Baby Dolphin Swim Program

Baby swimming has so much to offer when approached in a nurturing, child-centred way. Starting at 4 months, our babies have the capacity to learn efficient swimming skills enabling self-control in the water. Throughout the process we embrace the concept of a baby focused learning environment and educating our parents every step of the way. The process of teaching your baby to swim will be the most rewarding experience a parent and baby can share.

Our Facility

There are 2 pools. 

The baby pool has a shallow beach area with a mushroom that trickles water and shell tiles on the bottom that creates interactive water play environment. A built in bench is an added feature that assists baby throughout the program. It also includes a spa providing the added experience of moving water.

The main pool includes a built in bench, is much larger and offers deeper water for more advanced skill development. Also, it enables our babies to acclimatise to the area where they will continue their swimming education at age 3 years.

The pool deck is wide enough to accommodate prams and has a substantial baby change area.

Water quality is crystal clear and well maintained with state of the art technology including ozonators. Temperature set at 33 degrees. Air heating at 28 degrees and ventilation are also features.

The environment is designed from a child learning focus to enhance stimulation and a fun approach.

The People

Owner Lesley has developed the baby program over decades. It has evolved from research interstate and overseas and with its most recent review offers a program second to none.

Our class size is 7 to maximise the effectiveness of the learning and social experience.

The team of qualified teachers are handpicked for their ability to relate to children and adults. All the teachers at Blue Dolphin Swim Centre are passionate about teaching swimming.

On top of the basic teacher qualification, our baby teachers undergo the additional comprehensive, Blue Dolphin Swim School baby training, which is continuously reviewed.

Our Deck Supervisors are readily available at all times to provide a liaison between teachers, parents and babies.

The Baby Program

Our program prepares your baby physically, emotionally and socially for learning in all aspects of life. Research has shown that babies who attend swimming lessons from a very young age have improved water safety skills and the following benefits at an earlier age. Blue Dolphin’s approach is baby centred, fun-filled and non-coercive, allowing baby to progress at his/her own pace.

What Are The Benefits?

- Developing babies safety/ survival skills in the water

- Providing safe and fun-filled water experiences

- Educating parents about baby swimming

- Challenges babies to attempt new activities

- Developing baby motor skills, buoyancy and mobility in the water

- Enhancing the parent/ baby relationship through playful learning

- Develops water awareness, confidence and swimming skills

There Are Three Levels In The Baby Dolphin Program -7 babies per class

Beg. Merry Mer Babes - Parents are educated on cues and holds, water acclimatisation skills and the importance of happy and consistent swimming. Through this babies are gradually introduced to submersions and water safety skills. Parent and child develop confidence in an environment of songs, games and play in a slower paced class. This is the beginning of giving babies a better chance of being safer in the water.

Int. Frolicking Fishes - A three second swim is the beginning of the intermediate level. This is a faster paced class extending existing safety skills, back floats, starts and finishes,entries and exits. Swimming skills and free swims are developing, whilst parent and child gain confidence in a fun environment.

Avd. Dancing Dolphins - A fast moving class as children are now swimming upwards of six seconds. With new found freedom these little ones love to play in the water and swim further and further. Pop up or roll over breathing are now attempted. Floating, treading water, standing entries, turn around and swim back are developing through lots of fun.

Session Times : 30 minute classes

Monday to Friday  9.15am - 12.45pm

Monday to Thursday 5.00pm - 7.30pm

Saturday 7.45am - 1.00pm

Numerous speakers at the recent World Aquatic Babies Congress's Conference in Wellington, New Zealand, reinforced the many developmental benefits gained by infants and toddlers from 'swimming lessons'. The sensory-motor stimulation, particularly in such a weight-bearing medium, is enormous - and unique. Factor in the close bonding time with the parent(s) and interaction with others, and one can readily appreciate what a wonderful contribution the lessons can make to the little one's physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

However, in Australia, it is usually for safety reasons that parents bring their offspring along to the Swim School. And this is for good reasons. All it takes in one momentary lapse of concentration and your child wanders off. They don't understand the hidden dangers of water and they can't swim...

