It becomes such a thrilling and anxiously moment taking your child to his or her first swimming lesson ever. Success in the introduction of your child to the pool is highly dependent on the preparation procedures that you take to ensure that the child is ready, willing and capable to learn the skill. You should follow this guide in getting your child physically and mentally prepared for this special event.
Choose the Correct Swim School
It is the swim school that you get to choose which in turn will determine how your child will be feeling in the new environment that he or she is in. Consider the ones that have teachers who are equipped to deal with young first-time learners. Stay away from large places and large groups and try to get schools with small classes and warm water in swimming pools. Most swim schools will offer a student a one-time free trial during which he or she may attend a class as a form of introduction. Make sure to use the trial classes as this would allow you and your child to gauge the place.
Note that you are supposed to swim in the correct swim wear.
Swimwear and accessories go hand in hand when it comes to dressing up the children for swimming, and the right swimwear makes lots of difference when it comes to the comfort of the kid and safety while in the water. Girls should avoid wearing bikini since it can be openedvery easily, instead, wear a simple one piece swimsuit. For boys, opt for navy blue trunks or jammers that fit to the chest rather than loose shorts that would drag the swimmer down. Swimsuits and goggles are also essential when swimming, they help protect the eyes from chlorine and should be flexible to bend and leak-proof. Last but not the least, buy a towel and a bag; it should be large enough to accommodate all the equipment that kids can easily manage. Allow the child to select the swim bag and towel to create enthusiasm to take part in the activity.
Attend an Orientation Session
Parents are usually advised to attend orientation meetings before enrolling their child in swim classes and most swim schools hold orientation meetings for students before the start of classes. It is recommended that you attend this way so that both of you can be in a better position to determine what may be in store for you. This session serves as the student orientation where your child will be introduced to the facility as well as their teacher. Such orientations enable children to see what goes on with lessons so that they may feel ready. It is important to feel free to ask questions on the structure of the lessons, the rules of the pool, on changing and about the participation of parents. These sessions also assist in determining if your child appears ready especially in regard to issues such as separation anxiety as well as ability to follow simple instructions.
“Pool rules for your home If you have a pool at your home, then there are specific rules that you should abide by when using the pool.”
When preparing for the first lesson, begin reviewing general rules of the pool related to health, hygiene and security at home a week before the class. Demonstrate how they should take shower before and after swimming, running is prohibited on deck, if you have a teacher listen to what he or she says and never go near water alone. This should be done until a participant is able to recite the rules back in the correct manner. Adherence of these rules ensures that all the kids stay safe and do not get infected within swim school settings. It is easier to turn it into a game and quiz them, and then perhaps offer them incentives like a few candies.
”When swimming, they change In and Out of swimwear“
Another large group skill to be rehearsed beforehand is the children’s ability to put on and take off their swim wear by themselves. At the lesson, it will be necessary to be able to dress themselves with great speed and successfully overcome all the obstacles on the way. It is advisable to commence the practice ritual a week or two before to eliminate practicalities such as putting on goggles, taking off wet swimsuits or carrying equipments to and from changing area. Give them help only when it is necessary, so that their confidence shall be booster.
Give Information on What to Expect
Engage in routine discussions to let your child know what will happen in the initial lesson so as to avoid any confusion. Explain to them that the instructor shall start by taking them through some exercises such as putting the face in the water, blowing bubbles as well as floating with assistance. It is unadvisable to respond that they will swim right away because most of the time, this is not accurate with new starters. Even if they will be out of school it would be best to be positive about them learning new things in a fun way with other kids. Don’t forget to talk to them about questions they have and any worries they might have so you can comfort them.
It is always advised to accompany your child to the swim school’s facility to play in the water on the days when they will be attending the lessons. This helps them to be able to survey the pool and even get accustom with the sounds and smells of the pool before actually entering it. If you cannot have the real lesson pool, then go and spend the time playing in your friend’s pool or kiddie pool in a backyard. This increases the general confidence that people have fully dressed in water and when they immerse their head or body.
