Wissenschaftliche Begleitung und Evaluation des Programms „Vorschulkinder lernen schwimmen“ der Stiftung Kinderland Baden-Württemberg

01/08/2024 to 31/07/2027

Learning to swim is one of the developmental goals in childhood and there is a broad social consensus on its relevance. On the one hand, this opens up important opportunities for children to participate in leisure-time physical activities and sports in and around water, from which they can benefit throughout their lives. On the other hand, non-swimmers are at an increased risk of drowning. Developing and maintaining the ability to swim throughout life is therefore an important development and health resource that can be life-saving.

However, current surveys and observations by the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG) indicate that a significant proportion of children can no longer swim safely. There are indications that this proportion has increased in recent years. There is therefore a great need for action to ensure that children learn to swim as early as possible.

Against this background, the Kinderland Baden-Württemberg Foundation and the Wiedeking Foundation have issued a call for funding for innovative projects aimed at promoting the swimming skills of pre-school children. There is a lack of offers in the pre-school sector in particular. The program supports ten innovative projects. The program will be scientifically accompanied and evaluated by the Interfaculty Research Institute for Sport and Physical Activity at the University of Tübingen.