When I talk to parents about giving swim lessons to their babies and young children, I often hear the term “drown-proof training”. I believe that many of the parents are under the notion that with a few short lessons, they will never have to worry about their children drowning. Don’t ever believe this!
There are a lot of benefits to giving your children swim lessons. However, don’t ever believe that even an adult that has had a lot of experience with swimming, will never drown. Take for example Greta Anderson who was a champion Olympic swimmer who nearly drowned in the 1948 Olympic games. Drowning can happen to nearly anyone!
Where Does the Term “Drown Proofing” Come From?
“Drown-Proofing” is a term used in survival training and is not related to swimming. In the 1940, a swimming instructor named Fred Lanoue developed a technique in survival training that enabled seamen and downed aircraft pilots to survive for long periods of time in open water. The technique that he taught was so useful that it is still taught to military branches today.
Basically, recruits are taught that if you find yourself stranded in a large body of water, such as the ocean or a lake, that you can fill your lungs with air and your body will stay floating for long-periods of time. Simply stay face down, take in a lung-full of air, and stay relaxed. To survive, lift your head above water, exhale, and take in another breathe of fresh air that you will hold. A person can stay floating a long period of time using this technique.
“Drown-Proofing” and Baby Swim Lessons
Teaching your children “drown-proofing” should not be the goal of any parent. However, teaching young children to swim has a lot of benefits.
Teaching children how to survive in water is definitely one very important benefit. However, as you know, children learn and forget so much! That’s why most swim instructors will tell you that you need to give your children swim and/or float instructions for several years straight. What your child learns this year, they may not remember next year. Next year, however, things they have forgotten will come back to them must faster.
Teaching a young child to survive in water may surprise you, however. Sometimes, you would swear they’ll never remember… then they will surprise you. Watch this short video about a 2-year-old boy wo survived drowning because of the training he had previously received.
Swim lessons teach a child to have more confidence. Not only will they have more confidence in water, but more confidence in general. They will learn that when they are in doubt, addressing the problem head-on is the best way to go about it.
You and your young child will find swimming lessons are a great way for you and them to bond. By watching the swim instructor, you are going to find a lot of ways to handle your child in water. You are going to pick up on a lot of cues on how to get your child to paddle, kick, and blow bubbles. The relationship between you and your child will grow.
Let Life Saver Survival Swim School Help You Build This Relationship
Our school has been teaching swimming and floating skills to children now for nearly 20 years. Most of that time has been spent here in north Houston.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our owner, Bonnie. She is more than happy to answer any questions that you might have. She can be reached by telephoning at (832) 366-3008. Or, you can email her.