Aquatic Readiness: Developing Water Competence in Young Children is an essential resource for those who teach young children to swim as well as those who administer aquatic programs. The book challenges traditional aquatic instruction practices by integrating the newest and best information from motor development and motor learning research, elementary physical education methods, and risk management.
Stephen Langendorfer and Lawrence Bruya, leading authorities in aquatics and motor development, show aquatic instructors how to develop, assess, and operate developmentally appropriate, safe, and highly motivating aquatic programs for young children.
Using a "water competence" model, the authors illustrate how fundamental aquatic readiness skills provide the foundation for all advanced aquatic skills, such as swimming strokes and diving. They debunk misconceptions and fallacies about learning to swim and explain the best way to test and teach such aquatic readiness skills as
water entry,
breath control,
buoyancy and body position,
arm and leg actions, and
combined movement.
In Aquatic Readiness, aquatic instructors will learn how to become skilled in movement education, play, and developmental games indirect methods of presenting and reinforcing skill learning that are crucial to effective communication with young children. They'll also learn how to use a new test called the Aquatic Readiness Assessment (ARA) to select developmentally appropriate teaching methods, equipment, games, and activities for their students.
In addition, Aquatic Readiness details how large equipment and games in aquatic environments increase children's motivation and learning through active play. Plus, the book's appendix contains more than 100 developmentally appropriate water games that are cross-referenced by skill and developmental level.
AUDIENCE
Aquatics instructors for young children
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. An Introduction to Aquatic Readiness
The Swimming World Is A-Changin'
Water Competence More Than Just the Same Old Strokes
Aquatic Readiness Before the Child Gets "Into the Swim"
A Developmental Perspective Changing Strokes for Little
Folks
Summary
Chapter 2. Fact and Fiction in Aquatics for Young Children
Sources of Misinformation
Developmental Issues
Skill Acquisition Issues
Pedagogical Issues
Health and Safety Issues
The Need for Information
Summary
Chapter 3. Assessing Aquatic Behavior in Young Children
New Approaches to Aquatic Assessment
A Simple Instructional Model for Aquatic Assessment and
Teaching
Desirable Qualities for Aquatic Measurement Instruments
How Do Current Tests Measure Up?
Testing Independent of Program Content
Recent Research in Aquatic Assessment
Summary
Chapter 4. Aquatic Readiness Assessment: Developmental Changes in Aquatic Motor Patterns
Developmental Aquatic Motor Sequences
Components of the Aquatic Readiness Assessment Instrument
Water Orientation and Adjustment
Water Entry
Breath Control
Buoyancy
Body Position
Arm Actions
Leg Actions
Combined Movement
Administering the Aquatic Readiness Assessment (ARA)
Helpful Hints for Using the ARA
An Aquatic Readiness Guide for Instructors and Parents
Summary
Chapter 5. Educational Aquatics: A Movement Education Approach for Aquatic Readiness
Educational Aquatics: Movement Education in the Water
Uniqueness of a Water Environment for Movement
Conceptual Framework for Educational Aquatics
Content Areas Within Educational Aquatics
Presenting the Content of Educational Aquatics
Presentation Phases in Educational Aquatics
Summary
Chapter 6. Setting the Aquatic Learning Environment for Readiness
Goal-Directed Aquatic Skill Learning
Practice Variability
Practice Specificity
Learning Stages
Feedback and Reinforcement
Achieving Motivation
Individual Differences in Learning and Perceptual Styles
Summary
Chapter 7. Large Aquatic Equipment
Uses for Large Equipment
Placing Equipment in the Aquatic Environment
Alternate Uses for Equipment
Summary
Chapter 8. Learning Experiences and Games for Aquatic Readiness
Importance of Play in Instruction
Games Use in Aquatic Readiness
Aquatics and Games Have Always Gone Hand in Hand
Benefits of Using Games
Games for All Levels of Aquatic Readiness
Adaptation of Aquatic Games
Choosing Water Games: Developmental Aquatic Games
Analysis
Aquatic Games Analysis
Reference Guide to Water Games
Using Small Equipment for Aquatic Readiness
Summary
Notes
Chapter 9. Administrative Risk Management
Litigation Affecting Aquatic Management
Introducing a Risk Management Model
Facility Inspection and Repair
Program Planning and Review
Staff Selection and Training
Parent Advisory Board
Program Fees and Schedules
Student Registration and Grouping
Student Evaluation
Student Certification
Parent Education
Curriculum Philosophy
Advertising
Summary
Appendix: Water Games for Young Children
Table A.1 Alphabetical Listing of Games
Table A.2 A List of Aquatic Games by Skill Component
and Skill Component Level Promoted
Water Orientation Skills
Breath Control, Rhythmic Breathing, and Submersion
Flotation, Buoyancy, and Balance in Water
Body Position and Change of Direction
Arm and Leg Propulsion
Advanced Strokes
Water Entry and Exit
References
Index
About the Authors
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephen J. Langendorfer, an associate professor and chair of kinesiology at Bowling Green State University, has been involved in aquatics both as an instructor and a participant for most of his life. He has more than 25 years' experience as an infant/preschool swimming instructor and water safety instructor and has been a competitive swimmer for more than 30 years. Langendorfer's introduction to infant/preschool aquatics came in 1971 when he studied at the Deutsche Sporthochschule in Germany under Liselot Diem, who was then conducting an innovative baby swim program and longitudinal study. In 1972 Langendorfer followed suit and established his own toddler swim program in Ithaca, NY.
Langendorfer received a PhD in motor development from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1982. He is a member of the Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics (CNCA), the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), and the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA). In addition, Dr. Langendorfer was chair of the American Red Cross Swimming Advisory Committee from 1990 to 1994.
Lawrence D. Bruya is a professor and assistant dean in Washington State University's (WSU) Department of Physical Education, Sport, and Leisure Studies, for which he was department chair from 1988 to 1994. He has taught at the college level since 1976. Before coming to WSU, Dr. Bruya taught at the elementary level as a physical education specialist, worked as an elementary school principal, and held the position of associate professor in the department of physical education at North Texas State University (NTSU). While at NTSU he developed and directed a preschool and elementary children's gymnasium and aquatics program, which helped him understand what effects the design of environments and use of equipment has on children's play patterns. In addition to teaching, Dr. Bruya is a playground design consultant. He also has written extensively about child development and playground design and is the author of the book, Playspaces for children A new beginning: Improving our elementary school playground.
Bruya received his PhD in motor development from Purdue University in 1976. He received the Outstanding Teaching Award presented by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1971, and in 1985 he was given the Meadows Teaching Award by North Texas State University. Dr Bruya is a member of AAHPERD, CNCA, and the American Association for Leisure and Recreation.
WORDS OF PRAISE
"Langendorfer and Bruya have done what others only talked about--to write a comprehensive text compiling everything we need to know about aquatic readiness programming for young children. Finally! And what an excellent contribution!"
Carolyn B. Shank, EdD
Professor, Recreation Administration, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Member of the development team for the American Red Cross Infant/Preschool Aquatic Certification materials
"Excellent! A comprehensive text sorely needed and most welcome! The authors have integrated new information and established skills and learning modes, providing excellent perspective and far more comprehensive information than is available elsewhere. A book every aquatics instructor should have."
E. Louise Priest
Consultant, Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics
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