Taking your child for their first ever swimming lesson is more often than not a harrowing experience for parents. You are probably concerned and have many questions about how your child is going to take that first encounter with water. That way, there will be nothing that will come as a shock- which I think helps relieve some of that anxiety. Here’s an overview of what a typical 30-minute first private swim lesson looks like:
Pre-Pool Introduction
The instructor will begin by saying some words about him/herself and it will take up to 10 minutes to know you and your child. They will most probably have questions about the child’s age, type of temperament the child has, and whether they had any prior experience around the pool. This way, the instructor is able to determine your child’s level of comfort and the level at which to set objectives.
The instructor will then provide the whole plan of the lesson so that you have a clue of what to expect. They will also be glad to explain to you and your child rules of the pools and safety measures in place. Popular basic policies that they should include are for instance; do not run on the deck, more especially areas with loose tiles, do not dive around the shallow end, and be considerate to other swimmers.
Water Adjustment
Introducing your child to water should therefore be done gradually. Your child will be required to sit on the pool deck with his or her feet touching the water as the instructor sings songs and plays games. This assists them to acclimatize with the temperature and feel of the water as well.
At a certain point, the instructor will have your child walk down the pool stairs with the school’s hand. Many early lessons are concerned with water acclimatization and adaptation. Your child will not be bathed or drowned before they are ready to swim. Well, it just had a new team and some of them cannot swim well just yet until the adjustment period arrives.
Supplementing the materials on Postural Unsupported and Facility; Floating and Gliding steht.
After your child seems to be comfortable in standing on water the instructor will have him or her practice floating and gliding while they support them. This usually gets initiated right from the point where the instructor holds the child’s back and he bends forward over the water. In the long run they pull off that assistance as your child starts using them on their own.
These beginning float drills assist your child in learning and having faith in his or her body float in the water. It is a relevant first contribution towards achieving the goal of swimming autonomously. They also learn how to safely regurgitate if water finds its way on the face.Expecting the instructor to shower your child with lots of praises and encouragement.
What can I do to make my child tired? Blowing bubbles and submerging face.
The following are some examples of buoyancy progressing in children: Learning how to blow bubbles submerging the face in the water while not breathing and without getting scared is very important in water safety. This will make it playful by their instructor using bubbling toys or having the child blow through pool noodles. They will showcase placing their face into it and encourage your child to do the same. This step sometimes takes many repeated efforts within several lessons making some kids ready. That’s normal—it’s a process.
Kicking and Arm Strokes
It is in the second half of the first lesson that you may find some discussion on the kicking that moves swimmers ahead in water. But with the assistance from the instructor, your child will start on straight leg kicks. They’ll also likely embark on tedious arm movements like- ‘front crawl.’
With new learners, the full stroke techniques are commonly reduced to their basics by most instructors. They usually make their students swim one arm stroke and at the same time use their legs, then change arms. The learning of limbs and arms’ movements put together or at the same time is a future approach. Remember that it takes not one or two lessons for your child to learn each stroke.
Getting Out Safely
In no first lesson can one fail to reinforce the manner in which one leaves the pool safely. Your child’s instructor will show them climbing out using the rungs of the ladder or pool steps. Your child will then be made to get in and out of the pool several times when being held by the hands. A child often gets spoilt for wanting a skill that can be so helpful in an event where one finds themselves in a building that is surrounded by a resemblance of a pool and getting creeps if the child falls in the pool.
Wrap Up and Review
During the last five minutes of the lesson, you will hear the instructor delivering a brief review of new skills your child has to master for the day. They should be able to recommend few home activities which will help called or nored child to refresh the concepts in between the lessons. The instructor will also address the last few questions you have before the next lessons are arranged.
The major point to note is that of the rate of development of swimming skills so as not to overdo it. It usually takes some time before new young swimmers are fully comfortable in the water. That important basis of confidence and build-up lesson by lesson is best begun in swimming lesson one. Be positive and do not get easily discouraged. Perhaps the best thing about giving your child a schedule is that he or she will amaze you at how fast he or she grasps things!