Firsov swim earlier than walk. Swimming of infants according to the Firsov method (with pictures and photos). Methodology for teaching children to swim - continued

Swimming is not only positive emotions, but also a very rewarding pastime for children. Water will help fearful babies to become bolder, sick babies - to harden and become stronger. An added bonus from swimming is strong back and abdominal muscles, strong hands and excellent coordination. It is not for nothing that experts advise sending children to the swimming section. Whichever sport you choose for your child in the future, starting with swimming is ideal.

If there is no way to trust the specialists, then you can start swimming training on your own. A home bath is also suitable for very young children as a "pool", while older children can learn to swim in natural reservoirs, but only in shallow water and under the vigilant supervision of adults.

Methodology Z.P. Firsova: "Swim before walking"

Babies are not afraid of water at all, so if possible, start learning as much as possible. early age... Most known technique classes created by the Soviet specialist Z.P. Firsov. The provisions of this technique are set out in the book "Swim Before Walking". Dr. Firsov suggested starting training at the age of 2-3 weeks. These activities should become an exciting game, the main thing here is not the desire for some result, but the strengthening of the baby's health.

Classes for babies are carried out in the bath. The temperature of the water should be gradually lowered: the first 4 lessons the recommended temperature is 37 degrees Celsius, from 5 to 8 lessons - 36.5, from 9 to 13 - 36, from 14 to 19 - 35.5, from 20 to 23 - 34 degrees. From the 25th session, the temperature can be lowered to the usual 28 degrees Celsius for the pool.

Firsov's methodology involves conducting classes throughout the year. At the end of the course, a one-year-old child must learn to stay on the water from 20 minutes to half an hour, dive shallowly and swim briefly under water.

Swimming teaching method T.I. Osokina

This technique is designed for older children, or rather, for preschoolers. Osokina's methodology is based on the play method. According to the author, the main thing is to interest the child in swimming, to alternate exercises with games that necessarily contain elements of swimming movements.

Classes should start with mastering in water, tell the child about the properties of water - resistance, supporting force. If your child is afraid of water, you can start with simple hardening exercises and submersion in the water in a small pool or tub. Children quickly get used to the water, and after 2-3 sessions, you can safely transfer the child to a larger pool or natural reservoir.

As soon as the child began to boldly enter the water, we begin to do various exercises in the water. This is walking and running in water, various hand movements so that the child can independently understand and feel the resistance of the water.

Here are some exercise options:
- "boat" - to imitate the strokes of the oars with your hands, while the child walks along the bottom in different directions. At the request of an adult, the "boat" changes direction and speed of movement;
- “washing” - during this exercise, the child rinses imaginary laundry in water. The first two exercises are carried out at a depth to the waist;
- exercise "crocodile" - the child bends forward and moves along the bottom with the help of arms and legs. This and the next two exercises are performed at knee depth;
- "crayfish" and "crabs" - exercises almost similar to "crocodile". The difference is in the direction of movement: the "crayfish" move backward, while the "crabs" move to the right and left.

The next stage in teaching a child to swim is immersion in water. First, dive up to the neck, and then - with the head. But before full immersion, it is necessary to teach the child to hold his breath. Then the child is taught to breathe out into the water. In her book How to Teach Children to Swim, T.A. Osokina offers a variety of interesting exercises, thanks to which the child will learn to float freely and master the basic swimming styles.

Before you start teaching your child to swim, we advise you to study the methods of Osokina and Firsov. They contain a lot of useful and professional advice.

However, if you decide to entrust the teaching of your child to swimming to professionals, do not hesitate to ask what techniques the specialist uses, ask other parents if their children like the lessons. You need to be sure that your child is in good hands and will be taught how to swim well and how to behave in the water.

One of the most popular was the method of Zakhary Firsov. Back in 1978, he created his own course and published the book "Swim Before Walking", which was approved by the USSR Ministry of Health.

Firsov's methodology is designed for classes for 9-12 months. In this technique, the dive begins with the feet, in an upright position. At the same time, you can calmly explain to the child that he will be in water, that now he will be swimming.

Then, when the baby gets used to the fact that he sank into the water, you can safely transfer him to a horizontal position and at the same time support him from below. The supports should be stronger at first so that the baby feels secure.

The purpose of classes according to the Firsov method is to teach a child to independently stay on the surface of the water for 20-30 minutes, dive to a shallow depth, jump from the side of the pool into the water, get toys from the bottom and swim under water for a few seconds.

There is a radically different swimming technique - Igor Charkovsky. It was designed for premature or debilitated newborns.

Charkovsky, who tested the technique on his daughter, claims that hypoxia during immersion in water is useful. In his opinion, the body reacts to hypoxia with enhanced nutrition of the brain, which leads to leaps in mental and physical development in children.

Charkovsky's technique is a water training in which the child is often and quickly immersed in water for 30-40 minutes (the so-called "diving").

Having emerged from the water, the baby manages to inhale air and again dives with the help of an adult. At the moment of immersion under water, the child is forced to hold his breath and when he emerges, he is forced to take an active breath.

Moving, striving for new things and winning is living. This is the basis of I.Charkovsky's methodology. It is suitable for the adaptation of newborns to the aquatic environment and water therapy in the treatment of various diseases. This is a rather tough technique that sick children need.

