Swimming is a much-needed life skill that we believe every Kiwi should learn! Not only is water safety crucial over the summer months, when people flock to the beaches, lakes, rivers, and pools, but it’s a greater form of exercise to set your child up to lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.
If your kid is living with a disability, they can’t help but feel different from others. It may be frustrating for them sometimes and equally heartbreaking for you as a parent. Thankfully, ESA swimming classes are where no child feels different or left out. That is where everyone’s abilities are celebrated, and every success is greeted with a smile and a high five!
Expert tips to help specially-abled baby in swimming
Starting swimming lessons can be overwhelming. But there’s absolutely no need to jump in at the deep end! There’s no age for your child to begin to swim, but whenever they’re ready to enjoy the water! At Saguaro Aquatics, we’ve been teaching swimming lessons for years, so we’ve learned to help your kid feel more comfortable around the water and set them up for fun and learning in their classes.
As a parent, we know you want your baby to feel comfortable and excited about swimming classes. Here are a few things that will help you prepare your disabled child to make the most of swimming lessons:
- Find the right swim school
First, you must choose a swim school that is confident in teaching disabled children who may experience extra challenges in learning water safety skills. You want instructors who will take the time to understand any special requirements your kid may have due to their disability.
It’s essential to find an ESA Arizona swim school and a swim teacher who provides all the support your child needs to continue swimming lessons, without making them feel like they are different from other students because of any disability.
- Choose the right equipment
Whether it’s your child’s first swimming lesson or they are a swimmer already, finding the right swimwear is essential, and that’s even more true in the case of disabled children.
Helping your baby select togs, goggles, and a swim cap that fits them right helps them feel confident. It also makes swimming more enjoyable and is necessary to prepare them for swimming sessions. Apart from the practical aspect of having quality, comfortable equipment, swimming gear is available in so many colors and patterns that it can be a fun way of getting your little one excited for their lessons! A few examples of special needs swimming equipment are-
- Cerebral Palsy Square Float
- Aquatic Head Float
- Sectional Raft
- Aqua Ring Floats
- Adapted Life Jacket
- Sprint Aquatics Water Walking Assistant
- Dolphin Float System by Danmar
- Swim Diapers
For special needs children, finding the right equipment is especially needed. They must not feel restricted in any way when they jump in the pool. If you’re unsure which equipment suits the child’s needs, talk to our team; they’ll help you find the right match!
- Encourage your child
Special needs children usually experience some nervousness when they start swimming. However, you can help them overcome the fear of the water by addressing their fear, helping them develop coping strategies, making being in the water a fun time, celebrating their small and big success, and ensuring they know the basics by participating in swimming lessons.
As your baby progresses through each ESA swimming class, keep the discussion open so they can come to you when the nerves are creeping in. No matter how many lessons your child has attended, remember how well they are doing, and you are proud of them for keeping at it!
The bottom line
Over a lifetime, you will see that swimming classes can be a considerable investment in time and money. But it’s an investment that quickly pays off, and you know that your family is safe in the water.
It’s good if your baby can practice between the swimming lessons to get the most out of the swimming lessons. Swimming is a positive, fun experience for children of all ages. There’s no reason for any disability to hold your kid back from learning the skills to be safe in the water, so long as you get the support of an ESA swimming class that embraces inclusivity and enables everyone to make a splash in the water!
With a prime location in Arizona and a reputation as one of the leading swim schools in the United States, why not consider Saguaro Aquatics for your child? Contact us or visit – we’d love to meet you and your baby! Check out our website and learn more about our swimming classes.
