The Development of Parental Competence Model in Infant Floating. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Latvian Academy of Sport Education
Abstract
Statistics show that young and reckless men as well as children are at a higher risk of drowning. In Latvia, the drowning rate is more than 6 deaths per 100,000 population which is the highest rate in the European Union, more than six times the average rate. According to the estimates based on the data of the World Health Organisation, 6.83 drownings per 100,000 population were registered in Latvia in 2017, while the number of drowning deaths in 33 countries did not exceed one, and in almost half of the countries (96) the number of drowning deaths was at an average level (LPF, 2018 A, C). This means that Latvia is among the leaders in statistics on the number of drowning deaths both in the European and global context. Reduction of drowning deaths is one of the objectives of Latvia’s National Development Plan for 2021-2027 as drowning is one of the most common external causes of death in Latvia (Olševska, 2020). Analysis of the latest information shows that in Latvia there were 96 drowning deaths in 2019 and 61 – in the first six months of 2020. While the average death rate from drowning in the EU is 1 per 100,000 population and in our country – 6 per 100,000 population, the Swimming Federation of Latvia has developed a drowning prevention strategy which aims to halve the number of water accidents by 2025 (Olševska, 2020). In light of the statistical data, it is very important to pay attention to swimming in early childhood and further acquisition of swimming skills in children. The beneficial effects of water on the human body have been known since ancient times. No other physical activity can be compared to exercise in a water environment as weightlessness and horizontal body position help relieve the spine. Frequent movements in the horizontal position unload the spine, as opposed to the vertical position in which people spend 2/3 of their life, and relieve the back and tension between the nerve endings (Barczyk, Skolimowski & Zawadzka, 2005). In addition, regular swimming lessons have a multifaceted effect on the person's physical development, the CNS and the respiratory system, and help improve posture. Slow and rhythmic movements in water improve blood supply and metabolism as well as strengthen the vascular system (Ahrendt, 1997; Sigmundsson & Hopkins, 2009). Swimming exercises have been recognised as a means of health promotion and disease prevention (Tanaka, 2009). Swimming has a particularly positive effect on children as it both helps prevent drowning and improves emotional health, sense of balance, flexibility, and strength (Protano et al., 2016). Nowadays, activities involving children and parents are becoming more and more popular. It is a good opportunity to spend time together, socialise and promote healthy infant development (Freedman, 2014), but there is not always time, place, and eagerness for that. At this point, emphasis should be laid on the child’s age as infants, for example, cannot act independently without the help and presence of their parents (Meredith, Hicks & Stephens, 2001). Given the variety of activities, this Doctoral Thesis pays special attention to swimming. Luckily, babies are familiar with water environment and experience certain sensations while growing in the womb (Johnson, 1996). If the infant’s parents have an opportunity to attend infant swimming lessons in the pool, they are likely to make use of it. In this process, the way parents feel in this type of activity, their ability to independently perform exercises with the infant and their sense of direction in a specific water environment is of great importance (Ahrendt, 2002; Zhao et al., 2005; ????????, 2011). Many parents like infant floating, but they often misunderstand its nature and, as a result, cannot do it in the right manner. Their lack of knowledge, skills and practical skills to properly handle a water environment can generally affect parental competence in infant floating (Stallman, 2014). In the world, the views on infant floating are rather mixed. The most optimal method and sequence of exercises to ensure proper infant floating has not been determined. In infant floating, two main techniques are distinguished: therapeutic and pedagogical. The latter includes teaching infant floating to parents (Ahrendt, 2002; Zhao et al., 2005; ????????, 2011). While the concept of competence can be defined differently, it generally relates to a person’s ability to choose the most appropriate means for a given situation or activity based on this person’s knowledge, and act suitably (Koķe, 2003). The knowledge, skills and attitudes of parents during infant floating speak of their competence in this field (Stallman, 2014). When teaching infant floating to parents, it is important to help them learn appropriate infant floating skills so that they can use them safely and confidently in further development of their child (Meredith et al., 2001; Jovanovich, 2002). Hence follows the necessity to ensure that parental competence in infant floating is enhanced in line with the parents’ abilities and interests as well as in compliance with the stages of teaching infant floating. Thus, the aim of the research is based on the model to improve parental competence in infant floating.
Description
The Doctoral Thesis was developed at Latvian Academy of Sport Education during the period 2014 – 2020. Defence: at the public session of the Promotion Council of Sports Sciences on 22 July 2021 at 11.00 in the room 205., LASE (Brivibas gatve 333, Riga).
Keywords
Summary of the Doctoral Thesis, parental competence in infant floating, structure, model
Citation
Kurmeļeva, A. 2021. The Development of Parental Competence Model in Infant Floating: Summary of the Doctoral Thesis: Sub-Sector – Sports pedagogy. Rīga: Latvian Academy of Sport Education. https://doi.org/10.25143/prom-rsu-lspa_2021-01_dts