CHILDREN AND THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16050, 16 October 1915, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHILDREN AND THE SEA.

During the holiday season the Question whether the children shall bathe or not naturally comes to the fore. Children, even tiny ones, love the sea, and one could not find a pleasanter picture of happiness than a group of little ones splashing and paddling in the shallow water and pools left by the outgoing tide. \\ hen, however, it domes to the question of sea-bathing, a mother must use her discretion. Some children will play and paddle for hours in shallow pools, or on the edge of the beach; yet the instant they find themselves in deeper water they tremble with fear. Others, again, will turn blue and shiver after a dip in the sea. In both cases the children are best left alone. The first will probably outgrow their nervousness, but in the latter case, the children would suffer physically if forced to bathe every day. Still, there is nothing better for the reallv healthy child than a daily dip. It should be taken during the morning, halfway between meals, and should not last longer than five minutes at first. The time may be gradually lengthened in the course of a week, but it is just, as well not to allow a child to remain in the sea for too long at a time. Fifteen minutes is quite sufficient. A child should be taught to swim while very young, as then it acquires the knowledge much more easily. Do not attempt to teach a child to swim straight away. It is better to commence with floating. In this way it learns to have complete confidence in the a buoyancy of the human body. Select a fine day and a calm sea for the first lesson, and wade into the water" until it is breast high for the child. Then, supporting the child's body, train it to float, taking care not to allow the child to grow nervous. This stage is very important. and any ill-timed jokes and pleasantry by other people must be religiously tabooed. In a day or two the lesson will have been learnt, and the child will float quite naturally without any help. Meanwhile the swimming movements can be learnt on shore when lying across a bench or stool.

These are quite simple, but do not allow the child to get over-tired. The young muscles soon 1 weary of the unaccustomed exercise. Once the movements are learnt the child must endeavour to practise them in the sea,. This will be found more difficult, for naturally the sea-water offers more resistance than the air, but having learnt the art of floating, the child will soon pick up swimming, although expert knowledge can only come by practice. The swimming movements are simple, but it is as well to get a good swimmer to train the child at first, as bad movements onoe learnt are difficult to get rid of, and naturally spoil the grace of swimming. The correct way to breathe is also of vital importance, and the child must be taught to inhale exactly at the right moment, otherwise an fnvoulntary dose of sea water will make the youthful novice object to any more swimming lessons.