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?

Your child forgot what she learned last year!

Spring is here and you have not had time to go to the pool all winter!  Your child thinks that she has forgotten everything he learned but he really hasn't.  Just like in school, everything has to be retaught over and over.  Start from the beginning.  Don't give your child a feeling of inadequacy or let her get scared because she has lost the confidence she had last year. 

Each child will learn at her own pace, gently lead her to overcome fears while understanding her feelings.  Keep eye contact with the child when you give directions and use a soothing voice.  

And don’t let the child forget during the year again.  Practice in the tub or try to go to an indoor pool or a Jacuzzi once a month.  Then your child will look forward to swimming all year long!

My child loves her bath but is scared at the pool!

Playing and floating in the bathtub

My child is scared of the pool but loves the bath…

Something may have set your child to being scared.  

As a child gets to be 3 years old, it does make sense that the child will see that there is danger in "big water."  It is a healthy fear; one that saves young children from jumping into a pool unattended.  However, you want your child to feel safe when you are there.  

Here are some ideas:

• Bring some of his favorite bath-tub toys and play near the pool.  Then, sit your child at the edge of the pool and you get in and play with the toys, inviting your child to get in with you. 
• If the pool has long steps, sit on the steps and see if your child wil sit there with you.  
• If you are impatient or your child still doesn’t want to get in the pool, You may have to just hold him and carry him into the water.  Sing, jump around, talk softly and ignore any crying while sounding like you are having fun.  
• Go to the pool every day but just for short periods.  
• Don’t tell him ahead of time where you are going and let him see you have fun.  
• Take a relative or little friend who likes the water and can help your child forget his fears. 

Soon your little one will be playing and splashing and ready for going under the water!!