Best Practices for parents and swimming lessons

Parents, you teach your own child to swim?  It's not easy!!!

Parents, you want your child to enjoy swimming but when you get serious about swimming lessons your child may fuss or cry, not because he is afraid, but because he won’t want to follow your instructions, he’ll want to play! Or, your child may be uncomfortable with the noise, the water temperature, or even the way you are holding him.  Don’t let it get you! Keep a calm, gentle and fun attitude.  Your child will sense your mood and react to it.  Sing a song, go for his favorite toy, promise a treat, let him dunk you and make funny noises!  You can do it!!

Don't wait "until he is ready", your child needs this life skill now!!

Before you get in the pool:

• Watch these Learn Swim with Miss Bea dvd sections several times
• Become familiar with the positions for holding your child when practicing the kicking, the digging, and the back float.
• Have the child 2yo+ watch the dvd also; comment and ask questions.  They love it!
• Take your child to a pool at least once before the swimming lessons start and practice in the bathtub – make a friend that has a pool if necessary!  You don’t have to put the child under water but play with pouring water on the face.
• Kids will do anything for the teacher.  Tell your child that you are the teacher helper
• Describe to your child what he will be doing, no surprises!
• If the child has water experiences, do some of the same fun things you usually do in the pool.  Try not to behave differently or the child will get anxious.  (Let him use the floaties some of the time.)
• Have the child pour water on your face, or have the child dunk you. Have the child dunk his toy also. It’s fun for them!
• Know that each child is different and not all the kids will progress at the same rate.  Some will cry and some not. Ignore the crying while being sympathetic.
• Offer the reluctant child a treat for after the lessons each day.Have a calm, gentle and fun attitude at all time.  Your child will sense your mood and react to it.
• The more you prepare before you get serious with swimming lessons the faster the child will learn how to swim and be safe in the water.

 Parents, have you ever tried this?  What are some of your experiences?