Turn your Little Guppies into Confident Swimmers in No Time!
Learning to swim can be a scary step for your toddler. Planning on teaching your lil’ one how to swim this summer but hesitating to release them into the “wild” or better known as the public swimming pool? You can put your mind at ease…here are some steps that will help both you and your child ease into the routine of swimming, whether you plan on teaching them yourself or registering them for swimming lessons!
1) Ensure the pool water is warm
Having a warm water temperature facilitates the learning process and makes the lesson much more enjoyable. Kids tend to lose focus when the temperature is too cold as they become distracted trying to keep warm or may even want the lesson to end early. We recommend setting the pool temperature to 88F, and not below 84F.
2) Practice, practice, practice
It is important to have your children practicing even when they are not with an instructor. This is especially important if they are only having formal lessons once per week. Our AquaMobile instructors are more than happy to give parents suggestions of what skills each child should be focusing on when practicing outside of the instructor-led lessons.
3) Arrive in advance
The children and caregivers should be relaxed and ready for the start of the lesson. If the lessons are taking place in your home pool, we recommend having the child in their swimsuit, ready to go by the pool at least five minutes before the start of the lesson. If lessons take place at a different facility, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the lesson.
4) Buy properly fitted googles
One of the most common frustrations among swim instructors occurs when their students spend a large chunk of their time and energy fiddling with their googles instead of focusing on the task at hand. From goggles that leak and get foggy, to goggles that keep falling off, they can end up being a hindrance rather than a benefit to the lesson. To avoid such problems, visit a local swim supply store that can help pick out a pair that properly fits your child. They should also be tried on in water and properly adjusted before the first lesson.
5) View from a distance
Parents love to watch their children progress and our instructors are proud to demonstrate their teaching skills and display the progress they have helped your children achieve. For progress to be maximized, each child needs to remain focused on the instructor. Therefore, it is best to watch from a distance. It can be distracting to both the child and instructor if there is a caregiver sitting too close to the edge of the pool, or talking to them during the lesson. Some kids tend to misbehave or act out more when a parent or caregiver is close by. Even if you see that your child is refusing to get in the water, it is best to let the instructor deal with the situation and not interfere. The instructor needs to assert their own power and build their own rapport.
6) Minimize distractions
If there are any friends or siblings at home who are not participating in the lessons, try to have them playing out of sight of the lesson. It can be tempting for the child in the pool to want to hang out with their friends.
7) Encourage after each lesson
At the end of the lesson continue to commend your child on a job well done and the progress they have made. This type of positive reinforcement makes the child feel special and will help them see the benefits of swim lessons.
AquaMobile Swim School is a private swim school that offers high quality swim instruction at our clients’ homes throughout a wide range of cities in Ontario, Canada and Florida. Having lessons taught in a comfortable environment facilitates the learning process and also saves time by having an instructor come to you!
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