| 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 from
90 degrees and higher.
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.) |
