Upcoming Event

World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC), Vancouver, Canada
5 - 7 October 2009

The year 2009 will again see two WABC conferences taking place almost concurrently in different parts of the world, the one in Vancouver Canada and the other in Brighton, England.

No sooner was the date for the WABC Vancouver announced when the date for the World Aquatic Babies and Children (WABC) 2009 was posted on the WABC website. Both conferences take place in the same week with the final day of the Vancouver conference the first day of the Brighton conference. This makes it impossible for anyone to attend both conferences should they so wish. With the nine hour time difference between Brighton and Vancouver the conferences actually over lap. The Vancouver conference will be in its second day when the Brighton conference is about to begin. Why such an arrangement is anyone’s guess.

For updates of the WABC Vancouver, check www.wabcvancouver2009.com

Announcement (November 2008)

CONNEXION: December 2008 Issue

AQUATOTS Franchise newsletter the CONNEXION is back in circulation.

Anyone interested can read the December 2008 Issue of the CONNEXION online by clicking on NEWSLETTERS.

Comment (Oct 2007)

World Aquatic Babies Congress, Wellington New, Zealand

The 9th World Aquatic Babies Congress, Wellington New, Zealand 6 - 8 October 2007 was a great success. It was not to be outdone by its predecessor in Malmö, Sweden two years earlier.

Going by the evaluation questionnaires the delegates completed after each presentation or work-shop, the topics covered were rated highly relevant to infant aquatics. So well done to the conference organizers. But the rest was up to the speakers. Although the speakers may not all have been as highly rated, I believe that each taught us something. It is quite a thing to be spending most of your time in the water and then be expected to deliver as a professional speaker. But I expected this of myself it being my 6th time as a presenter. However, we live and learn and often at someone else’s expense.

I had prepared myself for a workshop, “How to teach infants to swim without increasing the risk of drowning” and relied too heavily on interactive participation to work through the somewhat abstract concept of terminology in relation to drowning. Though I did not achieve what I had planned, I hope that I have at least succeeded in igniting a spark of interest in the possibility that our teaching methods may be contributing to an increase in drowning for each one to question their own method.

I would like to add that work-shops should be interactive sessions otherwise what is there to make a workshop different from a presentation when even the length of time allocated to a work-shop at the conference was the same as that for a presentation?

For anyone interested in reading the notes for my workshop please click on the title of the work-shop.

(by Nell White)


Nell White Work-shop WABC Wellington, New Zealand 2007

Upcoming Event

9^th World Aquatic Babies Congress, Wellington New, Zealand
6 - 8 October 2007

The World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) 2007 will take place in Wellington, New Zealand as was decided at the preceding WABC 2005 in Malmö, Sweden. Speakers have been selected amongst which is 6th time presenter at WABC conferences, Nell White of South Africa who will be giving a work-shop, and taking part in the panel discussion on Submersion. The conference website for further details is: www.wabc2007.org.nz

Comment (Oct 2006)

International Baby Swim Leaders Summit
Portland, Oregon

The International Baby Swim Leaders Summit held in Portland, Oregon on 27-29 October 2006 was intended to resolve the matter of leadership of the World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC). The founder and director of the WABC, Virginia Hunt Newman, having tragically suffered a stroke while undergoing knee surgery left  the organization without a director. The  international community of leaders rallied to keep the WABC going for a further two WABC conferences. But for the long-term survival of the WABC as an organization it was necessary to have a fully functioning website which was not the case. When the website came up for renewal, ownership of the site and title became an issue. The finality of the deadline for renewal acted as the catalyst for the Summit.

But before the end of the 12 month build up to the Summit it was apparent that the question of ownership and the rights to title had been settled, and that the Summit would now serve as the platform to  launch the WABC under the directorship of Steve Graves, who had served as president of the WABC having been appointed in July 2000 by Virginia Hunt-Newman. 

It seemed quite acceptable to all that Steve Graves should continue as President  but the undemocratic manner in which he planned to run the WABC was not well received by a large contingent of Virginia Hunt Newman supporters who she had regularly consulted on matters of importance. In contrast, the WABC under the directorship of Steve Graves would be a totally autocratic WABC. For instance, deliberation as to the venue for subsequent WABC conferences would no longer follow the same  democratic procedure as it had in the past. But as things stood, the decision made at the WABC in Sweden the previous year to have the next WABC in New Zealand would hold provided the New Zealand hosts accepted the financial conditions that would now go with hosting a WABC. This they were not in a position to do. However, for the sake of goodwill they proposed that a deal be negotiated. But the demand remained an either or condition.

