Helping your child enjoy water
The Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation has compiled good tips on how to make a child enjoy water. The sports services of the Janakkala municipality have gathered them on this page.
Home bathing and showering tips
Most children are naturally interested in water and enjoy playing near it. Water is, at its best, a wonderful element that the whole family can enjoy, as long as safety is taken into account.
As an adult, you must remember to give time and accept the child’s way of getting to know the water; the child will gradually learn new skills and trust you. Progress must always happen on the child’s terms. Some children may take time to get used to water and learn different skills, and children are different. Remember to talk and smile a lot so that it is easier for your child to overcome any suspicion they may feel towards water.
Do not leave the child alone
A child must not be left alone in the bath for even a moment. With a small baby, you must hold the baby securely, but lightly, in even shallow bathwater. Do not leave a sibling to watch over a bathing child without an adult present. An adult is responsible for the safety of the bathing moment and selects toys for bath and shower play, supervising children’s play and the use of play equipment without interruption.
The Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation has compiled 18 tips for home bathing and shower moments. Pick the tips that suit you and enjoy wonderful bathing moments with your loved ones. Download the guide from this link.
Familiarizing with the swimming hall and getting used to water with the child
The swimming hall is an inspiring and motivating environment for a child, but the depth of the pool, the sounds of water, splashes, and other people may be intimidating during the first visits. It is good to familiarize oneself with the swimming hall and its operations calmly.
Watch the video from the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation, which offers tips for the first swimming hall visit and introduces moving in water, getting the face and ears used to water, submersion, and controlling breath while submerged.
Child’s Journey to Becoming a Friend of Water Site
The Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation has compiled practical tips and videos on its site on how you can gradually get your child used to being comfortably in the water during shared bathing moments and progress towards learning swimming skills. Explore the site from this link. Enjoy wonderful shared moments by the water!