Development of an aquatic education program in the indigenous school of the Seri community

Abstract

Background: Aquatic practices contribute to motor development and decrease drowning risk. Implementing them is mainly important in coastal communities given that their inhabitants relate to the marine environment.

Goals: Hence, a summer school was conducted in the Seri indigenous community from Punta Chueca, northern Mexico, where school-age children could practice aquatic activities in a natural environment.

Method: Activities were motor challenges to develop skills and survival abilities in the aquatic environment, group-game skills stations, and technique learning.

Results: A total of 48 children participated twice a week on average. None of the participants knew how to swim before the program, and all of them acquired basic survival skills. Children older than 8 years developed motor skills and were able to complete circuits with stations which made them put those skills into practice. Children from 6 to 8 years old reached a preliminary stage of development since they were able to conduct some of the activities in shallow areas. Children expressed their interests through drawing, and swimming was among their favourite activities.

Conclusions: Children, families, teachers and education authorities regarded the program as providing positive results, which highlights the importance of including adaptation to aquatic environments in the curricula. It would contribute not only to confidence and motor development in children, but also to increased willingness in learning curricular contents.

Key words: Summer school, aquatic activities, coastal community.