The swimming technique of Vladimir Guterman is quite popular. The process of teaching babies to swim according to this technique is divided into 4 stages: preparatory, swimming training, independent swimming, swimming improvement.

The technique is based on the generally accepted methods of bathing newborns - the child is taught to daily water procedures in full baths. At this stage, it is important that the classes evoke positive emotions in the baby.

Starting from the age of two months, the complex of preparatory activities includes massage, general and swimming gymnastics. Special gymnastics(imitation of swimming) is first carried out outside the bath, and then in water. The second stage of swimming training is designed for children 3-6 months old. Further consolidation of swimming reflexes is carried out with the help of the word.

The baby swims with support and its weakening, on the back and on the chest. At the age of 6-9 months, babies independently submerge under water and dive.

At the last stage, children aged 9-12 months can independently swim along the bath and a small children's pool and can also dive for toys.

Swimming with newborns and babies has nothing to do with competition and the training of an athlete swimmer.

Everyone should be able to swim, and the sooner he learns, the better. What does swimming give a child? Experts from many countries believe that swimming helps to strengthen the health of the child, helps him to develop correctly. Exercises in the water lead to the improvement of the circulatory and respiratory organs. In the water, the load on the spine is removed and correct posture... Active movement strengthens bones and prevents the development of flat feet. The nervous system is also strengthened. Sleep becomes stronger, appetite improves, the general tone of the body rises. Movement improves, endurance increases. Swimming with newborns and babies has nothing to do with competition and the training of an athlete swimmer.

How did baby swimming start?

Scientists believe that, perhaps, children's swimming existed among peoples living near water. What we now call children's swimming was discovered in Australia by Mrs. Timerman in 1939 by chance. On hot summer days, her doctor advised her to take her baby with her to the pool. Timerman saw that the child literally blooms in the water. This prompted her to write a book that has become a worldwide textbook on children's swimming. A little later in the USSR, articles began to be published by the chairman of the All-Union Swimming Federation, President of the Medical Committee of the International Swimming Federation ZP Firsov, under the general title "Swimming before walking." The technique was approved by a special commission of the USSR Ministry of Health and began to be introduced everywhere. It is especially important "that it allowed children to heal with the help of an ordinary apartment bath, which is available to millions of people.

When and how to start classes with your baby?

You can start swimming when the umbilical wound heals, usually in 2-3 weeks. At first, the parents take care of the child in a regular home bath. When the bath becomes small for the baby, and he acquires the initial skills, you can go to the pool. This usually happens at 2 months.

For nine months before birth, the baby was floating in amniotic fluid. And if you do not scare him away, then he will gladly accept the water in the bath.

You need to work with a child when he is in a good mood, he is full, does not want to sleep, nothing bothers him. You should be cheerful and welcoming. It is advisable to turn swimming lessons into an exciting game that will bring pleasure to both you and your child. You need to be patient and take your time. Gradually increase the load, gradually add new exercises. Remember that your the main objective- not the achievement of a result, but the pleasure and health of your baby. Baby swimming is not a complicated matter, and all parents can learn it. You should be calm and your hands should be confident and secure in supporting the baby. The child feels your mood. It is important not to make him afraid, overworked and distrustful of water. A mistake once made can discourage a child from learning to swim for a long time.

A baby does not know what fear is, he is not afraid of water. During his stay in the womb, he was constantly surrounded by amniotic fluid, and if fear appears in the child's bath, then the culprit should rather be sought among the parents.

How can parents gain confidence? If you want to teach your baby to swim, then during pregnancy it is also advisable to practice in the water. Parents who love water and know how to swim have more confidence in the appropriateness of classes with a baby. Read the instructional guide carefully. Imagine how you will perform support in the water. Find the right time and you can start. Swimming takes place in a large bath. Because in a small bathtub it will be as uncomfortable for a child to swim as you would in a usual one. What should be the temperature of the bath water? According to the method of Z.P. Firsov, the temperature in the first lessons can be 37 degrees, in the fifth lesson -36.5, in the ninth - 36, in the fourteenth - 35.5, in the twentieth - 35, in the twenty-fourth - 34 degrees. Further, the water temperature drops to the temperature of an ordinary pool - 28 degrees. We usually start at a lower temperature. You have to choose the temperature for the child individually. He should be warm and comfortable in the water, but at the same time, the water should not be too warm to encourage the child to make active swimming movements.

As a rule, the water temperature for a child who is just born and weighing up to 4 kg should be about 35.5 - 36 degrees, and for a plump child, with folds should be 34-35. V in any case, you select the temperature for your child, focusing on how he behaves in the bath.

During the first sessions, you and your baby will feel more confident if you plunge into the bath together. This is not necessary in subsequent lessons. You will be standing in front of the bathroom and bathing the baby. Ordinary clean water is drawn into the bath. You need to work with your child every day. The first lessons last 5-10 minutes, then 20 minutes. From the time you go to the pool, you can practice for 40 minutes.

