Utilização de Flutuadores em Aulas de Natação para Crianças: Estudo Interventivo

Abstract

It was aimed to analyze the influence of arms' floats devices' use in the acquisition of aquatic skills in children (median of age, in months, 40 ± 4.1). They were divided in two groups: swimming classes with floats (CFlut, n = 8) and without floats (SFlut, n = 9). They were evaluated by Erbaugh Scale of aquatic motor performance, pre and post-intervention of eight weeks. Descriptive reports were made with information about children behavior during the intervention period and difficulties encountered by the teacher. No differences were found between groups when compared for the overall analysis of the tasks; however the SFlut group had better results in the shifts and jumps into the water tasks. The floats' absence may have generated better understanding of the forces in the water.