Aquakiddies/Babies - Baby Swimming Lessons & Swimming Lessons for Children

Benefits of Baby Swimming!

Good morning parents! Hope everyone and the babies are all enjoying this lovely sun we’re having!

I found this interesting article that bullet-points the benefits of baby swimming and thought I’d share it all with you.

Enjoy the read!

 

10 Benefits of Baby Swimming

There is no denying that swimming can play a huge role in a child’s development here are 10 benefits I have noted during my time as a swim instructor and a participant with my own children.

  1. Confidence and Self Esteem -   Praise and recognition of achievements in swimming and water confidence will boost a childs confidence and self esteem week on week.
  2. Physical Independence and Self-Awareness -   A baby who is used to being stationary can move about independently in the water they learn balance and coordination.  The motion and sensation of the water gives an awareness of self that otherwise would not be gained.
  3. Water Awareness and Basic Life Saving -   Children who attend regular swimming lessons will gain a respect for water and awareness water safety.  Most swimming classes now will aim to introduce basic water safety skills such as turning to hold on at a wall or back floating.  Children who regularly swim are less likely to panic in the water giving them a better chance in the event of an accident.
  4. Healthy Life Style -    Getting into a good active lifestyle early on will set the ground for your child’s furture and will become the norm in future years.
  5. Lanugage Development -    Most baby swim classes will now use word association and repetition as part of their core learning methods, for example parents will be asked to say Kick, Kick, Kick when moving about the pool and Hold on, Turn, reach etc, the over use of these word help your baby to soon learn there meaning.
  6. Brain Development -    By stimulating senses ut of the normal every day experiences, the word association, independence and physical awareness all encourage brain development.
  7. Social Skills -    Interacting with other babies and children, learning to wait their turn and praise the efforts of others instills good social skills, team work and independence.
  8. Bonding -    Swimming with your child is a very intimate experience, with no other distractions such as housework, telephones you can concentrate on just you and your child joining in fun activities, praising their efforts, building trust building a firm foundation to your relationship
  9. Health Benefits -    Swimming has been proven to strengthen the heart and lungs and improve muscle development.  Mothers with post natal depression find the bonding time and mild excercise very beneficial too.
  10. Improved Sleep  -   Children who undertake physical exercise will sleep better.  Swimming is a good form of exersise and they also learn and experience alot in a session which helps to promote a good sleep.

As always we would love to know what you thought of our blog and tell us about your experiences? What is the best benefit of swimming with your infant?

If you live local to Penistone (Sheffield, Wakefield, Barnsley, Holmfirth, Huddersfield) why not check out our website we offer swimming lessons 6 days a week and run a fantastic baby swim programme, availability is online along with more useful swimming information.

Thank you for reading :)

If you would like to book your baby/toddler in for swimming lessons, visit our website www.aquababies-uk.com for a venue near you!

source - http://willowbabesswim.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/10-benefits-of-baby-swimming/  

 

 


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    Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - August 14, 2012 at 10:14 am

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    Photo of the day!

    Hello parents! Have a look at our photo of the day from 1 of our classes!

     

    baby swimming


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      1 comment - What do you think?
      Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - August 8, 2012 at 10:52 am

      Categories: Baby Swimming   Tags:

      Get your baby swimming at our new venue in Heathrow!

      Good afternoon parents, hope everyone is well!

      We have just secured a new venue at the Heathrow Hilton Hotel! We have classes there on a Sunday  and Shilpi will be teaching the courses.

      If you would like to book on, please contact us on 01273 833101 or email info @ aquababies-uk.com

      Also came across another interesting article for you viewers to read, have a look at http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/development/milestones7to12months/ for the 6-12 month milestones to see what to expect from your baby in terms of development!

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        Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - August 7, 2012 at 3:13 pm

        Categories: Baby Swimming   Tags:

        Aquababies now in South East/West London! Refer your friends for a free or discounted course!

        Aquababies are now in South East/West London!

        baby swimming

        Good afternoon parents,

        We have expanded into South London! We have a new venue in the border of South East/West London, the address is as below:-

         

        The Park Plaza Hotel,

        200 Westminster Bridge Road, 

        London,

        SE1 7UT 

        If you live near here, come have a swim with us! Or if you know anyone that lives near the area and are looking for baby swimming classes, we will give you £15 for each referral that signs up for a full course! Could say that would be easy money!

         

        Refer-a-friend scheme relaunched!