Methodology of Z.P. Firsov designed for classes for 9-12 months. The ultimate goal is to teach a child up to the age of one, first, to independently stay on the surface of the water for 20-30 minutes, and secondly, dive to a shallow depth, place toys from the bottom and swim under water for 7-8 seconds. Thirdly, being in light clothes - a summer suit, shoes, socks, a hat - jump from the side of the pool in clothes into the water and in this clothes hold out on the surface of the water for 2-3 minutes. The latter seems to me especially relevant in light of the statistics of tragic incidents that occurred during Last year with kids. It turns out that a large number of children die every year from drowning, and the strangest thing is that in 78% of cases, children die in ordinary puddles, that is, they fall and die terribly from the inability to hold their breath in this way. By teaching your child to swim from infancy, you will forever save yourself from this tragedy.

First, we studied Firsov's methodology, then - the experience of his foreign colleagues, and over time our own experience came. The technique that you are now reading is based on our experience in teaching newborn swimming. It differs somewhat from the basic techniques and is one of the modifications of soft swimming techniques and seems to us the most optimal.

Immerse baby you need to slowly, gradually, after checking the temperature of the water so that it does not seem too cold or too hot to the child.

The dive begins with the legs in an upright position.

At the same time, you can calmly explain to the child that he will be in water, that now he will be swimming. Then, when he gets used to sinking into the water. You calmly transfer it to a horizontal position and at the same time support it from below. The supports at the beginning should be stronger so that the child feels secure. Later, the supports fall under a smaller area of ​​the body. If you are in the bath with your child (as a rule, dad is at first, because mom, while there is lochia, it is not recommended to take a bath), the child can be kept on bent knees, you can put your hands completely under his back, and grasp the head with your palms and shake the child in this position. You can put it on your stomach and chest so that the baby's head is above the water.

When you start in front of the bathroom, the most comfortable support is: left hand is located under the back of the child's head, and with your right hand you wrap your thighs either, from the outside, or between the legs, or from your side, as you like.

Try to keep your child in the most horizontal position in relation to the water during backstroke, which contributes to the rapid learning of independent swimming. Don't worry about getting water in your ears. The child and inside the womb was constantly in the amniotic fluid, and it got into the ears. If you start classes before 3 months you can not be afraid harmful effects water on the ears of the child. During all the time of the training, we did not have a single case of ear inflammation in children.

First, you make small trails on your back along the bath back and forth, and then, preferably, master the figure eight, movement along the maximum length of the bath. You support the child, as in the previous exercise, and cross your arms during the turns. You can change the speed. In general, there are children who like slow, calm movement, and there are children who like it when an adult sets a sufficiently high speed. Such harnesses on the back are the main exercise that prepares the child for independent swimming on his back.

The next exercise is pushing off the tub wall. It is performed in the following way... You hold the baby under the back of the head, bring the baby to the side of the bath with your feet, set two feet with your feet directly on the wall of the bath, and slightly move the baby to the side. He kicks off with his feet. And as much as he pushed off, so much you take him back. So that the child feels a direct dependence: how much he will push off, how far he will swim. Some children do this exercise easily and immediately, others are not very willing. But, as a rule, over time, the child likes this exercise and he rejoices, sailing far back.

The next wiring is done in a prone position. The child lies on his stomach, the head is above the water. With your left hand, you grasp the back of the head, with four fingers of your right hand, support it under the chin, and thumb cover your child's mouth. Firstly, this technique insures against water getting into the mouth, and secondly, the baby will swim more calmly, sucking on your finger. In this position, you swipe back and forth at low speed, and then move on to the movement in eights, the same as when swimming on your back.

There are children who willingly swim on their backs and on their stomachs, there are children who prefer swimming on their backs or on their stomachs. It is better to start classes with the position that is more pleasant for the child. Then, with games, jokes, gradually move to the position that you like less. If you don't like some exercise, it is better to switch to another exercise, but do not take the child out of the water and do not press it to you, because this can lead to a general reluctance to do anything in the water later. Therefore, if you do not like swimming on your stomach, then we are swimming on the back, if you don’t like it on the back. If you are tired of this and the other, you can take a pose for rest.

Resting pose, vertical. You support the baby under the breast so that both "arms are thrown over your right hand... In this case, you can either support the head and back, or water them with water. The child, as a rule, calms down in this position. There are children for whom the resting posture is not horizontal, but semi-recumbent on its side is more acceptable. After a few sessions, you will understand the characteristics of the child, adapt to them, and it will become much easier for both of you.

Do not try to take the child by force. The main thing in the first two months, while you are swimming in the bath, so that the child gets used to the water and feels trust in it. At first, his posture will be more tense, and the further, the more relaxed. In addition to these basic harnesses, you can also swing your baby so that he or she can feel the water better. As long as the child is calm, he likes the activity and he actively participates in swimming - continue the activity. When you see signs of fatigue - the child begins to whimper, be capricious, bend over, or his nasolabial triangle turns blue - the lesson should be gradually finished. After your child learns how to correctly perform the exercises on the back and abdomen, swimming sessions will be lengthened, will bring him pleasure and you will see that he trusts the water, you can start diving.

Diving is a must component teaching the child to swim independently and the main thing that will save you in the future from the danger of drowning the child.

