We signed up DS for swimming this week. I was going to do a parent/child class, but they convinced me to do a 'pre-school' class where they have a 1:4 ratio. The pool has a beach entrance, and they stay in the shallow water. The instructor told me they sing songs, dance, jump from a small step, blow bubbles...basically getting the kids used to the water.
I was kinda nervous about me not going with him, but then thought maybe it would be better because if I had gone with him for a few weeks in the parent/child class, then switched, I think it would be a harder transition. It also seemed so basic, it seemed like it could be an easy transition. We have only gone public swimming a handful of times.
What type of lessons did you sign LO up for?
Re: Does LO take swimming lessons?
By Austin's age mine were doing the classes without me.
If you are concerned see if you can get to the pool with him to work 1:1 with him a bit before the week you start lessons.
The parents are right there sitting and watching so it's not like you're walking away and leaving 1 person in charge of 4 kids in a super dangerous situation. Oh... and my kids' classes always had their own life guard as well.
I also recommend that you try to reinforce the games you see in lessons with an extra family session at the pool in between lessons. At that age I think only once a week for a couple of weeks really doesn't get them too far.
I didn't see major progress with my kids until we got them to the pool at least twice a week.
Also - invest in goggles. Many kids are hesitant to put their faces in the water and goggles do SO much to help with that particular issue!
GL!
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Yup. All three of mine take lessons and both the girls will be on swim team this summer (ages 4.5 and almost 6). The place where we do swimming lessons starts with non-mommy-and-me classes at 3. They are a max ratio of 4:1 in a regular pool with shelves at intervals along the side for the kids to stand on and moveable islands in the middle that they move further and further through the class as they learn to swim further and further. I never was a big proponent of the mommy-and-me classes because I didn't want to pay to get my kids used to the water. They LOVE the water. I needed them to learn to swim. We did enroll DS in a mommy-and-me (well, really, daddy-and-me) class this semester starting in January just after he turned 2, but it's an advanced class for "babies" (under 3s) where the parents transition out of the water to more of a regular swim class. Right now, DH is in the water the second half of the class but not the first. DS can swim to the island 6-8 feet away and back to the stairs on his own (with very close supervision, of course). He can jump off the side and swim to the teacher/DH and then back to the edge.
Swimming lessons are great for this age and it's a great time to get them started. DD2 (age 4) has been in them for a little over a year and is doing amazing and DD1 has been doing them for almost 3 years. We just started DS this January.
We are starting next week.
DD1 (4) will be on her own. 4:1 ratio.
I'll be in the pool with DD2 (2.5). I had the option of sending her on her own, but I think she would freak out.
I know DD1 will be totally fine though, and will probably do better w/out me there.
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