Drowning is the most common cause of accidental death for kids under the age of five in Australia. The most recent records from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that 229 children in this age group died this way between 1999 and 2003. The current National Drowning Report states that 35 in that age bracket drowned in the 2006 - 2007 year.

For every preschooler who drowns, Kidsafe Australia says another three of four children are admitted to hospital after nearly drowning. Many are left with some form of permanent brain damage.

Swim Australia believes the statistics could be changed by making swimming lessons an integral part of a child's upbringing.

While swimming lessons aren't a substitute for proper fences and constant parental supervision of children around water, they add another layer of protection. Swimming lessons don't make children 'waterproof;' or 'drown-proof' or even 'water-safe'. But kids who learn to swim are 'water safer'.

When To Start

The bathtub, or the like, at home is the perfect place to start. In appropriate facilities with properly trained teachers, lessons can start from 4 months onwards. The basic water safety skills start to click in between 12 and 24 months.

The earlier you enrol your littlies in swimming classes, the easier the experience will be for them. The longer you leave it, the harder it can be for a child to settle. They may have heard people say things like "Don't go near the water, you'll drown" and start to associate potential negatives with water. Then you suddenly say, "Let's go to swimming lessons - that will be fun", but that doesn't equate with what your child has heard about water. Be aware of making negative comments about water to your child. Instead of warning them that if they go near the pool or ocean they could drown, calmly tell them not to go near the water unless they're with an adult.

We Are Off!

Once they've started lessons, don't expect too much too soon - allow your child time to trust their swimming teacher, and don't expect a perfect doggy paddle or backstroke in weeks.

Allow your child time to relax in the water because that's when they learn better. One of the worst things you can do is push - they won't learn properly and that affects the learning of the next skill and the next. If your child plateaus for a while, don't get frustrated. As with anything else, all children learn at different speeds.

Going through a rough patch? You've just got to persevere. Swimming - or at least being able to stay afloat and get to a safe area - is a non-negotiable survival skill. Children should be able to swim 300-400m, using a mixture of strokes, by the time they leave the swim school. After reaching this stage, your child has an ingrained ability they'll be able to rely on at any stage in life.

The key is to ensure the first lessons are enjoyable, at least unpressured.

To enhance your child's first swimming experience, take them along to a class similar to theirs a week before they start lessons. Be positive in pointing our how the children are having fun and how they're not forced to do things they can't do.

It's unusual for children not to relax in the water after a few lessons, but some children take to the water immediately while others apprehensive and take a few weeks to settle down. Just don't give up.

And don't push! Encourage. The skills will be learnt best when the child is relaxed. As the great US aquatic educator Rob McKay is fond of saying, "the slower they go, the faster and better they learn".

Dads Too!

Infant classes - where a parent is in the water with the littlie - are now very 'dad-friendly'. In fact, in many sessions it is now the dads that make up the most numbers. This is particularly so on Saturday mornings and where evening classes are available. The trend is sure to continue as many Swim Schools are now offering classes on Sundays to meet the demands of changing work-family dynamics.

We don't like to say swimming lessons make children 'waterproof' or 'drown-proof' or even - 'water safe'. But children who learn to swim are definitely 'water safer'.

Getting Ready For Swimming Lessons

- All teachers should have a nationally recognised swimming teaching qualification - Swim Australia Teacher or equivalent.
- Choose a swim school with a well-maintained pool and good facilities.
- Where possible, all students should have around the same level of experience.
- The activities should be varied and fun so your child remains interested.
- At no stage should force be used.
- When learning submersions, they should be well cued and not made to submerge if not ready to do so.
- Have a dress rehearsal at home so your child is used to their swimwear and goggles.
- Arrive relaxed and early so your child is calm and can get used to the surroundings.
- Keep your child away from the pool edge and make sure they don't run.

The images used in this article were supplied to Swim Australia by Swim Image Photography.