Summer is just around the corner, which means there will be lots of swimming at local pools and trips to the beach for many of us. I have a guest post from Kaitlin who writes for An Apple Per Day sharing some of her tips for pool safety and getting kids started in the water.
When our boys were little, I had a lot of
items to plan and think about. One of them was swim lessons. Our family would
be going on beach vacations, and some day I want to own a house with a pool.
More than anything, I wanted to ensure my kids were safe around the water. So I
talked with the kids when it was time for swim lessons.
Start with the fun. I had a lot of great
times when I was growing up, hanging out with my friends at the community pool.
I knew that payoff would grab the attention of my boys, so that’s where I
started. I told them that when they learned how to swim they opened a whole
world of enjoyment, and that they would have as much fun as I did when I was a
kid. They were intrigued when I talked in those terms. I wanted the whole water
experience to stay positive, so I talked up that part a lot. Here are some
great resources with more thoughts about kids and swim lessons:
Don’t scare them. It’s just a reality that
there are inherent dangers with being around the water. I didn’t want to the
boys scared of the water, so I had to be diplomatic when I talked about my
safety concerns. I told them that I wanted to have them learn how to swim
correctly, so they could have the most fun. I also wanted them to learn how to
keep themselves safe in the water – like always swimming with a buddy, and
following pool rules which were intended to keep them safe, while having a good
experience.
Don’t tell, show. My older son was a natural
water baby, so he was ready for lessons as soon as he could start. I had
explained to him what the basic stroke was, and swung my arms in a basic crawl
motion to show him what he would be learning. But I knew that he’d get a much
better idea of what a class involved if I showed him. I had checked with the
swim school I planned to use, and they were glad to have us sit on the
sidelines to watch a lesson. As we watched the instructor take the kids through
a series of exercises to learn the same movement I’d been showing him, I
quietly explained what that motion would allow him to do. He was smiling and
excited, and I knew he was ready.
Kids are different. My younger son was a lot
more hesitant about the whole water experience, which I could tell when he was
nervous and anxious as a baby during bath time. I had to assure him more, and
reinforce the ultimate payoff – the fun of the water – before he became convinced
about the whole process. I didn’t take him to the swim lesson initially. We
just sat down and I asked him how he felt about swimming. He said he was
concerned, and I could see anxiety in his eyes. I finally got him to say what
worried him, and he said he didn’t know if he would be as good at swimming as
his brother. We talked more, and I assured him it was not a comparison, but we
just wanted him to enjoy the water. After several
of these discussions, he was finally ready to hear what swim strokes were
about, and from there we sat in on a class, and he was ready to take lessons.
As I watch the boys in the water, I smile at
how relaxed and confident they are, and what strong swimmers they have become.
Kaitlin Gardner started An Apple Per Day to
explore her passion for a green living lifestyle, and healthy family living. She and her husband have just moved
to rural Pennsylvania, where they enjoy exploring the countryside to discover
interesting and out of
the way places. She is also learning how to paint watercolors.