You will be calm on the beach that your child can play in the water, nothing bad will happen to him. How do you start teaching your child to dive? This should be done gradually. Initially, when the child swims on the back or on the stomach. You give a loud, clear command: "Attention, dive" or "One, two, three, dive!" And at the same time blowing intensively in the face of the child. He will wrinkle, close his eyes and hold his breath. This should be repeated for several days. When you have mastered this exercise, you can move on to the next.

On the command: "Attention, we dive" You splash the child in the face. It is desirable that water does not flow upwards into the nose. You will notice that the baby is holding his breath as well. Then you can do the following exercise in a supine position. On "Attention, we dive" you lower the child a little deeper into the water so that only the nose and mouth remain on the surface, and the cheeks, forehead and eyes, so that they are submerged under the water. Finally, if you have mastered all these exercises, you can move on to real diving.

The first dive is best done when the child is very well-tuned, relaxed, and has already been swimming for some time. It is better to perform it from a prone position. You give the command and submerge the child for a second shallow water and bring him to the surface.

At the same time, you will not let him go under water. When the child appears above the water, for the first second he will have a lack of understanding and an expectant reaction: "What was that?" You must praise, say that everything turned out very, very great for the child, that he dived remarkably. Then he will not cry and will want to dive next time and please you again. At first, diving should be done 2-3 times per lesson. After you have mastered short dives in a certain period of time, you can move on to longer ones.

At one end of the bathtub, you dive the child, swipe it along the entire length of the bathtub and emerge at the other end. Over time, diving can be extended up to 5-6 seconds under water and for a short time the child can be released under water, then picked up and brought to the surface of the water. More than 5 dives in principle on initial stages it is not recommended to do it, but you can adjust them according to the child's reactions. The main tasks facing you in teaching your child to swim in the bath are friendship and trust in the water and the ability to dive without swallowing large amounts of water. By this time your baby will be 2-3 months old, and you can go to the large pool.

The pool has a number of advantages: firstly, the water level is higher and the water holds the child better, and secondly, there will also be mothers with children, and children in an amazing way adopt what other children have already learned and begin to swim better next to them. thirdly, it will be more convenient for you to support the child when you are with him in the pool, rather than leaning over the bathtub.

In any case, we recommend using assistive devices from 2-3 months of age. This is the Little Mermaid set. The main component is the "little mermaid crown". It is put on a child from about 2 months of age so that he lies on the surface of the water on his own.

From birth, a child has a step reflex. Sometimes this reflex is not very clear. It is quite difficult for a child to walk on land. But if you put a rubber mat on the bottom of the bathtub, you do not collect as much water as for swimming, but so that it reaches the child's chest or a little higher, take him under the armpits and slightly tilt his body forward, he walks very briskly along the bottom baths.

Children learn how to walk in the bathtub much better than on land.

You only insure, look and there is no need to be in a tilted position all the time, supporting the child. Over time, he will learn to lie on the water, without any help and without the "little mermaid". At first, you support the child quite strongly, then you support the child much weaker, only with your fingertips, then the child is supported by the "little mermaid", from which you gradually take out the cubes after one. Then, during postings, you release your hands for a short time and again

When you go to the pool, basic exercises and the wiring will remain the same, but the depth of the water and the spaciousness of the pool will help you to diversify these exercises in every possible way.

You can diversify diving. The child can dive with you. You can hold it behind your back and dive together. You can keep ahead of you, and then he will emerge first, and you after him. You can swim on your back with the baby lying on your stomach and chest. Children like it very much. Two adults can stand against each other, and a child who is already good

learned to dive nudge from one adult to another. He will swim a meter and a half, and then another adult will accept him, wait until his breathing is normalized, and in the same way will direct him to the first. For belly swimming, you can use the "mermaid necklace", it will support the head, and you will not need to do it with your hand. There is another way to make the transition from lifts to independent swimming more relaxed - this is the "mermaid pendants". They support the child slightly to help him balance correctly on the surface of the water.

You can use a circle with a small diameter and teach your child to work with arms and legs at the same time on the circle. An older child can be seated on the side of the pool. You, being in the pool, call your child to you, and he will dive towards you. As a rule, children really like this exercise. To diversify activities, you can use a variety of inflatable and floating toys, as well as toys that you can dive to the bottom. At first, you can dive for one toy, then you can throw several rings or objects that the child can simultaneously grab and emerge to the surface. The child also really likes these exercises.

Any method of swimming is based on the ability to breathe air into the water after a deep breath. You need to teach this to a child. You can do this exercise. The child lies on the chest in a horizontal position supported by pendants or a belt. You bend over to his face and tenderly say:

"Look how mom or dad is doing. We blow on some water like this." At the same time, you gain a full chest of air and slowly exhale it to the very surface of the water. The child sees circles forming on the water. He likes it and he tries to reproduce this action. You can blow on a light boat or any toy so that it moves on the water, and encourage the child to do so. After a few sessions, demonstrate to your child how to exhale into the water by immersing your mouth and nose in it. Bubbles that form on the surface of the water will attract the baby's attention, and he will want to do the same.

In the home bath, you can bathe your child naked, and it is better to put on panties or swimming trunks in the pool, because sometimes he can poop while swimming or diving. And in order not to stain the water in the pool, it is advisable that the child is wearing something. In swimming, systematicity and regularity are very important.

