Q: WHEN CAN BABIES START? A: Healthy babies
(as young as 1 month) can start when the circumcision is healed and the umbilical cord has
fallen off. The water should be at least 90º
Q: WHY START SO YOUNG? A: The younger
the babies, the more likely they are to accept the water and
instruction. Human infants are adapted to swimming. The behaviors
of automatic breath holding and swimming movements begin to
fade as early as 3 months of age. Exposure to swimming provides
the ideal exercise. They are not restricted to gravity and
benefit from the cardiovascular exercise it provides. It gives
babies a head start in learning basic swimming skills and
improves bilateral coordination and balance.
Q: FOR BABIES: PRIVATE or PARENT / TOT…? A: Generally,
parents choose the parent/tot program in order to make the
swim lesson experience as pleasant as possible. And, the group
per-lesson price is more appealing than the expense of privates.
However, most babies take much longer to learn in Parent/Tot
and some parents aren't successful at teaching their babies
to completely swim. If you want assurance that your child
will complete the course and learn to swim and gain the ability
to save himself in the shortest time frame possible, we suggest
enrollment in Private Lessons. Eventually, the baby will bond
with the teacher and will enjoy the lessons without the parent.
Q: WHAT & WHEN SHOULD THEY EAT BEFORE LESSONS? A: We recommend
that children not eat an uncomfortably large meal before lessons.
Beginning swimmers under two years of age should avoid food
(especially dairy products) 2 or 3 hrs ahead of each lesson.
Q: SHOULD PARENTS BE VISIBLE DURING THE CHILD'S LESSON? A: If the child
is constantly asking for "Mommy or Daddy" throughout
the lesson and if the teacher is having trouble competing
for attention, it is generally best to have the parent "out
of sight and out of mind" until the child begins to bond
with and trust the teacher. Often, if the child thinks there
is a sympathetic person close by who will "save them"
from their "plight", they will likely become melodramatic
and emotionally distressed. We want parents to watch the entire
lesson, but often prefer that they hide whenever their child
becomes distracted by the possibility that Mom or Dad might
bail them out of their situation.
Q: EAR INFECTIONS? A: There are
two types of ear infections: one is caused by middle ear build-up
secondary to Eustachian tube congestion and the other is caused
by pool or bath water not drying up in the outer ear canal "Swimmers' Ear".
To prevent the latter, parents can blow dry the ears or use
alcohol & boric acid drops available at the school or
local pharmacy. Swimming does not cause the middle ear infections.
Children with ventilation tubes in their ears can still swim,
but should wear ear plugs, a tight fitting cap, and should
not swim deeper than a foot below the surface of the water.
Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD LESSONS
BE SCHEDULED? A: Resistant
or fearful students should (at first) attend as many lessons
per week as possible. Attending once per week can work, but
there will be accelerated success and improvement in attitude
and skill, if the student can attend at least two or three
days per week, (up to seven days per week). When they begin
to enjoy the water and the process of learning, scheduling
once or twice per week is acceptable.
Q: TAKE LESSONS YEAR-ROUND OR
TAKE A BREAK…? A: Students
who are completely confident, comfortable, and proficient
swimmers tend to remember how to swim (even after a long break),
but why risk it? Swimming is such a healthy, fun activity,
stay in the water year-round. We have year-round lesson programs
and pools heated to 90 degrees.
If young students who have not reached the "State of
Fish" take a break from lessons, they rarely (if ever)
lose skill. However, during a long break, the student can
lose confidence. Panic, in an emergency situation, could cause
them to forget what they were trained to do. Therefore…
we suggest that you only take a break if you have a pool in
which to practice...
JUST KEEP SWIMMING…SWIMMING, SWIMMING
Q: WHAT IF MY CHILD DOESN'T
WANT TO TAKE LESSONS? A: Please read
the article "Safety First and Fun Later" and "In
your child's best interest". Remember the benefits and
the alternative. At first, the child may have very resistant
behavior - but eventually, the teacher will bring out THE
BEST in your child. We guarantee that you will be indescribably
proud of your child (and of yourself) for having persevered.
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THEM
TO LEARN? A:The teachers
use Gentle Persuasion. Sometimes the emphasis is on "Gentle".
Generally, the students learn faster if the emphasis is on
"Persuasion". Most students become skilled enough
to potentially save themselves, in about 10 to 20 private
lessons. (Progress in our small groups can be just as productive.)
