Aquatic Readiness Developing Water Competence in Young Children

This is a useful resource for anyone who teaches young children to swim or runs aquatic programmes. This text challenges traditional aquatic instruction practices by integrating information from motor development and motor learning research, primary physical education methods and risk management. It shows teachers how to develop, assess, instruct and operate developmentally appropriate, safe and motivating aquatic programs for young children. Using a "water competence" model, it illustrates how fundamental aquatic readiness skills provide the foundation for all advanced aquatic skills, such as swimming strokes and diving. They debunk misconceptions and fallacies about learning to swim and explain the best way to teach and test such aquatic readiness skills as: water entry; breath control; buoyancy and body position; arm and leg actions; and combined movement. It also shows aquatic teachers how to become skilled in movement education, play and developmental games - indirect methods of presenting and reinforcing skill learning that are important to effective communication with young children. It details how large equipment and games in aquatic environments increase children's motivation and learning through active play. The appendix contains over 100 water games for children that are cross-referenced by skill and skill level.