What Can I Do At Home To Prepare For Swim Lessons?

Make bath-time the official prep-time for swim lessons. Rule #1 is to let the water run over their face and ears freely. Covering ears to prevent water from running over them will guarantee a slow learning curve for the backfloat later on. A child who is used to feeling the water over their ears will have a much easier time relaxing enough to let the water hold them up to float.

Likewise, if they are used to feeling water on their face, it will be much easier getting them to put their face in and eyes down towards the bottom of the pool, teaching proper body position for a front float or forward glide. So, at bath-time, show that it is no big deal getting water all over their head, face, and ears…all the while talking about what kinds of fun things they will do in swim class.

Encourage them to blow bubbles, put their eyes under, briefly hold their breath, kick their feet, and move their arms to “swim”. Be sure to get them excited to show their swim instructor their new talents, and reassure them how impressed and proud the instructor will be, knowing that they have been practicing at home!

Of course, any trips to the pool for aquatic fun outside of swim class will absolutely help build their confidence, and will inevitably help improve their swim skills. If you’re looking to help the cause, ask the swim instructor which skills they may need a little extra practice on, and feel free to ask for tips or suggestions as to how you can practice those at home with your little one – believe me, this is a swim instructor’s dream!!!

As for those future swimmers who may have cried most of the time, and continue to struggle with getting comfortable being in the water – no matter what, the message you want to send is that they did an amazing job at swim class. Pick out a moment that you can use as something that was so brave and impressive, and focus on that...even if they only put their eyes under for 2 seconds, call it their front float (or at least ”the first step” towards their front float) and tell them how great it was…and don’t forget to remind them how much fun they had while doing it!? The idea is you want them to get excited to go back and try it again – maybe even do a “front float“ for 5 seconds next time..?

While it may seem a touch manipulative to modify their memory of it all, think of it more like the placebo effect. Replacing fearful moments by connecting positive vibes to the experience of swim class can switch their perspective entirely, and make all the difference in their comfort and confidence level for the next one. In the end, just remember; what it all comes down to are those lovely summertime memories. Sure, swim lessons are important for summer safety and fun, but never should they be a stress-inducer for you or your little one ~ just ride the wave, and splash it up!

Thanks again for visiting our blog, and taking a virtual dip in the h2o! Don’t forget to share and subscribe, and be sure to swim over soon to www.freedivecozumel.com to check out the next one; Exercises for You to Help Your Baby Learn to Swim 💦

When Is My Child Ready For Swim Lessons?

This one is for all those swim parents out there with little ones who have not yet taken swim lessons. As a swim instructor with more than 30 years experience, one question I hear parents ask over and over is; when should kids start swim lessons ~ when are they ready? And the answer is; they were born ready. Seriously!

What most parents don’t realize is that the better question is, when are YOU ready for them to have swim lessons? It is us who puts our fear or discomfort unto them. Remember babies develop in a liquid environment, so the comfort level for them is no problema. Now they are breathing air, so the biggest concern is preventing water from entering the lungs, potentially causing drowning – obviously, this is true at any age. So the question becomes; what is the purpose of swim lessons at various ages?

Most programs offer learn to swim classes starting at 6 months. The swimmer will (typically) be accompanied by a parent until they are between 2-3 yrs old – depending on if they move on to the big kids class via private or group instruction. In baby/toddler classes, the main objective is comfort and safety. Actually, the class is more designed for the adult to understand basic swim skills and safety concepts – e.g. the importance of constant surveillance and what to look for.

As far as swim skills, adults will learn how to hold their child in a way that encourages proper body position in the water for easy transition to swim skills down the line. One more key concept is breath control ~ helping the little one learn to close their mouth underwater instead of swallowing while submerged, or inhaling water instead of air. Stay tuned, we will soon post a video for more specifics on how to do this.

While some programs boast about an infant “swimming” alone, be assured this is a primitive instinct self-rescue skill – definitely not “swimming” as in prepared for safe, independent play in the water. Usually, children are physically developed enough for more independent exploration around 2-4 years old. Formal strokes and skills begin to develop more rapidly around 5 years old. If a child has started lessons at an early age, the strokes usually come more easily. By then, they already have confidence, floatation, and breathing skills established, allowing them to focus on specific skills and techniques for learning the different swim strokes.

Thanks again for visiting our blog, and taking a virtual dip in the h2o! Don’t forget to share and subscribe, and be sure to swim over soon to check out the next one; How You Can Help Your Baby Learn to Swim 💦 

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