Water is an extension of the natural environment. Infants and toddlers are given the opportunity to develop their inherent swimming ability simply by exposing them to the aquatic environment and allowing them to learn in a swim-directed manner through water play. Lessons are carefully designed to engage infants and toddlers at every stage of their milestone development using specialised equipment, rhymes and songs; creating an enjoyable learning experience while reinforcing essential skills with a focus on water safety.
Infants are accompanied in the water by their parents or primary carers, who are guided by our instructors through songs, chants, rhymes, and games. Developmental milestones are carefully adapted to the aquatic environment, transforming them into valuable, life-saving swimming skills that, when practiced consistently, develop into confident swimming. Water is an extension of the natural environment.
Each lesson serves as a building block toward water safety, confidence, and competence. To support consistent progress and maximise safety, lessons should be attended consistently, and a minimum of two lessons a week is recommended. All classes are 30 minutes in duration conducted in a controlled heated environment of 32°C, allowing for focused, effective learning. The rate of learning is uniquely individual. Factors such as the amount and type of previous aquatic experience, the attitude of the parents to water, and the frequency and regularity of lessons influence the learning rate.
Also known as the Bath Routine, is a parent education course offered as a once-off session. This session teaches parents how to nurture and develop their baby’s natural swimming ability from an early age, using the baby bath or family bath in a safe, guided way. The Bath Routine also prepares both parent and baby for the transition to Division 2, which begins at six months of age in the big pool, ensuring a confident and comfortable start to formal water lessons.
Parents are in the pool with their child throughout the lesson, providing comfort, support, and encouragement. For infants aged 6 to 12 months, back floating is the easiest and most effective swimming skill to master, although progress depends on the age at which lessons begin and the frequency of attendance. To maximise development, we strongly recommend two lessons per week. Infants who progress from Division 2 into Division 3 having already developed secondary skills such as buoyancy, back floating, and submersion gain a clear advantage, often mastering swimming skills more quickly and at a much younger age than toddlers who are new to the programme and only begin lessons at Division 3.
Parents are in the pool with their child throughout this division. This age group has the highest incidence of drowning among children, which is why the primary focus of toddler swimming is safe behaviour in and around the water rather than the immediate teaching of formal swimming skills. While the ultimate goal is for toddlers to swim independently as soon as possible, safety is never compromised during the learning process. The time it takes for a toddler to learn to swim depends on how they are taught, their age, and the amount of time they spend in swim-related activities, with two lessons per week strongly recommended to maximise progress.
In Division 3, the AQUATOTS® approach builds on normal movement and behaviour patterns already developed on land and adapts them into valuable, life-saving water skills. Toddlers naturally love to explore these new possibilities and, through this process, begin to master them. At AQUATOTS®, we use toys, songs, and rhymes to motivate, engage, and effectively teach children essential water skills in a safe and enjoyable way.
Our Learn to Swim program helps swimmers from age 3 to adults develop essential water safety skills and swimming foundations in a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment. Through age-appropriate instruction, students learn breath control, floating, kicking, basic swim strokes, and safe water behavior encompassing all the FUN-damentals of swimming. Accredited instructors work with small groups to ensure close supervision and individual attention, allowing each swimmer to progress at their own pace. Lessons are designed to be fun and confidence-building, helping children feel comfortable in the water while developing skills that promote lifelong safety and enjoyment. Swimmers also have the opportunity to take part in developmental galas, which build confidence, encourage participation, and nurture a love for the sport in a fun and supportive environment.
You are never too old to learn how to swim. Our Adult Swimming Programme is designed for all levels, whether you are starting from scratch, overcoming a fear of water, or training for IronMan. We offer an intensive Adult Crash Course that runs the last week of every month, which works especially well for adults with busy lifestyles who want focused, accelerated progress and guaranteed results in both skills and confidence. For those who prefer a more gradual approach, adults can join weekly lessons at their appropriate level, allowing steady progression in a supportive and encouraging environment while developing essential water safety skills and overall fitness.
429 Ann Road, Ruimsig 1724 Roodepoort, South Africa
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