Practicing balloon cheeks at bath time
Here at AquaTech Swim School we work hard to teach your child all that they need to know and do to be a safe and capable swimmer. Consider these tips to help you get your child engaged, prepared, smiling and ready to swim their little hearts out!
1. Rest - Whether it’s a nap for the young ones before the swim lesson or at least 8-10 hours of sleep the night before, a rested child is a happy child and a happy rested child will be more willing to participate.
2. Snack - An hour before the swim lesson give your child a nutritious snack. I suggest a granola/cereal bar, dried fruit and nuts, a protein like string cheese, yogurt or tofu. Just be certain NOT to have your swimmer munch on their snack minutes before their swim lesson- your swim instructor doesn’t need to “see” what your swimmer had for snack! ☺
3. Pep Talk - Before your child’s swim lesson get them pumped up for a great experience by talking to them about swimming. Some suggested pep talk starters: What’s your teacher’s name? What are the names of your swim classmates? Tell me the best part of swimming lessons. Use the pep talk to encourage your child in their efforts- to do the best they can during the lesson, that you’ll be watching all the great swimming they will be doing, that you’re proud of how well they listen and follow directions from the teacher.
4. Gear - Spending money on the proper gear your swimmer needs is important. Goggles, swim cap, a swim suit that is fitted and not bulky or perhaps a child’s wet suit, flip-flops or other water sandals that are simple to get on and off and of course a warm fluffy towel will all ensure a successful swimmer in and out of the water. If you’re unsure what gear is right for your swimmer please don’t hesitate to talk to our team in the AquaTech office…they would love to help you!
5. Potty - Try to arrive early before your child’s swim lesson so you can offer them the opportunity to use the restroom…it is such a shame to lose lesson minutes because your swimmer needs to go potty. Your children are welcome to use the restroom located next to the AquaTech changing room inside the Mariner Square Athletic Club’s childcare room.
6. Wrap Up - Be sure to ask your child how their lesson went: What is one thing they remembered from the lesson? Ask them to tell you the best part of their lesson. What was the most challenging part of their lesson? What is one thing they are most proud of doing that day in their lesson? Affirm your child’s courage, their commitment and their effort in doing the best they could at what they were asked to do.
7. Practice - Even if you don’t have a swimming pool at home you can still have your child “practice” what they have learned. Ask them leading questions that get them talking about how they practiced a certain stoke/skill that day in class. You can even ask them to demonstrate a swim skill at bath time! Maybe have your child try goggles and a cap while in bath time and show you “balloon cheeks” (a skill necessary to keep water from getting into the nose and mouth while submerged). Ask questions like: What did your instructor ask you to remember to do with your freestyle kick? What was something you learned today that will make you a better swimmer? Can you show me how your arms look when you do backstroke?
8. Read Up - Did you know you could find all the bench marks for each swim level written out on posters in the hallway between the AquaTech office and the AquaTech changing room? Did you know you also could go to the Lessons tab on the AquaTech website and click on Levels & Pricing to find the same bench marks for each level? If you want to know what your swimmer needs to master before moving on to the next level or you’re curious as to what your swimmer’s instructor will be going over during the lessons, familiarize yourself with the bench mark curriculum.
With a perspective, I’m Jalyn Crum.
AquaTech Swim Instructor and mother of two young children
This entry was posted on April 13, 2010, 11:41 pm and is filed under Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.