And so, encouraged by the support of the delegates who had attended the WABC in Sweden, the New Zealanders, having committed themselves a year earlier to hosting the WABC 2007 went ahead with what to them was the authentic 9th WABC. In the meantime another 9th WABC, this one with a new logo and a wider age span that would include older children, was put together by the ‘new’ WABC to take place in Florida at about the same time.

(by Nell White)

 
A group of international baby swim leaders Nell White (South Africa) Jackie Young (USA) Eugenie Horn Enge (Norway) and Judy Watts (Australia) at the International Baby Swim Leaders Summit in Portland, Oregon Oct 2006

Comment (Oct 2006)

Nordic Conference for Babyswim Instructors in Reykjavik 

The programme for the Nordic Conference 13-14 October 2006, (Busli Félag ungbarnasundskennara) was an invitation to an education not to be missed. Despite covering some of the perennial topics that constantly come up at regional swim coaches and teachers association meetings, the content on the whole promised the ultimate in expert scientific opinion. The final word yet to be spoken on these controversial issues would certainly be spoken at this Nordic conference in Iceland. To bear this up, let me give you a run down of the programme.

• Otitis and babyswimming; Ingibjörg Hinriksdóttir, ENT specialist.
• Torticollis, practical information; Áslaugh Gumundsdóttir og Rosa Gumundsdóttir, physical therapists.
• Indoor pools and respiratory effects on swim school children and swim teachers: A summary of the knowledge of today. Ludmilla Rosengren, A doctor and a babyswim instructor as well.
• Stimulation of motor development. Ph.D. Carola Frank Aalbjörnsson, Motor development analysis specialist.
• Swimming pool water and the skin. Steingrimur Daviisson, Dermatologist.
• Babies lung and heart.  Pórur Porkelsson, Paediatrician.
  

All of the above, and in detail the characteristic approach to infant aquatics in each of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland by representatives from each of these countries.

Now what infant swim instructor would miss an opportunity such as this to visit Iceland?

The only criticism I had was that the presentations had to be delivered in English. I found that most interesting. I felt that it would have been better had each delivered their presentation in their own language with an interpreter. Then we would not have missed as much as we did because of limited language skill of some of the speakers. When I mentioned this I was told that too many interpreters would be necessary at an unaffordable cost.

(by Nell White)

 
Snorri Magnússon demonstrating approach to teaching in Iceland


Snorri Magnússon demonstrating approach to teaching in Iceland

Comment (June 2006)

AQUATOTS Franchise Anniversary Meeting (AFAM)

AQUATOTS Franchise Anniversary Meeting (AFAM) held on 2 - 4 June 2006 was the 3rd anniversary of AQUATOTS Franchise.  It just gets better every year. This year the focus was on the therapeutic value of the program. A three-way presentation had Liz Johannsmeier (Occupational Therapist) with Melanie Horak (Biokineticist) both of Baby Therapy Centre Lynnwood, Pretoria Franchise and Miranda Linde (Biokineticist) point out some surprising facts in connection with the therapeutic value of AQUATOTS Swim Program for physically and mentally challenged infants.

(by Nell White)


AFAM 2006, Biokineticist Marinda Linde linking AQUATOTS and Therapy

Announcement (Sept.2005)

Aquatic Babies Congress Malmö, Sweden

The organizers of the 8th Aquatic Babies Congress, Malmö, Sweden announced that the following World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) will be held in Wellington, New Zealand. Congratulations to Janine Miller who presented the proposal and Matt Claridge of Water Safety New Zealand for accepting the honour.  


Matt and Janine  WABC Malmö, Sweden

Upcoming Event

8^th Aquatic Babies Congress, Malmö, Sweden
9 - 11 September 2005

Sweden will play host to the 8th World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC). The chosen city is Malmö. It will be the first WABC to be held in a Scandinavian country. Previous countries in which the WABC was held are Japan 1991, USA 1993, Australia 1995, Mexico 1997, France 1999, Argentina 2001, Hawaii 2003, and now Sweden in 2005.

The WABC in Sweden promises to be one of the biggest WABC conferences because of its proximity to Europe and UK. It will also be the first time to have several work-shops run concurrently in the afternoons. The purpose of this is to accommodate as many presenters as possible so as to provide a broader spectrum of topics than usual.  Regular conference attendees can thus look forward to new speakers while first time conference delegates catch up on speakers who have featured regularly at past conferences.

