Pre-school Swimming Lessons Endorsed

Pre-school Swimming Lessons Endorsed

The NZ Swim Coaches and Teachers Association (NZSCAT), Swimming New Zealand and Water Safety New Zealand are united in their collective support for pre-school swimming lessons.

This endorsement of learn to swim is in response to an article published in the Spring/Summer edition of ProCare Pulse which was distributed by the New Zealand Herald last week.

The publication cited the Child Safety Foundation of New Zealand advising against teaching pre-school children to swim, which was made without factual evidence, research or qualification within the New Zealand context.

“As dedicated and qualified professionals in the aquatic industry, our Association strongly refutes this advice. We deal with pre-school swimming on a daily basis, and are dismayed at such misguided advice”, said NZSCAT President Mark Bone.

NZSCAT members, many of whom are world leaders in this field, have had huge success in pre school aquatic programmes which focus on water familiarisation. “Our members recognise no-one can ‘drown-proof’ children. However, we can ensure pre-schoolers are taught safety skills, listening skills and basic strokes which we believe are life skills, and parents/caregivers are educated on supervision needs, appropriate swimcare and water safety”, said Bone.

Basic aquatic awareness can be taught through discipline, experience and exposure from accredited and qualified pre-school swim teachers nationwide

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