         

        We have now relaunched our refer-a-friend scheme for all venues (excluding Regent’s Park Marriott and Marble Arch Marriott – referrals to these venues do not count) where if you refer 2 people to any of our venues, you can earn yourself 50% off a course price, or if you refer 3 friends, you get a course for free!

         

        To find more info on our baby swimming lessons, please visit http://www.aquababies-uk.com/

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          Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - June 8, 2012 at 2:12 pm

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          Aquababies new venues!

          New baby swimming classes in London, Sussex and Hampsted!

          baby swimmingGood afternoon parents,

          We have expanded into various new venues in a few different regions so please read on for details of where could be close to you!

           

          Baby Swimming in London/Sussex/Hampsted areas:-

          Hampshire baby swimming:-

          baby swimming

          LBhealthcare in Whiteley

          Brand new classes on Sundays, lovely hydrotherapy pool at 34 degrees, exclusive venue, 10% off 1st course, perfect for mums & dads to do together.

           

          London baby swimming:-

          baby swimming

          Bridge School in north London

          Brand new classes on Monday afternoons (4:00 & 4:30), hydrotherapy pool, smaller classes (max 7), 10% off 1st course, prestigious location near Hampsted Primrose hill, and Kentish town.

           

          Sussex baby swimming:-

          baby swimming

          Mitchelswood farm in Newick,

          Brand new private venue in the afluent area of Newick, warm pool, 10% off, dates and times TBC, if you’re interested please enquire for details.

          Aquababies baby swimming lessons encourages quite a few positive qualities such as:-

          -  Strengthens your baby’s lungs, heart and respiratory system which can also assist development of the brain and also improves muscle development and co-ordination.
          -  Often improves eating and sleeping patterns.

          -  Helps develop babies socially being around other babies, and also the mother’s get to socialise too.
          -  Helps your baby learn to respond to commands, which can make your baby sharper mentally, increasing levels of awareness and understanding

          New franchise in the Surrey & Hampshire area:-

          Rachael Green is leaving the Aquababies office to start her own franchise covering the Surrey & Hampshire areas. The venues she has established so far are:-

          Bagshot
          Downwind
          Dukes Covert
          Bagshot
          GU19 SHU

          The Grange
          Rectary Lane
          Bookham
          Surrey
          KT23 4DZ

          Both pools are Hydrotherapy pools so will be lovely to take your baby swimming in! Hydrotherapy pools are also used to support muscle development and repair so if you’re feeling a bit achey, why not teach your baby swimming and soothe your muscles at the same time! Talk about 2 birds with one stone!

          If you would like more information, please visit http://www.aquababies-guildford.co.uk/

           

          Going live with PABA!

           baby swimming

          On Wednesday 14th March Aquakiddies/Babies will be launching their new PABA (Parent And Baby Aqua) water aerobics courses at the Brighton Hilton swimming pool. This will be followed on 8th May with a second PABA course starting in Kensington, London.

          The PABA aqua aerobics program is comprised of a series of moderately paced, low impact and fat-burning aqua aerobic exercises for the parents that integrate with elements of the tried and tested Aquakiddies/Babies swimming program. Each course runs for 5 weeks and will consist of 30-minute classes.

          The Aquakiddies/Babies PABA aqua aerobics course has been piloted over six months with several groups of mothers nationally, with all groups showing very positive results. Babies have become water confident and are learning the foundations of swimming, while Parents are taken through a carefully structured water aerobics exercise program.

          For details of schedules and applications for the PABA aqua aerobics courses visit their baby-swimming blog or see their contact information below.

          Why PABA aqua aerobics was created.

          Program creator Julie –ann James says “The concept of parents working out with their babies was born out of spending thousands of hours swimming with parents, listening to their concerns, observing them move in the water and recognizing that they were already exercising. 

          Mothers expressed a universal desire to regain their figures and keep fit, but many could not or did not want to leave their babies.  As a result this aqua aerobics program was created, enabling mothers to engage in a mutually beneficial exercise program with their babies”.

          About Aquakiddies/Babies

          Julie-ann James, CEO of Aquakiddies/Babies is a professional baby swimming consultant and instructor, a member of the STA (Swimming Teachers Association) and ASA with over 20 years experience of teaching babies to swim. The Aquakiddies/Babies baby swimming courses have become the standard by which most other baby swimming courses and lessons are now evaluated. These courses are now taught extensively in UK and many countries globally.

          To find more info on our baby swimming lessons, please visit http://www.aquababies-uk.com/ #0000ff;”>New baby swimming classes in London, Sussex and Hampsted!

          baby swimmingGood afternoon parents,

          We have expanded into various new venues in a few different regions so please read on for details of where could be close to you!

