"There is evidence that children can become goggle “dependent” and therefore panic when asked to swim without goggles" |
However, when a tentative child refuses (for some time) to submerge their eyes, goggles can be useful to encourage these children to “have a go”. There is evidence that children can become goggle “dependant” and therefore panic when asked to swim without goggles. However this can be easily overcome by ensuring there is a balanced approach and the child practices all skills with and without goggles until they no longer need them. It is equally as important for children to practice without caps and to wear clothes in the water to imitate falling in and swimming back to the side without panic.
Initially, movement through the water is about survival and the closer the lessons can emulate this, the better. For your interest, this time last year, schools in the United Kingdom were reported to have a no-goggles policy. The reason was not for water safety but because of the risk of collision due to lowered peripheral vision and the potential injury caused by snapping straps…what will they think of next?
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