeling of independence and security. There is no general consensus on what is the right age to start swimming. In some centers babies are accepted from two months while in others they are not until eight. How much smaller they are, they still maintain the innate reflex of closing the glottis, so, when submerged, they automatically close the passage of the airways. Growing up, they lose it, as does the instinct to "walk" in the water.
What is certain is that babies under one year of age adapt to the aquatic environment more easily than older ones, and this prevents them from being afraid of water in the future.
The pool water temperature should be around 32 degrees. The environment has to be attractive, with toys, mats, balls, music and an environment that motivates them. It is very important that the baby feels comfortable and confident in the water. The mother (or who goes with the baby to classes) plays a fundamental role being the "support" to which the child will resort when he feels insecure. Therefore, you will have to have a lot of patience and willingness to spend both a pleasant time.