           

          Baby Swimming in London/Sussex/Hampsted areas:-

          Hampshire baby swimming:-

          baby swimming

          LBhealthcare in Whiteley

          Brand new classes on Sundays, lovely hydrotherapy pool at 34 degrees, exclusive venue, 10% off 1st course, perfect for mums & dads to do together.

           

          London baby swimming:-

          baby swimming

          Bridge School in north London

          Brand new classes on Monday afternoons (4:00 & 4:30), hydrotherapy pool, smaller classes (max 7), 10% off 1st course, prestigious location near Hampsted Primrose hill, and Kentish town.

           

          Sussex baby swimming:-

          baby swimming

          Mitchelswood farm in Newick,

          Brand new private venue in the afluent area of Newick, warm pool, 10% off, dates and times TBC, if you’re interested please enquire for details.

          Aquababies baby swimming lessons encourages quite a few positive qualities such as:-

          -  Strengthens your baby’s lungs, heart and respiratory system which can also assist development of the brain and also improves muscle development and co-ordination.
          -  Often improves eating and sleeping patterns.

          -  Helps develop babies socially being around other babies, and also the mother’s get to socialise too.
          -  Helps your baby learn to respond to commands, which can make your baby sharper mentally, increasing levels of awareness and understanding

          New franchise in the Surrey & Hampshire area:-

          Rachael Green is leaving the Aquababies office to start her own franchise covering the Surrey & Hampshire areas. The venues she has established so far are:-

          Bagshot
          Downwind
          Dukes Covert
          Bagshot
          GU19 SHU

          The Grange
          Rectary Lane
          Bookham
          Surrey
          KT23 4DZ

          Both pools are Hydrotherapy pools so will be lovely to take your baby swimming in! Hydrotherapy pools are also used to support muscle development and repair so if you’re feeling a bit achey, why not teach your baby swimming and soothe your muscles at the same time! Talk about 2 birds with one stone!

          If you would like more information, please visit http://www.aquababies-guildford.co.uk/

           

          Going live with PABA!

           baby swimming

          On Wednesday 14th March Aquakiddies/Babies will be launching their new PABA (Parent And Baby Aqua) water aerobics courses at the Brighton Hilton swimming pool. This will be followed on 8th May with a second PABA course starting in Kensington, London.

          The PABA aqua aerobics program is comprised of a series of moderately paced, low impact and fat-burning aqua aerobic exercises for the parents that integrate with elements of the tried and tested Aquakiddies/Babies swimming program. Each course runs for 5 weeks and will consist of 30-minute classes.

          The Aquakiddies/Babies PABA aqua aerobics course has been piloted over six months with several groups of mothers nationally, with all groups showing very positive results. Babies have become water confident and are learning the foundations of swimming, while Parents are taken through a carefully structured water aerobics exercise program.

          For details of schedules and applications for the PABA aqua aerobics courses visit their baby-swimming blog or see their contact information below.

          Why PABA aqua aerobics was created.

          Program creator Julie –ann James says “The concept of parents working out with their babies was born out of spending thousands of hours swimming with parents, listening to their concerns, observing them move in the water and recognizing that they were already exercising. 

          Mothers expressed a universal desire to regain their figures and keep fit, but many could not or did not want to leave their babies.  As a result this aqua aerobics program was created, enabling mothers to engage in a mutually beneficial exercise program with their babies”.

          About Aquakiddies/Babies

          Julie-ann James, CEO of Aquakiddies/Babies is a professional baby swimming consultant and instructor, a member of the STA (Swimming Teachers Association) and ASA with over 20 years experience of teaching babies to swim. The Aquakiddies/Babies baby swimming courses have become the standard by which most other baby swimming courses and lessons are now evaluated. These courses are now taught extensively in UK and many countries globally.

          To find more info on our baby swimming lessons, please visit http://www.aquababies-uk.com/

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            Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - March 15, 2012 at 11:10 am

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            New Parent and Baby (PABA) Aqua Aerobics Course Launched

            New Parent and Baby (PABA) Aqua Aerobics Course, is Launched by Aquakiddies/Babies.

            Aquakiddies/Babies, introduces its revolutionary new aqua aerobics fitness program. PABA (Parent and Baby Aqua) is an aqua aerobics course is aimed at improving both child health and that of the parent.

            London, UK 11th February 2012

            PABA aqua aerobicsOn Friday 29th February Aquakiddies/Babies will be launching their new PABA (Parent And Baby Aqua) water aerobics courses at the Brighton Hilton swimming pool. This will be followed on 24th April with a second PABA course starting in Kensington, London.

