Baby swimming: exploring the effects of early intervention on subsequent motor abilities

  1. H. Sigmundsson1,*,
  2. B. Hopkins2,3

Article first published online: 31 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.00990.x

Issue

Child: Care, Health and Development

Child: Care, Health and Development

Volume 36, Issue 3, pages 428–430, May 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Sigmundsson, H. and Hopkins, B. (2010), Baby swimming: exploring the effects of early intervention on subsequent motor abilities. Child: Care, Health and Development, 36: 428–430. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.00990.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology & Centre for Research in Human Development, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, and

  3. 3

    Human Movement Science Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

*Hermundur Sigmundsson, Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway E-mail: hermundurs@svt.ntnu.no

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 APR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 31 AUG 2009
  3. Accepted for publication 5 May 2009

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Keywords:

  • balance;
  • infant stimulation;
  • motor development;
  • prehension

Abstract

Aim  The aim of the study was to explore the effects of baby swimming on subsequent motor abilities.

Background  A range of motor abilities was examined in 4-year-old children who had previously participated in a programme of baby swimming (n= 19) and compared with a matched group of coevals who had not had this experience (n= 19).

Results  As predicted from the nature of the exercises that comprise the programme, the effects of baby swimming were restricted to abilities associated with prehension and balance.

Conclusions  Suggestions are made as to how the theme of this hypothesis-generating, demonstration study can be pursued in the future with more rigorous experimental controls and applications to children with disabilities and impairments.

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