Nell White of South Africa, a 5th time presenter at WABC conferences, will work-shop the topic “Submerged Swimming in Early Infancy is to the Detriment of Toddler Water Safety”.

Upcoming Event

King Neptune Aquatic Conference
Lesmurdie. Western Australia
9 - 10 October 2004

The AUSTSWIM King Neptune Conference, Western Australia’s largest Aquatic Conference will be held at the newly built state of the art venue exclusive to Austswim on 9-10 October 2004. 

Once again, this leading conference and trade show brings swimming teachers together for a unique two days full of fun where people are able to share innovative and fresh ideas. Not only will they learn, be inspired and entertained by the choice of presenters of which Nell White of South Africa will be the International Keynote Speaker, but they will gain AUSTSWIM professional development points and network with others in the industry. 

Nell White revolutionized infant swimming in her country. She has a degree in child psychology and is the respected author of Swimming South Africa’s national accreditation course for toddler swim teaching. She is acknowledged abroad by AUSTSWIM for her contribution to the AUSTSWIM manual, “Teaching Infants & Preschool Aquatics”. In 2003, she was one of six to be awarded at the World Aquatic Babies Congress in Hawaii for her efforts in advancing baby swimming, and for being a guiding light to those involved in aquatic programmes in their own country and around the world. 

As Keynote speaker, Nell will open the morning session of the first day of the conference with the controversial issue of “Submersion Makes or Breaks the Learn-to-Swim Experience”. On the second day she will open the morning session with “Water Safety Takes Priority When Teaching Toddlers to Swim”. Each presentation will be in two parts with the theoretical aspect in the mornings and the practical in the afternoons.

Announcement (June 2004)

AQUATOTS Franchise First Anniversary
June 2003 - June 2004

On June 1^st 2004 AQUATOTS Swim Program which originated way back in the sixties was one year old as a franchise. The first birthday was celebrated by the 14 franchises with a champagne breakfast in Bedfordview, Johannesburg. Lis van Os of Northern Suburbs Franchise (Jhb) was awarded for her contribution to the development of AQUATOTS Franchise.


Lis van Os was awarded at the 1^st Anniversary Celebration
for her contribution to the development of AQUATOTS Franchise

Of the 14 franchises listed in the first year, 11 were originally registered AQUATOTS Swim Schools. The other three are newcomers to AQUATOTS. With 27 instructors in all, 10 of which are newly trained, it is highly likely that there will be an AQUATOTS Franchise within a reasonable distance for most parents in major areas. For contact details of the franchise most conveniently situated in relation to where you live you can call National Office on 086110 21 73.

Announcement (Oct 2003)

Awards at World Aquatic Babies Congress, Waikiki, Hawaii

South Africa’s leading infant swim professional, Nell White, was awarded at the World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) in Waikiki, Hawaii 18–20 October 2003, for her efforts in advancing baby swimming, and being a guiding light to those involved in aquatic programmes for infants in South Africa and around the world.

Nell White received the award of the decade 1993-2003 along with five other selected international infant aquatic pioneers namely, Eugenie Horn Enge of Norway, Sharron Crowley of Canada, John Bainbridge of USA/Australia, Foo Chee Han of Singapore, and Lulu Cisneros of Mexico.

WABC is a biennial event. The WABC originated with the first gathering of infant swim teaching professionals in Tokyo 1991. Nell has attended all subsequent conferences held in various capital cities of the world namely, Los Angeles 1993, Melbourne 1995, Oaxaca 1997, Toulouse 1999. Buenos Aires 2001 and now Honolulu 2003. At the WABC in Honolulu, Nell was a 4th time presenter.

For her presentation notes click on the title, “The Development of AQUATOTS in the ten years since its introduction at the WABC 1993”.

Upcoming Event

7^th World Aquatic Babies Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii
18 – 20 October 2003

The 7th World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) for aquatic education of infants will be held on 18 -20 October 2003 at Waikike Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Nell White, founder of AQUATOTS Swim Program, and world pioneer programme director and infant swim educator, will contribute as a member of the panel of speakers who will discuss their professional development in the period since their introduction to the international infant swimming community ten years earlier at the WABC in Los Angeles in 1993.  This will be her fourth time as presenter at a WABC.

Comment

WORLD AQUATIC BABIES CONGRESS
Buenos Aires, Argentina. October 2001
By Nell White

“I was invited as one of nine non-Latin speakers to present at the 6th World Aquatic Babies Conference in Argentina. The conference was held in Buenos Aires on 24-26 October 2001. The subject of my presentation was ‘Submersion’. I believe that infants should never be submerged. Infants should always initiate submersion themselves.

