WATER GAMES FOR CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27276, 30 December 1949, Page 2

WATER GAMES FOR CHILDREN

NOTES FOR WOMEN

Valuable Method Of Imparting Confidence This summer many small children will be paddling, dipping in the waves, and learning to enjoy the delights of bathing in the river or sea. ’'These early adventures in the water should impart confidence so that swimming will come easily and naturally. It is wise to wait for a really warm, sunny day before taking toddlers to the sea for the first time. Gentle encouragement should be given, but it is a mistake to immerse a small child quite suddenly in a big wave of cold water in an attempt to harden him. It is far better to let him experiment on the warm sandy fringes of the “ big water ” than to risk putting him off, perhaps for years, by placing him in too large and boisterous an enviroment.

Simple water games can be easily devised for children. Holding a parent’s hand, the smallest child will enjoy jumping the waves; “ ring a roses ” in shallow water will encourage sitting down in the water, whilst “ riding the waves ” could be the next step. Older children, who want the thrill of'going into deeper water and taking a big splash, will like “over the arches,” a game for three or more, holding hands in a circle in water as deep as the smallest child can keep his balance in. Without letting go, each in turn springs up and leans back, legs straight and together, is swung over the arch made by the clasped hands opposite, and landed with a big splash. It is important for parents to go in the water with their young children, playing games with them, as well as

keeping a watchful eye on any older children who may have become dangerously venturesome. Both at beach and river, care should be .taken to choose a safe place, preferably where there are other people bathing. When the children have had their fun and are dry and warm, then parents can have their own swim, but even then, it is as well to keep an eye on the river bank or beach or to take the swim in turns. Gaily coloured beach balls and rafts must be used with great discretion. An adult should ideally be in charge of them, and children should be warned to let them float away rather than go out of their depth ip trying to recover them. In a quiet shallow pool they are, of course, great fun and can' be very helpful when practising leg strokes, but it is as well to be quite certain that there is no deep water nearby.