YOUNG SWIMMERS SHOW THEIR PACES IN SCHOOL BATH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 59, 2 March 1949, Page 5

YOUNG SWIMMERS SHOW THEIR PACES IN SCHOOL BATH

During the current season the Whakatane Swimming Club’s active membership has grown from 20 to 140, mainly children learning to swim. The youngest pupil is just three years old, and pops his head under water with the confidence of a young duckling. Confidence is the thing instructors strive for in their young pupils, and the splendid progress the learners are making was demonstrated on Saturday when a group of instructors headed by Messrs J. B. Slipper and R. H. Buttimore put the youngsters through their paces for the benefit of a Beacon representative. It was explained that many of these children could not swim a stroke before the Club took them in hand, but now even those who have not got to the overarm or crawl stage can dog-paddle after a few lessons. First stage is ducking their heads under to get the idea that it’s quite safe. Then they “blow bubbles,”exhaling under water and bobbing up at intervals for air. Next come the kicking exercises, which aim at teaching the straight-legged crawl kick right from the start. Follows a trip across the bath propelled by kicks alone. After that the young swimmer has ample confidence and can concentrate on dog paddling and later the more powerful overarm strokes. General impression is that these youngsters are learning an invaluable lesson in personal safety, ! and enjoying themselves thoroughly while they do it. Too much cannot be said for the public spirit shown by the instructors, who give up their own valuable spare time week after week to make this worthwhile contribution to our children’s safety.