Completing tasks requiring strength or endurance and Pay attention to others
Swimming is an active sport that requires some level of fitness and as young children are participating in the games, some of them have some level of fitness to enable them support the kicking, arm movements and jumping into the pool. Before lessons spend time playing activities that would develop stamina such as tag or watching kid exercise video together. Practice during these activities as well and provide them instructions to follow such as, “hop on one foot” or “touch your nose”. These games focus on directions they have to obey that they will receive from swim instructors.
“Sleep Schedule : Change Your Bed Times for Early Morning”
As for children’s swimming lessons, they are most commonly conducted during the early morning hours. Gradually move the bedtime forward 1-2 weeks before the desired shift and if the person has been known to be a ‘night owl,’ then they should begin changing their habit gradually. Take an hour or so before the time one would have to be dressed and out when the lessons are due to be taken to find how much earlier the beds need to be made. Children who are weak and especially those who have not been used to wake up early will not be able to participate and remain active.
Eat a Nourishing Breakfast
Diet: Take your child for breakfast and give him/her protein, whole grain foods, and fruits to keep him/her full and active in the morning. It is also important to provide the children with other healthy meals such as apple slices or carrots that they can have something to munch on after the exercises as well. The right nutrition helps avoid hunger-related episodes of emotionality. Avoid sweets, chocolates, and other candies that might decrease your energy halfway through the lesson. It is recommended that they should be given lots of water all week leading to the start of the lessons so that they are not faced with energy zapping morning drills.
Discuss Fears Openly
Initially, it is not rare for students to feel the first days of learning to swim as rather stressful, albeit they may not be stressed about water in general. Discuss any reservations they may have so that they can be addressed for both of you to overcome them. Some of the common concerns are concern about their face getting wet, feeling uncomfortable when their feet cannot touch the bottom, and having difficulty understanding the teacher. Reassure them that you will remind the teacher to be clear about instructions and guide the child physically during learning. Encourage them to remember the capacity of challenging new skills every day and motivates them to move forward.
Remain Calm and Positive
Children tend to mimic the energy that parents portray on lesson day. You want to know about the signal you are giving them, both verbal and non-verbal, about their capacity to manage this new situation to assess their attitude in going in. If you appear extremely worried about separation or survival skills, they will likely pick up on those feelings. Whether or not you are truly nervous or just pretending to be very confident, they will sense only positive when you cross the pool door.
”Stay around during early lessons and do not ever leave the camp.“
Even if the observers may be requested to avoid spending much time around the pool in due time, make sure that they insist on staying at least for the first several lessons until the child feels absolutely at ease. Having a glimpse of you even though it is only from several meters away helps in erasing the fear that comes with the change. Do not talk to them during lessons, but try to look at them occasionally so they know that you are on their side. Leave it to the instructors to deal with clinginess if there is whenever you are needed to go out. Ease your mind knowing that you can rush back if indeed necessary as teachers always know that this is the initial transitional period.
“If children are being taught, then the lessons must be made fun with incentives to make children stick to their lessons.”
When giving progress checks in early lessons, it is unwise to describe the lessons in terms of successful swim team tryouts. Such approaches are too focused with skills and speed, which are needless pressures to children. Avoid combining lessons with reinforcement and instead encourage lessons by offering treats such as special tasty food after each class or a ride to the toy shop after a session. Encouraging swim time as their special play session for the week where they shower with your attention and words of encouragement before and after the class as their reward. Such a mentality makes lessons fun even when experiencing tough lessons in life.
Emphasize Safey First
Lastly, make sure to explain young learners that keeping safety as the top priority is the key notion when beginning to swim. Of course, nobody does not anticipate perfecting the skills within the first couple of days, but, it is imperative that they obey tutes to avoid getting injured. Remind the readers that this is about following rules, and one can stay away from the scary things in water while learning how to in a systematic manner. Let it come from you first that their intention to contribute safely should always be praised before their ability to execute every maneuver impeccably. Continuing this supporting point of view eliminates the use of fear in avoiding things later on.
Counquering fear explicitly is the best way to reduce the common complains of children during the first swim lesson reducing the cries of overwhelmed new students. Although children will be able to feel some fear, a child or parent is setting his/her kid up for success before going to this brand new world full of wonders because he/she knows that he/she is taking the plunge into this world and does it willingly. If you approach the introduction properly, swimming will quickly become one of your child’s favorite hobbies and a sport they will continue to enjoy throughout their childhood and even in adulthood.
