SSI AquaBaby I, 18 months to 35 months
Our Aquababy classes may include babies from 6 months to 3 years old; our teachers are trained to work with different developmental levels. Babies are introduced to the water with a focus on parent-baby bonding, and getting the baby familiar with how their bodies relate to the natural buoyancy of the water. We also work with the reflexes that all babies are born with that help them developmentally both in and out of the water. Though we do not focus on submersions, the skill is introduced. The Aquababy class boosts development of the whole child and early year round lessons accelerate development; physically, intellectually, and emotionally.
Babies are like little sponges, soaking up information from their new environment. This is a fun and relaxed aquatic experience for parent and infant, introducing kicking, bubble blowing, and safety skills. The use of verbal cues pre-conditions baby for submersion, by using a stimulus response method which teaches baby breathe control on verbal triggers. Parental involvement in the lesson is particularly important because children learn a respect for the water and understand that they are not allowed to swim unless accompanied by their parent. This makes children less likely to wander into dangerous situations.
For older babies, water safety is a very important aspect of this class. Parents and their children work together with teacher and learn to climb out of the pool independently, how to properly jump in the pool, and how to turn and swim back to the wall, back floats, and wall-walking. More advanced babies are also challenged to learn rollover breathing
Built for 6-month to 36-month-old swimmers with a parent or guardian in the water. This class focuses on increasing safety in and around the water by practicing water safety skills such as back floating, wall skills, and safe exit routines. Through songs and games, this class introduces important foundational skills including kicking, pulling, and submersions while having fun. Repetition and consistency are key to helping each swimmer increase their comfort in the water, and we encourage every parent to set their own objectives and move at their own pace.