            The PABA aqua aerobics program is comprised of a series of moderately paced, low impact and fat-burning aqua aerobic exercises for the parents that integrate with elements of the tried and tested Aquakiddies/Babies swimming program. Each course runs for 5 weeks and will consist of 30-minute classes.

            The Aquakiddies/Babies PABA aqua aerobics course has been piloted over six months with several groups of mothers nationally, with all groups showing very positive results. Babies have become water confident and are learning the foundations of swimming, while Parents are taken through a carefully structured water aerobics exercise program.

            For details of schedules and applications for the PABA aqua aerobics courses visit their baby-swimming blog or see their contact information below.

            Why PABA aqua aerobics was created.

            Program creator Julie –ann James says “The concept of parents working out with their babies was born out of spending thousands of hours swimming with parents, listening to their concerns, observing them move in the water and recognizing that they were already exercising. 

            Mothers expressed a universal desire to regain their figures and keep fit, but many could not or did not want to leave their babies.  As a result this aqua aerobics program was created, enabling mothers to engage in a mutually beneficial exercise program with their babies”.

             

            Benefits of Aqua Aerobics for Parents

            Physical - Aqua Aerobics is an excellent method of exercise that improves the fitness of the heart and lungs, tones the body and reduces fat. It is an ideal form of postpartum exercise as it is kinder to joints and the water supports some of the extra pregnancy weight.

            Social - Working out with other likeminded people is a good motivational factor. Bodyweight issues are important to postnatal women and exercising in a homogenous group helps to reduce self-consciousness. This program also offers a social outlet for parents to meet other parents with young children, commonly cited as a valuable experience for new parents.

            • Enjoyable maternal and child health activity for parent and baby
            • Excellent parent/baby bonding opportunities
            • Moderately paced, low impact, fat burning aqua aerobic exercises
            • Paced water aerobics classes to suit different levels of ability
            • Ideal for post partum mothers
            • Homogenous group is motivational
            • Social outlet for parents

             

            Benefits of Baby Exercise and Water Aerobics for Babies 

            Water is a great equalizer for babies and they can achieve some level of independence before they can crawl. The water provides support and they love the fun and freedom of the whole experience. More importantly, the classes will:

             

            • Provide water safety training
            • Build water confidence
            • Teach basic breathing exercises (for baby health)
            • Provide some of the basic foundations of swimming and exercise for kids
            • Encourage physical, social and psychological development
            • Enhance their awareness
            • Improve a baby’s eating and sleeping patterns
            • Promote co-ordination and child health.

             

            The multi-sensory environment of the swimming pool opens up whole new experiences for babies. The baby exercise classes are a good opportunity for mother/baby bonding as they involve plenty of physical and eye contact. Babies will also enjoy the interaction with other babies offered in a group situation of baby exercise classes. All this provides the foundation for baby health and an active childhood, which is wholly beneficial for all children’s health. PABA aqua aerobics for parents and children

            About Aquakiddies/Babies

            Julie-ann James, CEO of Aquakiddies/Babies is a professional baby swimming consultant and instructor, a member of the STA (Swimming Teachers Association) and ASA with over 20 years experience of teaching babies to swim. The Aquakiddies/Babies baby-swimming courses have become the standard by which most other baby-swimming courses and lessons are now evaluated. These courses are now taught extensively in UK and many countries globally.

             

              

            Company Contact Information

            Julie-ann James

            Aquakiddies/Babies, Sussex House, 23 Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, BN6 9RW

            Phone: (+ 44) 01273 833101

            Email: admin@aquababies-uk.com

            Website: http://aquababies-uk.com

            Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aquababies

            New Parent and Baby (PABA) Aqua Aerobics Course, is Launched by Aquakiddies/Babies.

            Aquakiddies/Babies, introduces its revolutionary new aqua aerobics fitness program. PABA (Parent and Baby Aqua) is an aqua aerobics course is aimed at improving both child health and that of the parent.

             

             

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              1 comment - What do you think?
              Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - February 11, 2012 at 1:25 pm

              Categories: PABA Aqua Aerobics   Tags: , , , , , ,

              The overextended Toddler

              Hello there parents! I was looking online and came across this rather interesting article, although it doesn’t have much relevance to baby swimming or swimming for young children, I thought I’d share it all with you anyways:-

              ‘The overextended Toddler

              When my first daughter was six weeks old I introduced her to my teenage cousin, Alex. After appropriately oohing and aahing over her spit up and gas-induced smiles, Alex asked, “What activities are you going to sign Elana up for when she’s two?” At that point I hadn’t thought much past getting the baby to sleep in three-hour stretches, so I responded “Oh, you know, the normal toddler pageantry and opera lessons, but if she shows an aptitude for curling, I’ll enroll her in that too.”