Usually, good results those parents achieve who calmly, but constantly deal with children. First, in the bath every day or at least 5 times a week, then when you go to the pool - 2-3 times a week. With this regime, the child does not lose the acquired skills. Swimming gives him great pleasure.

Swimming lessons will help your little one learn a lot. He will learn to stay on his back, swim on his tummy, and most importantly, he will learn to dive, and this reflex will be fixed in him forever. But the most important thing is that you can give your child a unique joy.

Everyone should be able to swim, and the sooner he learns, the better. What does swimming give a child? Experts from many countries believe that swimming helps to strengthen the health of the child, helps him to develop correctly.

Exercises in the water lead to the improvement of the circulatory and respiratory organs. In the water, the load on the spine is removed and the correct posture is formed. Active movement strengthens bones and prevents the development of flat feet. The nervous system is also strengthened. Sleep becomes stronger, appetite improves, the general tone of the body rises. Movement improves, endurance increases. Swimming with newborns and babies has nothing to do with competition and the training of an athlete swimmer.

Beginning of classes with a toddler

You can start swimming when the umbilical wound heals, usually in 2-3 weeks. When the baby acquires basic skills, you can go to the pool. This usually happens at 2 months. For nine months before birth, the baby was floating in amniotic fluid. And if you do not scare him away, then he will gladly accept the water in the bath.

You need to work with a child when he is in a good mood, he is full, does not want to sleep, nothing bothers him. It is advisable to turn swimming lessons into an exciting game that will bring pleasure to both you and your child. You need to be patient and take your time. Gradually increase the load, gradually add new exercises. It is important not to cause fear, overwork and distrust of water in the child. A mistake once made can discourage him from learning to swim for a long time.

A baby does not know what fear is, he is not afraid of water. During his stay in the womb, he was constantly surrounded by amniotic fluid, and if fear appears in the child's bath, then the culprit should rather be sought among the parents.

The methodology of Z.P. Firsov is designed for classes for 9-12 months. The ultimate goal is to teach a child up to the age of one,

• firstly, independently stay on the surface of the water for 20-30 minutes,
• secondly, dive to a shallow depth, get toys from the bottom and swim underwater for 7-8 seconds.
• Thirdly, being in light clothes - a summer suit, shoes, socks, a hat - jump from the side of the pool in clothes into the water and in this clothes hold out on the surface of the water for 2-3 minutes.

The latter seems especially relevant in light of the tragic incidents that occur with children. A large number of children die from drowning every year, and the strangest thing is that children die in ordinary puddles, that is, they fall and from the inability to hold their breath in this way they terribly die.

By teaching your child to swim from infancy, you will forever save yourself from this tragedy.

From 2-3 months of age, it is recommended to use assistive devices (suspensions, circles, sleeves) so that the child lies on the surface of the water on his own. At first, you need to support the child, but over time he will learn to lie on the water himself, without any help.

Diving

After the first months of training, with the implementation of the exercises with the elements of kicking off and swimming with support on the back and abdomen, the child will get used to the water and feel trust in it. Classes will become longer and will bring pleasure to the baby, then you can start diving.

Diving is a necessary part of teaching a child to swim independently and is the main thing that will save a child from the danger of drowning in the future. You will be calm on the beach that your child can play in the water, nothing bad will happen to him.

The child is taught to dive gradually. They preliminarily teach to hold their breath and only then immerse them in water. At first, this is done by leaving the nose and mouth on the surface, and then they proceed to real diving. So that the child has a desire to learn, they use the elements of the game, diving with him, diving to the bottom of the pool for toys.

Exhale air after a deep breath is taught into water. Any swimming method is based on this skill. It is important to teach this to the child.

Walking training

From birth, a child has a step reflex. Sometimes this reflex is not very clear. It is quite difficult for a child to walk on land. But if you put a rubber mat on the bottom of the bathtub, you do not collect as much water as for swimming, but so that it reaches the child's chest or a little higher, take him under the armpits and slightly tilt his body forward, he walks very briskly along the bottom baths. Children learn how to walk in the bathtub much better than on land. You only insure, look and there is no need to be in a tilted position all the time, supporting the child.

In swimming, systematicity and regularity are very important.
As a rule, good results can be achieved with regular activities with children. First, in the bath every day or at least 5 times a week, then when you go to the pool - 2-3 times a week. With this regime, the child does not lose the acquired skills. Swimming gives him great pleasure.

Swimming lessons will help your little one learn a lot. He will learn to stay on his back, swim on his tummy, and most importantly, he will learn to dive, and this reflex will be fixed in him forever. But the most important thing is that you can give your child a unique joy.

With the birth of a child, parents try to protect the baby, because he is just beginning to get acquainted with the new world. A newborn baby cannot develop without the help of parents. And today many options are popular. physical exercise, developmental activities that are suitable for children from the first months of life. One of these activities is infant swimming. This way of connecting a baby with water is not only popular, but also has many opponents. Parents who practice exercises in the water with an infant are convinced that if you do not start swimming with your baby as early as possible, he will quickly forget how to hold his breath under water. And then it will be very difficult to train him again. Those who oppose baby swimming argue that the first year of life is too early for swimming in the water. Whose side is the truth on? What is the benefit of baby swimming? Let's understand in more detail.

