Tots revel in introduction to swimming

Pip Maxwell and her daughter Itiria take part in the popular Tiny Tot lessons at Napier Aquatic Centre twice a week. Photo / Duncan Brown

Napier Aquatic centre is a blur of splashing, giggling babies five days a week.

Tiny Tots lessons have become so popular for children, starting from 6 months of age, there's a waiting list on Saturdays and the centre often adds extra classes to accommodate weekday demand.

Sessions were scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with two-hour playtime on Tuesday featuring toys and music.

"There's not much we can do [about a full class] on Saturdays because we have limited pool space, but we have Tiny Tots Tuesdays which have become really popular with mums," swim school co-ordinator Lyn Pugh said.

It was not only women taking advantage, weekends were a great bonding exercise for little ones and their dads.

A total of eight pre-school children were part of New Zealand drowning statistics last year, reiterating the importance of teaching kids early on.

Not learning to swim as a youngster motivated Napier mum Pip Maxwell to ensure her offspring were capable.

Brought up by grandparents, it was not until later in life that she took up lessons when training for triathlons .

Now she teaches aqua aerobics at Napier Aquatic Centre and is in the pool with 22-month-old daughter Itiria twice a week.

"At three months she used to be in my arms as I ran laps [in the pool], when she got to six months she started Tiny Tots," Mrs Maxwell said.

"She is really confident in the water, she had a laugh and goes under, she doesn't come up spluttering."

Having had a "bad experience" in the ocean while living in Australia, she wanted to help her kids become strong swimmers.

Her 13-year-old son had taken those early skills a step further, winning swimming championships at school and moving from the pool to sea with ease.

Plunket was an important driver behind encouraging water safety and reminded parents to stay close and actively supervise their children, keeping them within reach at all times when in and around water.

"Gaining confidence in the water through participation at these swim schools will make the transition to swimming lessons so much easier," said Sue Campbell Plunket child safety advisor.

- For more information, visit:

facebook.com/napieraquatic or napieraquatic.co.nz