Including swimming in the P.E. curriculum (primary level)

Abstract

Swimming is a very valuable skill to teach children, it increases their safety, gives them enjoyment and helps to keep them fit. If we are aiming for the child to grow and develop to his full potential, then he must be provided with the most conducive learning environment. A developmentally based curriculum should provide the necessary focus towards this aim, always keeping in mind that each child passes through a series of developmental stages. If we look carefully through the Maltese Physical Education Primary School Curriculum, we realise that "Aquatics", or "Swimming" are not included. Moreover there is no mention of outdoor pursuits either. 2 Including Swimming in the P.E. Curriculum (Primary Level) In my opinion this is a big mistake, because we should offer our children a wide pyramid base of physical opportunities and experiences for better physical development. A well planned Programme of swimming activities should be included in the Curriculum since swimming helps children in achieving their optimum in Physical Education. In fact in Europe, Swimming has been included in the curriculum for quite a few years, but in Malta it has not even been mentioned in the revised proposed edition of the Curriculum. The Maltese people are exposed to water elements, as they live on an island surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, however the all-year swimming culture is still new. It is quite evident that in Malta swimming is seen as an outing to the beach or pool to cool down in the hot summer months, and in winter very few of the Maltese would dream of swimming even in a heated indoor pool. Yet in Europe swimming is an all-year activity even though the weather is colder than Malta. This happens because culturally they are people who are all year swimmers. This could be due to the fact that they are not exposed to hot weather like we are, so for them swimming is not an activity that can only be practised in hot weather but enjoyed throughout all the year. They swim in indoor heated pools, in outdoor thermal pools and change of weather temperature does not effect them. [...]