Afloat Swim offers a unique approach to swimming lessons, focusing on survival skills rather than just water familiarization. Our program teaches infants and young children essential skills to survive in water without floaties or parental assistance, addressing the critical need for water safety, especially for children under four years old.
Children in the Afloat Swim program learn a range of vital survival skills, including breath control, recovery from simulated falls into water, rolling onto their backs to float independently, and reaching the pool edge. As they progress, they learn to swim to safety and float independently for extended periods, equipping them with the ability to stay safe in the water.
Afloat Swim H20 Survival lessons are conducted one-on-one between the child and instructor, ensuring personalized attention and maximizing effectiveness. The program is designed for approximately eight weeks, with children attending private 10-minute lessons five days a week (Monday to Friday). This intensive approach helps children acquire essential aquatic survival skills quickly and efficiently.
Private, one-on-one lessons allow instructors to tailor each lesson to the individual child’s behaviour and ability, ensuring maximum effectiveness. This approach also eliminates distractions and enables children to focus entirely on learning and mastering essential survival skills.
Afloat Swim instructors undergo rigorous training, including a minimum of 60 hours of in-water training and comprehensive academic study covering child psychology, learning theory, physiology, and behavioural sciences. Our instructors are certified swimming instructors with a deep understanding of the differences between traditional swim lessons and survival-focused programs.
Parents do not get into the water during lessons, but we encourage them to praise the work of their child in the water. Afloat Swim instructors have undergone intensive training to teach these specialized aquatic techniques. Our one-on-one approach minimizes distractions for the child, allowing them to focus solely on learning essential survival skills. While parents may not be in the water during lessons, they can participate in a final session after graduation to learn how to support their child’s continued practice of survival skills outside of lessons. This ensures that the skills acquired during the program are reinforced and maintained.
Afloat Swim is designed to integrate survival skills seamlessly into a child’s motor skills through a process of gradual learning and positive reinforcement. As children grow, their buoyancy may change, they may not utilise their new skills, and they may inadvertently pick up habits from swimming with others. That’s why, after completing the program, children are encouraged to transition to ongoing lessons that not only reinforce survival skills but also introduce new swimming elements. Additionally, families have the option to book refresher sessions to ensure that children maintain their proficiency in vital aquatic survival skills over time. This approach ensures that children continue to build upon their foundation of safety while enjoying the benefits of continued swimming education.
Safety is paramount in Afloat Swim lessons. Instructors closely monitor each child’s progress and follow strict safety protocols to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment. Children are taught in a controlled pool environment, and instructors have 100% focus on the child 100% of the time to prevent any safety concerns.
Afloat Swim offers an accelerated survival program that equips children with life-saving skills in weeks rather than years. The program involves intensive one-on-one instruction and comprehensive training for instructors, ensuring the highest standards of safety and effectiveness. While the cost may be higher, the value of acquiring vital aquatic survival skills is invaluable for children’s safety around water.
While children may initially have apprehensions about Afloat Swim lessons, the program is designed to set them up for success and build self-esteem through positive reinforcement and gradual skill acquisition. As children become more confident and proficient in their skills, many find enjoyment and confidence in the water, making Afloat Swim a rewarding experience for both children, parents and the instructors.
It’s normal for children to experience burping during Afloat Swim lessons, particularly when they are learning to float. Swallowing air may occur, especially if the child cries during the lesson, allowing more air to enter their system. Our instructors continuously monitor each child’s reactions and take appropriate action as needed. While some children may spit up a small amount while burping, anything more than a small amount of liquid may indicate the need for dietary modifications, as advised by the instructor.
To ensure optimal comfort and safety during Afloat Swim lessons, we recommend avoiding certain foods that may cause discomfort or affect buoyancy. Foods high in refined sugar or processed flour, as well as those known to cause gas, should be avoided before lessons. Specifically, we recommend avoiding apples (including apple juice or sauce), pineapples, papayas, peaches, passion fruits, celery, honey, and spinach. It’s important for children not to consume any food for at least one hour before the lesson and to refrain from dairy or milk products for at least two hours prior to ensure the best experience during their lesson.
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