One Melbourne community may have the answer to tackling Australia’s drowning statistics while supporting new mums at the same time.
Mothers in south-east Melbourne are reinventing the popular mothers group concept and using the meet-ups to teach their newborn babies to swim as part of a new Mothers’ Group program.
The newly opened BK’s Learn to Swim in Clyde North is offering Mothers’ Group swimming lessons, where new mums are swapping café and park catch-ups and making use of the time to teach their bubs life-saving swim skills instead.
BK’s Learn to Swim area manager Ebony Matthews said the concept is really taking off because it just makes sense.
“Our Mothers’ Group sessions allow mums to continue to get the social interaction and support they need from their Mothers’ Group and combine that with learning important water safety skills for their little one – the lesson is exclusively devoted to one Mothers’ Group,” said Ebony.
“It’s great for both the mums and the children to see familiar faces too, as it helps boost the comfort level and fun-factor for all involved.
“I hope it’s a concept we see take off further across Melbourne and beyond, because if babies have these skills from a young age we know it will save lives.
“You only have to look at the summer we’ve just had in Australia and the number of drownings – there’s still a lot more work to be done.”
Jasmine Hill, mum of 10-month-old Piper, said when she heard of the idea she was completely onboard.
“We get the social element plus we’re achieving something really important together,” said Jasmine.
“It feels great to be catching up with other mums and also getting our babies familiar with the water from a young age.
“It’s a lovely bonding activity between mum and baby, it’s really relaxing being in the warm water together, singing songs and having fun.
“And to know I’m giving Piper skills that may one day save her life makes me really happy.
“Now we have this shared activity that we all enjoy, we want to be there every Friday.
“Sharing an activity like this, you form deeper connections faster than just sitting around together. Many of us catch up after the lessons for a coffee too.”
BK’s Learn to Swim Clyde North uses the ‘GOSwim’ program researched and designed by Swimming Australia, which takes ‘learn to swim’ to a new level by combining water safety and swim skills in every lesson, said program coordinator and head teacher Debbie Bryan.
“The lessons, including the Mothers’ Group sessions for babies as young as three months, will teach water safety as a priority,” said Debbie.
“Every lesson covers age-appropriate key safety skills like breath control, underwater skills, safe pool entry/exit, treading water and floating alongside swim skills.
“The safety component can be seen in every lesson because water safety is a crucial skill that’s never too early to teach to children, even little babies.”
