Why is active movement in water important for children?
Active movement stimulates the senses and helps develop a life-long interest in being physically active.

Active movement in water helps develop readiness for children to learn to swim. Water plays a big part in our lifestyle in New Zealand so learning to swim is really important.

Active movement in water also helps us to teach children safety around water.

How does water make a difference that helps in development?
Water provides a multi-sensory experience – it’s wet, smooth, silent. The sensation of water pressure and buoyancy is different from the air – so it’s a different experience. Different experiences ensure maximum stimulation of the brain which enhances the growth of mind, body and soul.

Water can be used for developing balance and stability, which helps fundamental movement skills like kicking. These skills make a big contribution to a child’s brain development as well as developing the skills we need to be able to do things like swim and to lead physically active lifestyles later in life.

Can any parent do water activities with their children?
Yes. Children learn best when their parents or caregivers are active participants in their learning. Parent or caregiver involvement is great for building self-esteem, family bonds, a love of water and a disposition for life-long activity.

What age should my child start getting active in water?
Anytime is a great time to start Active movement in water, it’s never early or too late.

It's important to remember to take your time introducing new activities and go at a pace your child is happy with.

What should I do if my child is a bit nervous or doesn't like the water?
Involve your child when getting ready for activities in the water, get them to throw toys in the bath or take a toy to the pool. Make it fun for your child.

You could also get in the bath, pool or paddling pool with your child too. If you’re not getting in stay close to your child.

Use positive and encouraging language with your child such as "You can do it". Take your time and don't rush your child or expect too much.

What sort of activities can you do in the bath with young children?
There are lots of activities that help develop skills like language and understanding, coordination and memory. Some examples include:
* Tummy-time in the bath helps strengthen muscles used for moving and exploring.
* Rolling and crawling in the bath helps your baby to develop balance, strength and eye control.
* Activities that involve using hands and fingers help to develop fine motor control movement. For example, muscles used for playing with toys and small objects.
* Backfloating helps to develop balance, stability and relaxation in the water.

Can you do these activities in paddling pools, swimming pools and at the beach as well?
Absolutely. The more the skills are practiced, the easier it is to do. So giving children a variety of settings to explore movement in water is great. You can practice kicking on the side of a pool, lying in the bath or in a paddling pool.

What activities can you do that will help children get ready to swim?
* Gently move your child through the water, while supporting their body.
* Jumping, hopping, turning and splashing all help develop muscles and co-ordination.
* Teach your child to control their breathing. They need to learn to hold their breath and blow it out – this takes time. You can play lots of games to encourage this, like blowing bubbles in the water.
* You can also teach your child about buoyancy – floating and sinking. Some ways of discovering buoyancy are playing with floating and sinking toys, bobbing up and down and moving in different depths of water.
* Submerging – when your child is happy putting their face in the water.
* Floating – developing balance, stability and relaxation.
* It's also important to teach your child about safe entries and exists, and water safety. Always stay in sight and always stay within reach of children under five. Help your child develop safe attitudes and behaviours around water.

Where can I get more information?
SPARC and Swimming New Zealand have developed some great resources for parents to give you ideas about getting children active in water. Including two brochures 'An Introduction for Parents and Caregivers' and 'Making Bath Time a Fun Time'. Please visit the SPARC Website for more information.

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