In my search for subjects to post about, I decided to go on a little rant, hence the post title. I have taught swim lessons for several years now, both in large classes and privately, and I've been a swim coach. As this has come up with various people in my ward, other parents I've come across, and just past interactions with the parents of kids I've been teaching, I've been amazed at the attitudes towards teaching a child to swim. Granted their are both good and bad teachers out there, and not everything works for every single child, but many parents just think that one negative experience means their child just isn't cut out for swimming. I've also taught scouts and I am amazed at how many 12-13 year old boys can barely swim. It shocks me. I've always thought of swimming as an important life skill that could save my life one day, and I have been able to save lives with it, and it provided me with a great job for years and years. As I try to think of what to tell parents to make their kid a good swimmer, I thought of the advice I would give moms in the "mommy and me" swim classes I taught, and thought I would write them so I remember to do them, and perhaps if someone reads this you can try to incorporate it.
#1. Never....NEVER EVER teach a child to plug their noses. Ugh biggest pet peeve ever! It is such a habit that is nearly impossible to break. How can you swim under the water with two arms if one is holding your nose. If you blow the air out of you nose and mouth I promise no water goes up. I do back flips under water and I never (well almost never) get water up my nose. My mom in teaching us to swim never let us plug our nose, as she does and cant swim without doing it. When I was teaching mothers would be behind me miming to their child to plug their nose...DONT DO IT.
#2. You want your kid to be a good swimmer? You need to take them to the pool often. One or two sessions of swim lessons will never cut it. The kids that are good are the pool rats that are there every day. As a teacher I cant work magic, being comfortable and familiar is necessary. Its like any other skill and requires frequent practice. So mothers, fathers take them. That is the most important thing.
#3. If you want the kiddo to be more than just a proficient swimmer. Skip swim lessons as soon as they can make it 25 meters (or depends on particular teams qualifications) and go to swim team. Swim team gets them the endurance, and provides the competition. Its lots of fun, and usually a lot more value for your money. Don't underestimate kids. Kids as young as five (some younger) compete and can do great.
#4. Hold off on goggles as long as you can. Parents sometimes introduce goggles way to early. Although sometimes this is the only way to get a kid interested. I never used goggles except for racing and even there I would do ok without, but then I was cursed with having to wear contacts. I miss the days of no goggles. Opening eyes under the water wont hurt them and you get used to it.
#5. With babies introduce them early. Let them get water in their face. Don't be too fast to wipe it off. Let them get used to the sensation. Bring toys. Diving rings happen to be my favorite. You can submerge babies. Blow a gust of air in their face and they will inhale, and you can dunk them really quick, but only if you're comfortable. I've done this with Liam several times.
So there is my long rant of the century. Sorry its been on my mind as I've been considering starting to teach private swim lessons again.
So as far as what has been happening. We have just been freezing in this frozen wasteland of Provo. Even though I was finally able to take my running stroller out on the sidewalk today, it felt so nice. I hate being trapped indoors and I seriously do not remember this much cold and snow in Provo. Liam is turning one in just a couple of weeks which I can't believe. Time has flown by. He is doing great and is what I describe as "high maintenance happy". Overall he is very happy and goofy, but he isn't one who just likes to be left to his own devices. He likes to be played with constantly and entertained. I gave him his first drink of cows milk the other day and wow did he love it. It was a really cute reaction. Sleeping was going really well and I thought I had finally made the major breakthrough, but then things just got really bad and I was just about at the end of my rope, then things have started going good again. Now I guess I just better not get used to it. He should be walking pretty soon, but he sure crawls really fast. So in next post I will have less ranting and pictures of our one year old!
My father-in-law sent me a picture of Lela in the pool when she was about 10 months old. She is in one of those blow-up rings. I remember she kept putting her face in the water and she was so tipping far forward we thought she would fall out. She would also kick her legs and move herself all over the pool. Now look at her - she is Miss Fish. Of course she had an excellent swim coach and I don't just mean Isaac.
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