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Denise Jones |
The last few weeks have been a pleasant reminder of the summer days ahead.
In preparation for lots of swimming and diving in the pool, at the beach or in the backyard paddling pool, a Water Babies programmehas been launched, providing six free-learn-to swim lessons for babies and toddlers in the Tauranga Area.
Sport Bay of Plenty launched the programme in conjunction with Swimming New Zealand, CCS Disability Action Swim School, Bayswim Swim School, Relationship Aotearoa and Pirirakau Hauora.
Unfortunately, in the Bay of Plenty alone this year there have been six drownings (out of 71 drownings nationwide, according to Water Safety New Zealand's database, which is a stark reminder to ensure our children are kept safe when they are close to water, as well as ensuring the normal water safety rules apply – wear lifejackets, check the weather forecast, and always have a parent with children in the water.
Sport Bay of Plenty water safety adviser Denise Jones says the Water Babies programme has been launched to help educate not only children, but parents on the importance of safety in and around water. 'We saw lots of great progress, with both the child and the caregiver. It really is a win-win for everyone.”
Water Babies supports community organisations and gives families a fun and safe way to be active together. Water Babies is set up to provide lessons for those who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity; and the weekly lessons give families the confidence and knowledge to enjoy the water with their under-fives.
In theprogramme, all parents and caregivers receive a 15-minute workshop from Swimming NZ on what to do next at home, and in aquatic environments, to ensure the water confidence and learned skills long continue.Water Babies is funded by the Active Healthy Strong Community Partnership Fund and up to 80 children have participated in the programme with some great success stories being told.
Based on the successful pilot and outcomes achieved, the programme will continue in 2014 with the next programme commencing in February, with Plunket and Te Kupenga Hauora coming on board as collaborative partners..
Here are some of the Water Babies pilot's success stories:
Mother Maraea, son Jack, three, and daughter Mattanja, five.
Jack and his granddad.
Mother Maraea says Jack is far more confident than when they first started the lessons; and he is more aware of the need to float and that he can't just jump in. The family doesn't have a bath at home, so both Jack and his sister Mattanja were not confident with being submerged in water before they started the lessons.
Maraea says Mattanja, who attends Water Babies at CCS Disability Swim School on a Saturday, was cautious at her first lesson 'but to look at her now you'd think she'd swimming forever”. Jack was cautious at first too, in he didn't like his face splashed with water 'but today he is fully submerging his head”. Jack went in the water with his granddad for his lessons. Maraea says after Jack's initial lesson, granddad was reluctant to give up the role, as he loved going in the water with his grandson.
After Jack's initial lesson, granddad was reluctant to give up the role.
'Jack and Mattanja have had more exposure to water, being involved in Water Babies, than I would have been able to give them,” says Maraea. 'I found the tips I've learned to be useful too, like not letting them get out of arms reach, as you don't realise they can fall over and go under even if they can touch the bottom.” Maraea says she now knows what to do with her children in the water – and not only has Water Babies given her children confidence in the water, but her as a parent too.
Mother Kirstin, with daughter Chloe, nine months.
Chloe's first splash at Water Babies.
Chloe loves the water. She loves splashing and is happy to lie on her back. Mother Kirstin is happy Chloe is getting the chance to have lessons at her age 'so she can grow up liking being in the water”.
Kirstin says having Chloe involved in the lessons has meant she, as a parent, feels more comfortable too. 'Finding out about little games and things I can do with her in the water is good, and I can play the games with her when we go swimming too.”
Chloe, submerged fully under the water.
At Chloe's last session of Water Babies, Chloe was submerged fully under the water. 'I was a bit scared about Chloe going under but she was fine, she didn't cough and she didn't cry,” says Kirstin. Chloe went under the water again twice and was happy to do so. 'A true Water Baby.”
Mother Cheree, with son Bodie, four.
Bodie gaining swimming confidence.
Bodie used to have swimming lessons when he was a baby, but hasn't for some time. At his first Water Babies lesson, he was happy to put his face in the water but struggled with getting his legs up off the floor when asked to swim along using a noodle. By the second lesson he had his legs up off the floor. Swim teacher Gaylene says she would rather see Bodie try to hold his weight off the floor than be able to lift his legs up behind him at this stage.
Bodie, by his fourth lesson, was picking up objects from under the water, and he was happy to do this. He gets a bit of a fright when he put his forehead and his nose in the water, he was happy to give it a go and it didn't deter him.
Cheree says Water Babies is really great for Bodie's confidence around water and showed her great ways to teach him how to be safe in the water. 'There were great ideas using everyday objects, such as bottle floats to hold in the water.”
Mother Daisy, with daughter Azalea, 18 months.
Azalea was not used to the water.
Water Babies is the first time Azalea had been to a swimming lesson, and as they don't have a bath at home, she was not used to being in the water. There were not a lot of smiles as she clung to her mother.
During the course of the lessons, Azalea slowly gained confidence and got used to the water. She is happy to follow instructions, blowing bubbles in the water, through a rubber fish; and on the last lesson at CCS Disability Swim School, was fully submerged several times.
Azalea has slowly gained confidence.
'Look at that”, says Daisy, as Azalea tried to hop back in the pool after the lesson. 'In the beginning she didn't want to go in; and now look at her.”
Mother Kim, with daughter Ava-Rae, 13 months.
Ava's first lesson in water.
The comparison of photographs from Ava's first and last lessons say it all – with lots of smiles from Ava, as she completes her final session of Water Babies.
Ava was very quiet in her first lesson, watching what was going on and looked like she was thinking things through. By the final lesson, Ava's mood had changed dramatically. You couldn't take a photograph without her smiling in it.
Ava's swimming face today.
Kim says, she feeld great as a parent that her daughter got to experience what it's like to be in the water. 'She loved the water, it made her love having showers because before water babies she hated them.”
By the final lesson, Ava was having water poured on her head and was fully submerged three times – smiling through it all.
For further information about Water Babies and water safety contact Denise Jones, Sport BOP's water safety advisor on 07 578 0016 Extn: 838 or email: denisej@sportbop.co.nz