What is baby swimming

Swimming is very beneficial for health, especially for the physical development of the child. But when exactly should you start exercising in the water? This is the question many parents ask themselves. Infant swimming supporters are sure to start as soon as the baby is two to three weeks old. Experts in early swimming say that you can wait up to a month or a month and a half, but do not delay from the beginning of classes, because the innate reflex to swim gradually fades away from the moment of birth, and is completely forgotten already at the age of three months.

You need to start classes with children up to three months of age, preferably earlier: about a month. It was at this time that the baby still remembers how to hold his breath under water.

Many parents believe that early swimming is necessary in order to teach your baby how to swim. This is not the case: the basis of water exercise for babies is general strengthening of the body. The baby spent nine months in the mother's belly, and was there in the water. He is familiar with this environment, his consciousness still remembers what it is like to be in water. Infant swimming experts are confident that with the help of exercises in the water, the baby adapts better to a world that is unfamiliar to him. The child learns to stay on the surface of the water, to hold his breath while diving. These skills are familiar to him, you just need to prevent the body from forgetting them, but simply push the baby to their development.

No matter how much the parents are supporters of infant swimming, it is not recommended to decide on their own about the possibility of training with a newborn in the water. If parents decide to start such exercises, it is necessary to consult with a number of specialists. A pediatrician, neurologist and orthopedist are a must on this list. And only after a positive answer from all three doctors can the baby be introduced to water.

The first lesson of the kid in the water - video

Benefits of Early Swimming for Newborns

Everyone knows that water is good for everyone, especially regular swimming. The question is, at what age is swimming useful? Parents and infant swimming professionals have many reasons to support the benefits of starting early with an infant in the water:

• a newborn baby cannot perform many actions, while he is just lying in the crib or in the arms of his mother, he can move his arms and legs. Immersed in water, the child becomes 7 times lighter, so the baby can make active movements. It is much easier for him to control his body during the swimming process. Such exercises help to strengthen the muscles of the child without additional stress on the still fragile spine;
• prevention of flat feet and scoliosis;
• light hydromassage has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the baby, has a relaxing effect on the muscles. This is especially useful for children with hypertension;
• helps to normalize intracranial pressure;
• positively affects the development of the respiratory system: water presses on chest, so it is more difficult for a child to inhale, but to exhale is much easier. This is a kind of simulator, thanks to which all respiratory muscles work actively: the blood supply to the lungs is improved, their ventilation is enhanced, and the capacity of the lungs increases. Doctors often recommend early swimming for children diagnosed with respiratory depression. This situation is possible after delivery by Caesarean section, or entwining the baby with the umbilical cord;
• training and improving the work of the cardiovascular system: the water temperature during swimming is about 31-32 degrees, the vessels narrow, from which more blood flows to the heart, and this requires more active work heart muscle. As a result of these actions, the blood supply to all organs and systems of the baby improves. However, it should be remembered that swimming begins with a water temperature of at least 36–37 degrees, gradually reducing it to 31 degrees;
• favorably affects nervous system due to the relaxing effect of water;
• strengthens the immune system, because bathing in cool water tones the entire body as a whole;
• hydromassage affects not only the muscles, but also the gastrointestinal tract: digestion is improved, prevention of constipation. Parents note that children who are engaged in early swimming practically do not experience infant colic;
• the baby learns not to be afraid of water, and as he grows up, he will feel more confident in water bodies or at sea;
• has a positive effect on the baby's sleep, because after active swimming, the baby's body needs a good rest.

Many doctors have noted the great health benefits of an infant who swims from the first months of life. In some cases, neurologists and orthopedists recommend infant swimming as one of the ways to solve congenital problems in a child.

Is there any harm?

Undoubtedly, like every medal, there is also a downside here. And negative points early classes of course there is in the water:

• many doctors explain the innate reflex of holding the breath in water by a protective reaction of the body, and not by skill. Those. in the pool or bathroom, parents themselves create a situation where the child is obliged to hold his breath so as not to breathe water into the lungs. And this is a great stress for the body. Many newborn babies are afraid of water and do not want to swim. In this case, it is recommended not to force the child, but to abandon such activities. After all, constant fear and tantrums negatively affect the fragile nervous system of the child;
• muscles of the child and skeletal system may not be ready for such a load. Some orthopedists insist that swimming is not part of the baby's gradual development plan: first, the child must learn to sit and crawl, strengthen the spine, and only then can you teach him to swim;
• the development of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs, such as otitis media, rhinin, throat diseases, as well as inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• there are times when diving can be dangerous for the life of an infant, because the ingestion of water into the lungs during diving is very dangerous;
• indigestion, which is also possible after swallowing water while swimming.

Swimming from birth or not is a choice not only for parents, but also for doctors. If the doctor has forbidden your baby for any reason to practice in the pool or bath, you need to heed the recommendations of a specialist. Not all children benefit from this type of swimming. Therefore, in order not to harm a small child, you need to carefully weigh all the pros and cons.

If the child does not want to swim: screams, cries, experts recommend not to force the baby and postpone classes until a later time. After all, the fear experienced in infancy may in the future become the cause of the fear of water.

