Snorri Magnusson was the first baby swimming instructor in Iceland. While an active baby swimming instructor, he also instructs swimming lessons for disabled people. With Iceland’s swimming pool culture and abundant source of geothermal water, starting early in accustomizing babies in the pool is very common. As well, studies have shown the benefits of baby swimming for advanced motor skill development in children. In Iceland, every child is taught how to swim during school.
Snorri’s website for baby swimming explains that he developed his teaching methods while raising his own twin daughters and that his methods are considered unique in the world of baby swimming, with many researchers interested in his methods. Usually, babies begin to stand without support at around nine months old, however, Snorri’s training methods have allowed them to stand much sooner. This training include various strengthening exercises over a 12-week course offered twice per week.
Studies in the Human Movement Science Programme at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway and the department of psychology at Lancaster University in Lancaster, UK produced a scientific research paper Baby swimming: exploring the effects of early intervention on subsequent motor abilities which provides more information on how humans develop core abilities such as balance and movement control. Their studies suggest that children who develop strengths in these skills can get very good at it at a young age, and not forget it.