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- What is a good age to begin swimming lessons?:
My favorite age to have a child begin is 3 years.
We have taken some 2 year olds who are potty trained. The
main criteria would be: Potty trained and the ability to
work with a teacher.
- Infant Swimming Lessons: At this point
we do not offer infant swimming lessons. In the near future
we will become certified to work with the young ones under
2 years of age.
- How long will it take to learn?: Every
swimmer learns at a different rate. It will depend on:
- The level of fear
- The ability to trust the instructor
- The personality make-up. Some people have a cautious
personality and others jump into everything without
a thought!
- The amount of time the family goes swimming together.
- The way the body and coordination have matured. Some
can just get it and others need to practice over and
over and over again.
Our advice is to be patient with your swimmer and offer
lots of praise and encouragement.
- When is my swimmer water safe? I believe
that a swimmer is water safe when they have completed my
Blue 3 level. I hear over and over again parents satisfied
that their swimmer can jump off of a diving board and get
to the ladder. There are so many dangerous water scenarios
and a person needs to be able to swim using their
head and conserving energy. This only comes as they are
able to swim with good technique. The technique and endurance
built thru a good learn-to-swim program will accomplish
this. As a parent of grown children, all of my children
participated on a year round team for at least a couple
of years. As I look back, it was a great thing that I was
able to do for them. I think that it would be wise for all
children to do this for at least 2 years, to build the skills,
endurance, and water safeness.
- How do I know what level to sign up for? Each
level will have a description that begins with, “This
is for”. You find the one that best fits what your
swimmer is able to do.
- What level do I sign up for if I am registering
for multiple sessions?
This can be tricky! Some of it depends on the personality
of the swimmer, the number of times per week that you are
bringing them to lessons, and the age and physical maturation
of the swimmer.
Swimmers who come 4 days a week will progress very quickly.
Swimmers coming 2 days a week will progress much faster than
those coming 1 day per week.
If your swimmer is cautious and not adventurous, you probably
will want to do at least 2 sessions in the same level before
registering for the next level.
Swimmers who have matured physically and seem "athletic" will
most likely progress to the next level after a session.
The age factor will be key also. A 3-4 year old may stay in G3
or G4 for several sessions before moving into the Red levels
because of physical maturation. A 7 year old will progress
much faster tthan a 5 or 6 year old thru the Red levels for
this same reason.
Don't worry though. We can always make adjustments if your
swimmer does not move as you guessed. We will never hold a
swimmer back from learning new skills. Sometimes we can
adequately challenge them right in the level they are placed
in.
- What if I have concerns about the way the lessons
are going?:
- 1st: Give us 2 lessons to
fall into a routine and get the group used to working
together. During this time we will evaluate each swimmer
making sure that they are in the correct placement.
Sometimes we will need to move a student. Most times
we will be able to accommodate the needs of each swimmer
even though they may be in slightly different levels.
- 2nd: Communicate directly
with your swimmer’s instructor. Address them as
you would want to be addressed. The Sandwich Theory:
Say something positive. Voice the concern. Say something
positive.
- 3rd: If you are not satisfied
with the results, speak with the lesson supervisor.
They may be able to offer support that will help your
swimmer.
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Hair care:
Chlorine will cling to the hair causing it to become dry
and brittle. When it is wet it will be gummy and
difficult to brush or comb. You will need a special
shampoo if this becomes a problem for your swimmer. A
beautician can direct you to a good product. You can also
google Hair products for chlorine. I have used a shampoo
and conditioner by Aquage for years and am very happy.
- Dry skin:
Hand & Body Cream
Ingredients:
Baby Lotion 2--16 oz. bottles
Vitamin E cream 2--16 oz. jars
Vaseline 1--8 oz. jar
Mix with mixer until fluffy. This makes a lot. It can be
cut in half. Will store nicely in a plastic kitchen container.
- Swimmer’s ear and prevention of:
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childhoodinfections/a/05_swimmers_ear.htm
- What do we bring to the lessons? A good
pair of goggles (At the pool we will sell some that are
fog free and fit every head), a hair tie and barrettes for
long hair, and a towel. Optional: Ear plugs, headband or
swim cap, and a swim shirt.
- Goggles: We use goggles for several
reasons. Swimmers are able to open their eyes and see. They
are not learning “blind”. They are able to focus
on the skills and not water dripping in their eyes.
- Ear plugs: If you don’t have an
ear mold, a putty plug is available at a pharmacy. To help
them stay in, you can purchase a headband or a swim cap
at a swim shop or sporting goods store. Some swimmers are
just sensitive to water going in the ears, especially during
skills done on the back. Ear plugs will often help with
that.
- Swim Shirts: (Often called rash guards)
I recommend these if your swimmer is easily chilled. Parents
have found them at Old Navy, sporting goods stores, and
online.
- Nose plugs. We prefer to teach swimmer
how to keep the water out of their nose without the use
of these. With a few tips, it is easy to do.
- Can the parent stay and watch? Parents
are required to be in the pool area. We want you there to
assist your swimmer if they need to go to the restroom or
if they would have an accident. We want the extra eyes watching
the water. . Your applause means so much to them. It is
never appropriate for a parent to become overly involved
in the lesson or to try to instruct. That’s what you’ve
hired us for! We know that this gives your children a sense
of security. Sometimes for the very young, timid swimmer
we will have the parent come and sit by the edge of the
pool with the child near them. The child can watch the teacher
interact with the other students and see that this is a
safe place. They will quickly join in. Occasionally a parent
will need to leave the room if the child refuses to cooperate.
This is usually due to a strong will and only is done when
nothing else works. 99% of the time the child will cooperate
when they realize that they cannot control! The parent then
comes back into the area and the child has fun with their
class!
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