This Thursday morning, a kindergarten class is doing its seventh swimming session, or rather,aquatic ease. The goal is not to teach children to swim, but to get by once in the water. No armbands, they set off quietly, without tears and without shouting. “_Over a few sessions, we see the evolution_, each at their own level and each has progressed. And for a few days, they have the banana” emphasizes the teacher.
A new learning
This technique, developed in Dinar, has already proven itself. The Ministry of Sports and National Education wish to extend it to all schools. That of Gréville is the first in the Channel to test this method. “We accompany them to the water, we help them discover the environment. The goal is for children to know how to enter the water, move 10 or 15 meters and come out on their own. The idea is that they can understand that their body floats if they ever fall into a swimming pool“, explains Fabien Chiroust the instructor.
Prevent drowning
This is to prevent drowning : 50% of drowned deaths are children under 6 years old and is the leading cause of death in this age group. This apprenticeship should be repeated next year and several instructors are being trained.
Moreover, this learning technique can be carried out by the parents themselves. The Ministry of Sports has published 6 videos to allow everyone to use it.