I was the first speaker on the agenda. To be the first speaker is considered an honour I was later told by the conference organizer Dr Patricia Cirigliano who praised me for my ‘strong opinion’ and ‘the way it was voiced’.

I chose the subject of submersion and how it measures up against current guidelines, terminology, definition, and research because it is pivotal in determining the direction of infant swimming. 

My presentation was 45 minutes long and ended with a short video summary of ‘Submersion the AQUATOTS Way’. The title of the presentation ”Why submerge infants when they are better off submerging themselves?” is given here. Anyone interested in reading the presentation can click on the title. The presentation can also be found on the WABC website in the members section.  Membership to the WABC is an annual fee of $95 US.

Upcoming Event

6^th World Aquatic Babies Congress
Buenos Aires, Argentina
23 – 26 October 2001

The 6th World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) for aquatic education of infants will be held on 23 -26 October 2001 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Speakers from 14 different countries will be presenting. South African speaker, Nell White, first on the agenda may set the tone posing the question with the title of her presentation, ”Why submerge infants when they are better off submerging themselves?” (Click on the title to view the presentation)

Acknowledgement (Oct 2001)

Swimming South Africa Adopts AQUATOTS Swim Program Guidelines

A move to safeguard infant swim teaching has been undertaken by Swimming South Africa (SSA) with the adoption of AQUATOTS Swim Program guidelines for the Todswim SA national accreditation course for toddler swim teaching. The time has come for SSA to take an effective position in the standardisation and control of infant swim teaching. Until recently there was no major aquatic body in the country that took responsibility for issuing policy statements or guidelines for parents as to what should be considered acceptable and unacceptable practices in infant swimming. Parents can now look to SSA for such guidelines to help them select a safe and suitable swim school for their infants. 

Report (Aug 2001)

Swimming South Africa Conference, Bloemfontein

The Swimming South Africa (SSA) Conference in Bloemfontein on the last week-end of August was the biggest ever in the history of South African Swimming due to the PROTEA SPORT Development Plan which is to promote, guide and regulate sport on national level. Even a toddler swim teaching course was launched as part of the national Learn-to-Swim initiative. Nell White, renowned for her success as programme developer and trainer, compiled the course for SSA introducing it as Todswim SA with a Power Point presentation after which she proceeded to train the 11 candidates selected by SSA to become the first Todswim SA facilitators.

Upcoming Event

UNISWIM Infant Aquatics Workshop
University of Western Australia, Perth, 20 May 2001

Nell White, founder of AQUATOTS Swim Program, has been invited to return to Western Australia to host a second full-day workshop for UNISWIM at the University of Western Australia as a result of the success of the first held there a year ago. The work-shop, arranged by Professor Brian Blanksby and Austswim Regional Director, Brana Williams, will be held in the Department of Human Movement & Exercise Science. The focus of the work-shop is on the “Approach to teaching in each of three major age-categories 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-30/48 months”.

Report (April 2000)

University of Western Australia hosts workshop presented by AQUATOTS Swim Program Founder, Nell White

At the invitation of Professor Brian Blanksby of the Department of Human Movement & Exercise Science Nell White, founder of AQUATOTS Swim Program, presented a day long work-shop in which she demonstrated how prone submerged swimming in early infancy prevents infants from readily accepting the backfloat position as a means of survival. The work-shop titled, “Prone submergence in early infancy can be to the detriment of infants accepting the backfloat," was attended by infant swim instructors and members of Austswim coming from as far inland as the towns of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Copious notes were taken as Nell elaborated on the points projected on the screen.

What’s New from WABC e-news

(South Africa 12 March 1999)

Quote from What’s New, World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) e-news:

“Nell White, founder of AQUATOTS Swim Program in South Africa, claims that Austswim of Australia has copied portions of her AQUATOTS Swim Program Instructor Manual and included them in its Austswim Teaching Infant and Preschool Aquatics Manual, published in late 1998. No attribution to White was provided in the Austswim publication.

John Kilpatrick, Austswim national executive director, claims he was totally unaware that such action had taken place in the making of the manual and has apologized to White over the incident. Through their lawyers, both parties are now trying to reach a compromise, which may include a special acknowledgement in a reprinted edition of Austswim manual.

White and Kilpatrick are both individual members of the WABC.”

(by Jeff Beeler)