Why Young Children Should Learn to Swim Learnings from Participation in Early Years Swimming

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Catalyst for the Research

Chapter 2: Early Years Swimming Context

Chapter 3: Australian Swim School Landscape

Chapter 4: International Perspectives on Early Years Swimming Industry

Chapter 5. Does EYS Add Capital to Young Swimmers?

Chapter 6: Survey - Do Swimming Children Reach Milestones Earlier?

Chapter 7: Child Assessments

Chapter 8: Outcomes, Limitations and Caveats

Biography

Robyn Jorgensen is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Canberra, Australia. She has worked in the field of education and equity, with a particular focus on mathematics education and qualitative research. She was the recipient of 12 Australian Research Council grants, is widely published and has a strong international reputation in education. The Early Years Swim study that Robyn conducted has had considerable impact in the international swim industry and resulted in her induction into the Australian Swim School Hall of Fame in recognition of her contribution.

Professor Robyn Jorgensen is a highly respected Australian academic whose international longitudinal study on infant aquatics has provided rigorous evidence that "swimming lessons build young children's social, emotional, physical and intellectual capital." This book is for anyone who has an interest in preschool children's growth and development.

Parents, educators, swimming instructors, administrators in the aquatic industry – this book is for you! I'm very grateful that Robyn has been able to prove everything I believed about infant aquatics. Swimming is fun, healthy, educational, and saves lives.

Buy it! Read it!

Dr. Laurie Lawrence AO, International swimming Hall of Fame Coach, International swimming Hall of Fame Infant Aquatics recognition, Olympic Gold Medal Coach

 

This is far more than a book about early years swimming. It is a landmark contribution that combines scientific research with an unprecedented analysis of the factors that define high-quality swim schools and help explain the remarkable outcomes observed in young children. Dr. Robyn Jorgensen presents evidence that challenges long-held assumptions while offering valuable insights for the future of aquatic education. This book will undoubtedly become an essential reference for researchers, educators, swim school owners, and organizations committed to advancing quality and excellence in aquatic education worldwide. Throughout my conversations with Robyn, I have been impressed by her commitment to building a stronger scientific foundation for aquatic education. I am confident this book will help shape the future of aquatic education around the world and will become an important milestone for our field.

 

Rafaele Madormo, Founder and Executive Director INATI, Instituto de Natação Infantil, Brazil

 

An indispensable publication for all aquatic professionals; bringing to light the groundbreaking Early Years Swimming research essential for a world-class developmentally based aquatics education.

 

Ross Gage, Aussie Aquatics; Past CEO, Australian Swim Teachers and Coaches Association, Swim Australia and Australian Swim Schools Association; US Swim Schools Hall of Fame

 

I’m so pleased to see this level of global academic research in our industry. The book beautifully traces early years swimming to modern neuroscience, showcasing impactful research that proves swimming benefits children in far more ways than we originally thought. I love how it captures the bigger picture while tackling real local infrastructure and equity challenges. It’s an essential read for swim educators everywhere.

Miren Oca, Founder and CEO, Ocaquatics Swim School, USA

Robyn has done an exceptional job of showing the development of the methodology and philosophies found in teaching young children to acquire swimming and water competency skills. It is a very interesting and well-researched comparison of different programs from around the world, throughout the past several decades. Whether you are an established swim program, looking to develop a program, or just interested in how very young children can and do learn to become safer in the water, this is a great read.

Johnny Johnson, Owner of Blue Buoy Family Swim School in Tustin, California, USA where he has been teaching since 1967. He is a past president of the I.S. Swim School Association and also a past president of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.