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Amphibious infants: Baby's first kick

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Water Babies is a class offered through the 92nd Medical Group held at the base pool every Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Swimming, singing, using a kick board and playing with wiffle balls are the main activities at the Water Babies class.

Mary Cook, a 92nd Medical Group New Parent Support Program nurse, and Susanna Dodd, 92nd Medical Group Family Advocacy, co-teach the Water babies class. Cook designed the program 10 years ago and it's been running ever since.

During the first 7-10 minutes of the class, the participants practice fine and gross motor skills with singing and hand movements which helps the babies utilize both sides of their brain.

The purpose of the class is to optimize early learning and development and for the parents to bond with their children.

"The babies are role playing and watching their parents and bonding with face-to-face contact," Cook said.

The use of kick boards help the children utilize their neck and chest muscles. Cook said they check to see if the kids are moving their heads side-to-side and are looking around.

The next few minutes are used to play with plastic whiffle balls. They start out playing with one then as they learn to problem solve and how to handle multiple balls they add more. The older kids learn to throw and kick balls.

"All of these things build neuronal pathways for the kids, and the parents are learning to interact by modeling," Cook said.

The last few minutes of the class is used to socialize and have the babies interact with others.

"The parents are able to come and enjoy their kids as they learn new socialization skills and new gross motor skills," said Cook. "It's good for their brain development, but the socialization and the parental bonding is probably the best."