Fun with friends in the pool
Norfolk Ducklings was set up by Michelle Busuttil in 2011, and specialises in running swimming classes suitable for newborn babies. Passionate about getting babies into the water at an early age, Michelle explains why: ‘the earlier a baby experiences the joys of buoyancy and underwater swimming, the greater their confidence and happiness in the water will be, which can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment and love of swimming.’ Classes are initially focussed on floating exercises designed to increase the bond between babies and parents/carers. They also help children learn to socialise as well as increasing body strength and co-ordination, and many believe swimming can help relieve early birth trauma. Norfolk Ducklings forms part of Michelle’s holistic approach to pre and post pregnancy, and baby care and development. As well as baby swimming, Michelle teaches aqua natal yoga for pre and post pregnancy, dry land pregnancy yoga to help pregnant woman optimise their physical and mental birth preparation, baby yoga to help babies’ physical and mental development, and fertility yoga to aid and guide in pre-conception preparation. Michelle is a fully qualified baby swimming teacher, with certificates from the Swimming Teachers Association (STA Baby and Pre-School Teacher’s Certificate and Level 2 Certificate), the Birthlight Infant Aquatics Teacher’s Diploma, STA Safeguarding Children Certificate and is First Aid Trained. She is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) with the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) and is a trained massage therapist with the Massage Training Institute. If you have any enquiries please email norfolkducklings@gmail.com Michelle