Interactional Response During Infants’ Aquatic Sessions

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of study was to assess infants’ behaviour during routine swimming sessions using a naturalistic observation method. The study sample included 14 infants (13.7±7.5 months old) with previous aquatic experience. The frequency of occurrences per unit of time (session) in the different dimensions – infant’s motor behaviour and social-affective interaction – was registered over the course of two sessions by two independent experts. The behaviours most frequently observed were accompanied displacement (61.1%) and interaction with others (41.6%). Submersions or jumps represented only 8.4% of the session. Implementing a child-centred methodology leads to positive behaviours during this type of sessions, contributing to the child’s healthy development.