PSA: MoCo spring classes...and an aquatics class review

vtkgirl77 · February 2012

I wanted to let everyone know that the MoCo Recreation guide just came out for the spring session. You can view an online version at the link below or you can sign up to receive paper copies in the mail for $5 per year.

https://issuu.com/mocorecreation/docs/spring12?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222

Kids aquatics classes start on page 25 and other tiny tots classes (art, music, dance, etc.) start around page 67. The start date for signing up for swim lessons is Feb 15.

I also just wanted to say what a great experience we had in putting DD in the aquatics class with MoCo at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver & Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center in Rockville. Prior to doing the county program, I did swim lessons at the Bethesda Y. The thing I didn't like about the Y lessons was that they were in a pool that was about 4 feet deep so you basically had to hold your kid the entire time. I didn't feel that DD was really learning as much since she couldn't touch the bottom. Later that summer, we went to our local pool a few times which has a kiddie pool that is only about a foot deep. DD was 2 and she loved the pool. However, there were a number of times when she either got knocked over by another kid or fell into the water and she just froze laying face down in the pool. Even though it was only a foot deep, she was in shock and didn't realize she could just stand up (in the meantime, I'm freaking out and making a big scene to go scoop her out of the water). I saw this happen to other children too and even had to rescue another kid who's dad wasn't close enough to grab him.

So, last fall, we did the Aquatots lessons through MoCo at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver & Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center. What I liked about their pool is that there is a very shallow area (only a few inches deep) and then it gets progressively deeper but has plenty of room for toddlers to be able to walk around. The lessons really helped them get comfortable with walking in the water, putting their chin, ear, and cheeks in the water, and it also focused on safety and how the sides of the pool are always safe. Over the 6 week course, I saw that DD's comfort level and abilities change dramatically.

I also had a conversation with the instructor about how when DD fell in the pool during the summer how she would just freeze. The instructor said that little kids go into shock and they don't know what to do which is why doing water classes are helpful because they learn how to move into the water and they aren't as afraid if they happen to go under.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my story and how happy I was with the classes. I have no idea what the other MoCo pools are like but for me, I think it's really important to do toddler classes in a shallow pool where the kids can acclimate to walking around on their own.

drslizndan · February 2012

Thanks! We are planning on signing up DD for swim lessons at the Germantown Rec Center. I hear that we have to sign up as soon as registration opens at like 6:30a.

umdbride · February 2012

this is great to know! just curious, how old were the kids in the class?

it sounds like something that would be really helpful for DS to know later this summer, but that he'd be too young this spring to really "get" it?

preissless1 · February 2012

Where/How do you sign up for the paper copies?

mssaint · February 2012

We signed LO up for Water Babies at the swim center in Silver Spring - because of the timing of his ear infection/illnesses, he's only made it to one class. He LOVED the class and has turned every bathtime into splashtime since then.

I'm sad that we've missed most of the sessions - I think there are two more that he might make it to-- and we're definitely going to sign up again.

I will say our instructor didn't have the greatest people skills, but the class was still ok.

vtkgirl77 · February 2012

drslizndan:
Thanks! We are planning on signing up DD for swim lessons at the Germantown Rec Center. I hear that we have to sign up as soon as registration opens at like 6:30a.

Yes, the swim classes can fill up fast so it's best to sign up that morning. Also, if you plan on signing up online, make sure you register and get your passcode a few days ahead of time if you don't already have an account. I think I remember that I had to wait a day or so to get my passcode and get into the system.

vtkgirl77 · February 2012

preissless1:
Where/How do you sign up for the paper copies?

Go here and click "Subscribe to the Guide"

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rectmpl.asp?url=/content/rec/regn.asp

vtkgirl77 · February 2012

umdbride:
this is great to know! just curious, how old were the kids in the class?

it sounds like something that would be really helpful for DS to know later this summer, but that he'd be too young this spring to really "get" it?

I would say that in DD's class, most of the kids were about 18 mo - 3 yo. For DD#2, I won't start up lessons for her until she's at least 18 months old because prior to that, I'm not sure how much they get out of it.

umdbride · February 2012

vtkendra:
umdbride:

this is great to know! just curious, how old were the kids in the class?

it sounds like something that would be really helpful for DS to know later this summer, but that he'd be too young this spring to really "get" it?

I would say that in DD's class, most of the kids were about 18 mo - 3 yo. For DD#2, I won't start up lessons for her until she's at least 18 months old because prior to that, I'm not sure how much they get out of it.

thanks! I was thinking the same...maybe next spring/summer will be better.

WinesNotWhines · February 2012

Thanks for the review! The Rockville pool sounds really nice. I'm planning to sign us up for swim lessons at the Silver Spring (MLK) pool in the spring. We did a class there last winter, but the timing was bad because M was sick practically every week. I'm hoping spring/summer is better timing. I can't remember what the MLK pool was like, or if it had a shallow end like that. I know it had gradual entry.

FWIW I definitely didn't sign up at 6:30 am the day of registration last year. Maybe the classes at that pool don't fill up as quickly as the others, but we had no problem getting a spot on a weekend.

vtkgirl77 · February 2012

WinesNotWhines:

FWIW I definitely didn't sign up at 6:30 am the day of registration last year. Maybe the classes at that pool don't fill up as quickly as the others, but we had no problem getting a spot on a weekend.

I agree that I don't know exactly how quickly it fills up. There are a lot of classes to choose from. For me, I signed up early because there was only one class that would work with my schedule. But I think I just signed up around 8am. I didn't wake up early for it :-)

tracy042206 · February 2012

I want to sign the girls up this spring too. I am just not sure if Maggie would do best in a class by herself or with one of us. I hope I can get the girls classes at the same time and same pool.

cep1976 · February 2012

Obviously my kid has not arrived yet, but I'm just chiming in as a former competitive swimmer and swimming instructor.

I started swim lessons before I was 6 months old. Obviously, at that age, the focus is not on actually learning to swim, but on being comfortable in the water and socialization with other babies and parents. I'm a big advocate of starting your child early in swim lessons, because the older they are when they start, it is much, much harder for them to learn how to swim and be comfortable in the water.

As far as formal swim lessons where the child learns to swim independently, I wouldn't start those until age 5. But the more you can get your child comfortable with the water beforehand through parent/child classes, the better off your child is going to be.

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