Every year millions of parents introduce their infants and toddlers
to water activities through aquatic adjustment programs. However,
they should never be under the misconception that these classes
are meant to teach their child to swim. The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP)'s official Policy Statement says that very young
children cannot understand water hazards or use appropriate avoidance
strategies. The AAP also emphasizes that children under the age
of four have not yet developed the motor skills necessary for swimming.
The AAP recognizes only the American Red Cross and the YMCA for
having developed standardized infant and preschool aquatic programs
which focus on aquatic adjustment and swimming readiness skills
for the child and water safety skills for the parent.
Ruth Obrochta is Westlake Recreation Center's water safety instructor
and is certified by the American Red Cross Greater Cleveland Chapter.
She explained that the American Red Cross Infant and Preschool Aquatic
Program is meant to familiarize a child with water through fun,
safe activities. The classes allow the child to build independence
and security in water and also teach the parent to become relaxed
and secure of themselves in the water with their child. According
to Mrs. Obrochta, “Each class builds upon the previous one
in order to develop good skills for successful, safe swimming.”
She also emphasized, “Not every person is going to be a swimmer,
but every person needs to learn to swim.
To see pictures of all the babies in the Westlake Recreation
Center's Infant Aquatics program click
here.
For more information check out these websites.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website: www.aap.org
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP )’s Policy Statement on
Swimming Programs for Infants and Toddlers: www.aap.org/policy/re9940.html
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
American Red Cross’s news statement on AAP’s policy: www.redcross.org/news/archives/2000/4-10a-00.html
Westlake Recreation Center is located at 28955 Hilliard
Road, Westlake, Ohio and can be reached by calling (440) 808-5700.
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