Baby and Preschool
A beautiful bonding experience
Taking your baby into the swimming pool for the first time can be a daunting experience. It is a different environment, and we don't know if anyone has told you but babies get very slippery once they are wet!
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Our instructors have many years of experience in first introductions. It is important to ensure that both you and your baby feel safe and secure, as if you are feeling nervous they will pick up on it and can become unsettled.
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From the moment you step into the pool area our instructors will be on hand to help you learn how best to introduce your baby to the water, hold your baby to make them feel secure and comfortable and to show you activities you can do in the water to help your baby learn essential swimming skills.
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Swim England (the National Governing Body for swimming in England) name 8 main core aquatic skills. Each lesson will be based around your child's development and will include a combination of swimming, development of the core aquatic skills (read more here) as well as following government Development Matters framework for child development (Read more here) to help support your child with their overall physical and mental development.
What to Expect
A range of activities chosen to support your child's all round development
At Wild Dog we follow the Swim England badge framework. Our lessons are based around not only swimming and the aquatic development, but the activities we chose, equipment we use and songs we sing combine a range of different aspects of child development to help your little one grow and learn.
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Core Aquatic Skills
Entries - Learning how to safely enter the swimming pool in a variety of different ways
Exits - Learning how to get out of the water, for example climbing out or using the steps
Rotation and Orientation - turning and rolling in the water.
Buoyancy and Balance - Learning to float and stay still in the water
Streamlining - Being able to move smoothly through the water
Aquatic Breathing - Being comfortable with water in and around the face
(really helps with hair washing!)
Travel and Coordination - Moving in all directions on, under and through the water
Water Safety - Understanding how to stay safe in all aquatic environments
Health and Fitness - Understanding how swimming helps to keep you fit and healthy
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Fundamental Movement Skills
These are skills which support your child's all round physical development and capabilities, and underpin not only swimming but every sport! They can be split into four categories:
Agility, balance, coordination
Running, jumping throwing
Kinesthetics, gliding, buoyancy, striking with an object
Catching, passing, kicking, striking with the body
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​Development Matters
The government has published a framework to assist all early years practitioners in understanding how children learn to help to design a curriculum which supports all aspects of their development.
Our lessons are based around developmentally (not necessarily age) appropriate expectations in the key areas of development which are as follows:
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Communication and Language - Development of spoken language
Personal, Social and Emotional development - Forming attachments, managing emotions and creating a positive sense of self, friendships and conflict management
Physical development - Gross and fine motor activities as well as sensory exploration, building strength, coordination and integration of infant reflexes.
Literacy - recognition of letters, words and comprehension of language
Mathematics - Counting, understanding numbers and patterns and organising
Understanding the world - Beginning to understand the aquatic environment
Arts and Design: songs, rhythm, actions, exploration of sound within the water, building stacking and creating with materials.
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Badges
There are four badges available in baby and preschool lessons as part of the Swim England 'Ducklings' scheme
Please click on the tabs to learn more about each one.
Duckling 1
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Make a supervised safe entry with adult support if required.
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Float on back with adult support behind the head without floatation equipment.
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Blow bubbles at the water surface.
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Wet the head without submersion.
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Kick 5 metres on back with adult support.
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Travel without adult support for 2 metres to a floating object.
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Enter the pool, rotate and return to the side with adult support.
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Exit the water safely with minimal adult support.
