Swimming is a big part of most children’s lives. Those long summer days at the local pool are usually some of the best memories that we have of childhood. Therefore, learning to swim is one of the most important skills that your child can learn. Many parents get their child enrolled in a swimming class and this is a great thing to do. However, there are still some aspects of this process that parents don’t understand. Here are a few tips to get you through swim lessons for your child.
The first thing you want to do is pick the right swim school for your child. If you live in a small town, you might not have a choice, but most people do have a choice. Do some research and pick the swim school that fits your child’s needs and your expectations. Ask your friends and family their experiences with local swim schools. Many times they will be able to give you information that will help you in your decision. Some schools focus on perfection, while others worry more about teaching survival first. This is a personal decision for you based on what you want. Do you want your child just to be able to survive if they’re in the water or do you want them to join the swim team some day.
Once you decide which swim school you want your child to attend, there are a few things you can do to make it easier on your child. First of all, you should get a water proof bag to keep all of your child’s swimming things in. You’ll want to make sure you have a towel, swim cap, goggles, and an extra change of clothes. Sometimes, the swim cap won’t go on your kid’s head and this can be solved with a little bit of talcum powder. If your child shivers a lot in the water, cover them in Vaseline and this will fix the problem. Depending on the age of your child and the school they are attending, they might want to wear floaties as well. This is a divisive issue that many schools and parents do not like. Some look at it as the equivalent of a crutch that gets them through swimming. It can also negatively affect your child’s swim stroke. It’s a personal decision that you need to make for your child.
After the swimming class begin, try not to put too much pressure on your child. They will learn at their own pace. Every child has the capability to learn how to swim at swim lessons. Their instructor will take the time to work with them individually if that is what they need. Most classes limit the class size so that each child will get some individual attention.