Teaching your child the A,B,C’s and how to spell their name are common things parents teach their children to prepare them for school. Preparing your child for swim lessons should be thought of in the same manner.
Some tips to prepare your child for the water!
DO…
-Pour water over your child’s head, regularly, to allow your child to get comfortable having water in their eyes/face.
-Let your child have fun in the bath with toys and music.
-Practice star-fish floating on the ground (flat surface) to show your child the correct body posture in floating. Body posture is key to a great swimmer & floater!
-Introduce your child to the water/swim lessons early. The benefits are overwhelmingly positive!
-Practice your child’s swim skills at home. We highly encourage practicing at home, but make sure you are practicing correctly.
-Make sure your child is prepared for the unexpected.
DON’T…
-Do not use a towel to dry your child’s eyes during bath/shower time.
-Do not let your child use cups in the bath. If your child drinks water in the bathtub, they will drink water in the pool, too!
-Do not Practice floating in the bathtub, pool steps, or kiddy pools. When kids feel the bottom in the bath, they will begin looking/feeling for the bottom while in greater depth of water- it’s all the same to kids!
-Do not Use flotation devices. These devices are training your child that they can breathe in this position and kicking in a vertical body position.
-Do not Practice incorrectly or before your child has completed their swim lessons! We see this common mistake very frequently- so you are not alone! -Learn how to properly work with your child before practicing.
Here are some Drowning Quick Facts!
This post was sponsored by Aqua Journeys Swim School. Located on on the corner of Hand Avenue and Nova Road at 721 S. Nova Rd in Ormond Beach, they teach year-round, rain or shine. Florida’s crazy summer storms will not mess with your child’s progress!
Aqua Journeys also offers private lessons for all ages and skill levels. It’s never too late to learn to swim! Contact them at 386-676-9555.