              Then a few months ago, someone wrote into my local parents’ group asking where to buy a swimsuit for her two-month-old daughter who was about to start swim lessons. Seriously? Swimming lessons at two months old? At this age the child is just beginning to see beyond black and white objects, and barely able to follow her mother’s voice; does she really need begin learning how to blow bubbles? If you want to get your newborn accustomed to swimming pools, toss her in a lukewarm bathtub with a pair of goggles and some fins.

              Unfortunately this is no new trend in the ever-increasing world of hyper-parenting. There is now a large variety of extracurricular opportunities we can now offer our youngest population. Here is just a sampling of the class options for a three-year-old in San Francisco: hula, ballet, hip hop, tap, body movement, young zoologist, art, soccer, swimming, tennis, toddler yoga, circus training, gymnastics, karate, Taekwondo, music, drumming, Taiko drumming, cooking and baking, Spanish, and Mandarin. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to teach a group of six toddlers percussion instruments, let alone how to make marinara.

              This need to provide children with all possible opportunities may be more of an American parenting value. European parents appear to be less of the “helicopter” variety and the children participate in fewer organized activities.

              Last week Cow & Gate, a U.K. formula and baby food company, released their “potty list”– the top activities all children should experience by the age of three. To compile the list the site asked more than 1000 (European) parents what they considered to be the most important milestones toddlers accomplish by age three. Here are the top ten must do activities:

              1. Make a mud pie

              2. Bake a cake

              3. Finger paint

              4. Sing loudly in public

              5. Climb a big hill

              6. Pick fruit

              7. Dance without any inhibitions

              8. Make sandcastles on the beach

              9. Be chased by a monster

              10. Jump in a puddle so hard the water went in mummy’s shoe too
              Notice that learning how to plie, count to ten in Espanol, and categorize reptiles are nowhere on this list. If Gerber had conducted the same survey, I’m willing to bet memorizing the ABC’s and completing a 12-piece puzzle would have topped their responses.

              The obvious question is whether these toddler classes are a positive addition to our parenting. Is the primary job of a parent to give our kids every possible opportunity to prove themselves tiny geniuses (the American model), or is it our job to make them self-sufficient and confident citizens (the more European model)? I’m not sure that we can do both at the same time. When we engage them with constant stimulation and organized activity, how will they learn to play on their own?

              Many child development specialists agree. While most are pro parent/child free-play classes, the majority disagree with the structured activities that pressure child to formally learn. In short, making mud pies and finger painting is great, while one-hour Mandarin lesson with flashcards and homework, not so much.’

              I thought that this was a really good read, maybe this contributes towards why adults from different cultures and countries are so different? What do you all think? Apologies that this is not baby swimming related.

              Pawl James,
              Aquababies – Baby swimming in London and Sussex areas
              www.aquababies-uk.com

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                Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - February 3, 2012 at 3:32 pm

                Categories: Baby Swimming   Tags:

                Baby Swimming in China

                Chinese 3 Year Old Girl Swims Across a River (Twice)

                 

                China Baby Swimming

                Photo courtesy of Ecns.cn

                I came across this wonderful baby swimming story from China yesterday and just had to share this here. According to the parents of our intrepid baby swimmer Hu Juan, she has been particularly interested in swimming since she was just 3 months old. That’s what I call a baby swimming “natural”.

                Amazingly Hu Juan was not deterred by the water temperature being a chilly 13 degrees (celsius) and promptly swam across the 300 metre wide Jushui River in China’s Hubei province.

                Even more amazing was that she swam across the river twice, the day before this picture was taken, I wonder if that would warrant a call to the Guinness Book of Records.

                Now we at Aquakiddies/Babies would not go so far as to recommend that you try this out in your local rivers, nor indeed that you ask your babies to swim in water temperatures as cold as 13 degrees C. Happily we are able to find safe swimming pools where the water temperature is controlled and much warmer.

                However we would like to acknowledge this brave and wonderful young girl and wonder if maybe we will come across her name again – possibly in the Olympics of 2028 when she will be 19.  For more on this baby swimming story go here


                 

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                  5 comments - What do you think?
                  Posted by Baby Swimming Teacher - November 3, 2011 at 9:03 am

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