Abstract:

Swimming is a favourite movement activity for all age groups in the Czech Republic. In general, swimming is also considered beneficial to the physical, psychical and social development of children. This implies that there is a great public interest in swimming education of even the youngest children. This education is realized in both courses designed for kindergartens and for public courses. The shift of swimming education can be considered a positive change. Pre-school children adapt to the water environment and some of them also acquire the basics of swimming.

The aim of our research is to observe pre-school children's learning basic swimming skills within one year. The chosen skills are evaluated according to the set criteria. Differences in managing of performed skills between boys and girls will be analysed further as well as positive or negative influence of swimming glasses. Observing skills are swimming breathing, gliding forward and on the back, collecting things from pool bottom and diving.

Keywords:

Swimming, Pre-school age, Basic swimming skills, Preparatory swimming education.