In 2010, the College of European Pediatricians conducted a study that covered countries such as Germany, France and Belgium. The study involved children under the age of two who have been swimming since birth. Doctors found that these children had a fourfold increased risk of developing respiratory tract diseases compared to their peers who did not visit the pool or swim in it very rarely. Pediatricians have identified the reason: chlorine is very harmful to the immature respiratory system of newborns and infants. And water in any case gets into the ears, nasal cavity, sometimes the baby can drink some water while swimming.

Activities at home in the bath and in the pool: what to choose and whether it is possible to combine

Parents who decide to teach their baby to swim early are faced with a very important question: where to start classes, in the bathroom at home or in the pool? The opinions of experts on this matter differ. Some recommend that babies up to a month or two swim at home, because in a special baby bath it is easier for a child to get used to the water, he is not so scared, and the mother feels more confident. Others argue that it is possible to start going to the pool from three weeks, so that the child gets used to the large amount of water and space.

Infant swimming coaches insist that first, the child must undergo adaptation in the bathroom: get used to the water, not be afraid to dive and dive. Indeed, at the first immersion in water, only a small number of newborns begin to work with their hands and feet. For the rest of the children, a coach or mother forms these skills. Only after getting used to the water in a small bath is it better to start working in the pool.

Experts explain that you can combine swimming at home and in the pool. But it is always better to start with a trainer or instructor who will show you how to properly immerse your child in water, what exercises you can do, and most importantly, tell you the safety rules so that the baby does not swallow water and is not afraid.

Comparative characteristics of infant swimming at home and in the pool - table

Baby swimming in the pool - video

Basic principles of infant swimming

The main principle early voyage- correct preparation. Indeed, the success of infant swimming depends on how, in what environment and with the help of what exercises the baby will get acquainted with the water.

1. Time to start. You can swim when the umbilical wound has healed. This occurs at two to three weeks of age. It is this time that instructors consider optimal for starting classes. Experts are sure that the later they start to work with the baby, the more difficult it will be for him to get used to the water. Moreover, after three months the child's instinct to hold his breath under water is lost.
2. Cleanliness is the key to health. We have been familiar with this phrase since childhood, and in this case it is very appropriate. After all, the baby's body is only getting to know the microorganisms that surround it. Therefore, the bath or pool must be absolutely clean. If parents choose to swim at home, then before each bathing, the bath should be washed with baby soap and rinsed thoroughly. If adults go to the pool with the baby, they must be sure that all sanitary and hygienic standards are observed.
3. Water quality. At home, it is better to use boiled or purified water. But do not add potassium permanganate or decoctions to it. medicinal herbs... After all, the baby can swallow this water and it will enter the digestive tract. In the pool, you should find out how the water is purified. Most pools use chlorine, but some have switched to ultraviolet water treatment. This method is preferable because chlorine has a negative effect on the child's respiratory system.
4. Water temperature. The optimum temperature for baby swimming is 31–32 degrees. But you can't start your first lessons in such cool water. Experts recommend starting with warm water 36037 degrees and reducing the temperature to the required one within a month. But it should be remembered that if you put the baby in the water and he cries for several minutes in a row, and before that he was swimming with pleasure, then he is cold and so far he should not lower the temperature. If the baby, on the contrary, is too relaxed, with no signs of obvious activity, then the water is hot and the temperature needs to be lowered.
5. Optimal time. Doctors do not recommend working with your baby in water immediately after feeding or on an empty stomach. The most right time- forty to sixty minutes after eating.

Popular early swimming techniques

Classes can be conducted according to specially developed methods. Some of them are radically different from each other, but all are aimed at achieving one goal - classes with newborns and children under one year old.

Zakhary Firsov's technique

It was developed back in 1978. The main goal of the lessons is to teach a child by the age of twelve months to calmly stay on the water for a long time, at least 20-30 minutes, dive to a shallow depth just like that or for a toy, jump from a low side into the pool and not panic. Classes using this technique are held gradually: first, the baby is explained that now he will swim, supporting him, is lowered into the water. After the stage of adaptation to water, the baby is transferred to a horizontal position in the water, supporting it under the back or stomach. And gradually the child learns to swim and dive.

Igor Charkovsky's technique

Very different from gradual swimming training. First of all, it was developed for premature babies who have a weakened body. Its principle is that the child is quickly and abruptly immersed in water with his head for a few seconds, then taken out of the water and immediately immersed again. The kid at this time manages to breathe air and holds his breath under water.

The author of the technique claims that at a time when air does not enter the body, the brain is nourished in an enhanced mode. As a result, such exercises lead to faster mental and physical development children. The duration of one lesson is at least 30-40 minutes.

Teaching the kid according to the method of Igor Chartkovsky

Methodology of Vladimir Guterman

One of the most popular techniques, which includes four stages:

• the first stage is designed for children up to three months old. Classes begin with massage, then gymnastics with imitation of swimming outside the pool or bath, then the baby is immersed in the pool and gymnastics takes place in the water;
• the second stage is designed for babies from three to six months. Children are taught how to swim, supported and shown exercises. Everything is designed for talking with a child;
• from six to nine months, the third stage begins, during which the babies already swim and even dive on their own;
• and at the fourth stage, skills are consolidated. Babies from nine months can already swim along the bathtub or children's pool. Parents put toys into the water, and the child dives after them.

