Learning to swim is an essential life lesson – you never know when you are going to find yourself in danger in the water. However, hundreds of people have taken issue with one family’s approach to teaching their infant how to swim.
In a video that has gone viral and sparked controversy across social media, a six-and-a-half-month old tot is seen falling face-first into a swimming pool and then appearing to struggle, as her mum watches on.
The infant is first seen sitting on the step of the pool’s shallow end, and she proceeds to fall into the water while trying to catch a floating flip-flop.
After flipping over, the baby begins to float, but you can see and hear her struggling in the water as she starts to move further and further out into the pool.
When it finally looks as though the tot is adjusting to her circumstances – although she continues to cough and splutter – she is scooped up by the person holding the camera.
The footage is hard to watch at times, and it positively infuriated some Facebook users who branded the controversial teaching method as ‘cruel’.
“This baby can’t even crawl, let alone fall into a pool…This video was ridiculous and pointless! I felt very angry at the parent that was taking the video of this for so long without picking up her child,” wrote one angry viewer.
Meanwhile, another added: “This is cruel – look how long they let her float. She was obviously panicking because she was trying to cry. Not right at all. Poor baby looked like she couldn’t take it much longer.”
Others, however, have leapt to the parents’ defence, insisting that this is one of the best ways to teach a child how to swim.
“I’d rather have comfort knowing my kid could last a few minutes rather than drown the minute they get in the pool. When you have to work and rely on someone else to watch your kid, you can never be too safe,” said another.
Well, what are your thoughts on the parents’ teaching method?
