Learning to swim can be very challenging to both kids and adults. One of the major reasons is the feeling of being unsafe in the water, and the fear of drowning.
Drowning happens because when we place our feet down, we can’t stand up to breathe. Instead, we fall in and have our nose, mouth, and perhaps lungs fill up with water.
It can be a sudden and frightening feeling. Just one bad experience is a recipe for a lifelong water phobia. And there isn’t an easy or fast cure.
So that first experience with swimming must be safe and approachable. How is that best achieved?
A huge factor that people don’t think about when they start swimming is how high the water should be. Learning to swim is best done when the water is at the chest-height of the student. This is true for both children and adults.
This is because in chest-height water, we can tuck in our legs and stand up easily. That tends to ease fears as the threat of drowning becomes minimized. Students can practice, recover, and then practice again. Learning becomes much faster. Being in the right depth of water can be more effective than all the coaxing in the world from parents or a coach.
So when learning, ask yourself if the water is a suitable height. Too deep, and you breed fear and a real risk of drowning. Too shallow, and you won’t be able to move and stretch properly.
Just a reminder too that floatation devices like belts, noodles, or boards aren’t a replacement for the right level of water. It can be downright dangerous if unsupervised. Children can fall off their board, float belts can get loose, or heads go underwater and get stuck. So don’t get a sense of false confidence, and rely on these devices in deep water.
Most of Singapore’s public swimming complexes have training pools that are about 1.0 metres deep, perfect for children in primary school. Some condos in Singapore do lack suitable depth, so always check before allowing your child to swim.
We hope these tips help you and your child learn swimming safely and quickly! Stay Otter-ly Fantastic.