Rules for conducting baby swimming at home

Before starting classes, you need to make sure that the child is in good mood... Experts insist that tears, crying, tantrums or fear are a reason to give up swimming and postpone classes to another time or day. You can do it with a well-fed baby, because a hungry child will be capricious and ask for food. An hour after feeding, the food is already absorbed in the digestive tract, and children still do not feel hungry. it optimal time for classes.

It is recommended to conduct the first lessons with an instructor who will show parents how to do the exercises correctly. One more important point- each exercise is accompanied by a voice. For example, before plunging a child into the water, you need to tell him that we are going to dive now. So the child will subconsciously memorize words and be ready for a certain action.

Swimming in the bathroom is not boring at all, as it might seem at first glance. Today there are many devices that will help your baby to adapt to the water:

• bath mat: special rugs are required to prevent the baby from slipping. They are sold as colorful animals or other images. These colors attract the baby and he will enjoy swimming in the bathtub;
• circle: the inflatable rings are put on the baby's neck and do not allow the head to be submerged under the water. Over time, when the child feels comfortable and confident in the water, the circle can be removed and diving with the baby can be practiced;
• a hat on the head: it is put on the child and also holds the baby's head above the water;
• special panties: you can buy diaper panties or just panties with elastic bands that fit tightly to the baby's body. Such panties are more suitable for practicing in the pool, because unpleasant surprises are unacceptable there. At home, the baby can swim without clothes.

Early swimmers - photo gallery

Circle and cap for bathing babies - video

Swimming exercises for babies at home

Before diving, make sure the water temperature is right so that your baby is not too hot or cold. Before immersion in water, you must first wet the baby's hands, let him touch the water. Then slowly lower the baby's feet and gradually the whole body. There are two ways to support your baby during infant swimming: under the chin and under the back of the head. The positions may vary depending on the exercise being performed.

1. Splashing in water: submerge your baby in the water on your stomach. Gently support it under the chin while the baby is actively using his arms and legs.
2. Walking along the bottom: The baby should be held vertically by the armpits so that the legs reach the bottom of the bathroom. Move the child, and at this time he will try to step over or jump in the water.
3. Jerks: this exercise can be done both on the back and on the abdomen. Slowly lead the child to the bathroom walls. As soon as the baby feels the support, it will reflexively start to push off from it and try to swim.
4. Motivation: support the child under the chin, he lies on his stomach in the water. At some distance from the baby, lower the toy into the water. Explain to your child to try to reach the toy. The kid will try to swim, actively moving his arms and legs.
5. Eight: this exercise can also be done on the back and on the abdomen. The main rule is that the child should not be afraid of water, because this is a rather active exercise. Supporting the baby's head, guide him through the water, as if drawing an eight. Slowly and smoothly at first, then the pace can be increased.
6. Diving: exactly this difficult exercise... The first few times it is best done with an instructor. Before you plunge your baby into the water with your head, you need to prepare the baby. The first 10 days say the word "dive" and just blow the baby in the face. He will hold his breath. Then we move on to the second stage: after the cherished word, blow in the face and spray with water. Gradually, the child will get used to it and as soon as he hears this word, he will reflexively hold his breath even before immersion in water. And only then we proceed to full immersion: quickly lower the baby into the water with his head and take it out. This exercise can be repeated several times in a row.

How to teach a baby to swim at home - video

Features of lessons in the pool

In the pool, classes are conducted both individually and in groups. It all depends on the wishes of the parents and the mood of the baby. Each child is dealt with by a personal instructor who is specially trained and parents can be calm about the safety of their child. Some parents do not want to be in the pool with their child. If the baby perceives the coach normally, the mother can watch the lessons from the side, and the baby with the instructor will swim himself. First of all, you need to collect the baby in the pool, for this you need to take with you:

• special underpants for the baby;
• several diapers;
• warm towel;
• a hat for the baby to put on after swimming;
• baby bath or soap: after swimming in the pool, the baby needs to be bathed to rinse off the chlorinated water;
• swimming circle, just in case;
• some baby toys that he especially likes and is allowed in the pool.

One lesson in the pool lasts about an hour and a half. First, the child will be given a massage to stretch the muscles and prepare the body for swimming. This massage lasts about 20-25 minutes. Then the baby can be immersed in water. The first lesson lasts no more than 10 minutes, gradually over the course of a month, the time increases to an hour. Exercising in the pool is the same as exercising in the bathroom, so the principle is the same.

After swimming in the pool, some parents temper the baby. To do this, instructors pour cold water over the crumbs. But children do not like this procedure, so many parents refuse this type of hardening. It is enough for the baby to dry out on its own after swimming and only then put it on. It also hardens the child's body.

Breast swimming in a group - video

When parents are fully comfortable with the new type of activity, the instructor's services can be abandoned. But for the safety of the child, if the parents are unsure of their abilities, it is better to leave an experienced coach to deal with the baby.

Experts draw attention to the fact that immediately after swimming, the child should not be fed. Better to wait an hour and then satisfy the baby's hunger.

Swimming baby in the pool with a trainer - video