Hello swimmers! You may have butterflies in your tummy when thinking about your first day in swim lessons, but no worries. We are excited to have you in lessons and we will have a great time! Here are some ways to prepare for your first day in swim lessons.

1. Practice in the bathtub

The bathtub is a fantastic place to build up confidence and practice getting your face wet and holding your breath. The pool can be a bit overwhelming at times and it is nice to have a safe and controlled environment to ease into swimming. Bubbles are fun to blow in the bath tube as well. Practice exhaling and blowing out bubbles in the bath tub to prepare for swimming in the pool.

2. Come early

It’s nice to see the pool and get comfortable with the surroundings and the idea of swimming. Take a walk around the pool, put your toes in, splash your face with the water and get comfortable in the area. The pools are heated so they are always nice and warm and you don’t have to worry about being chilly during swim lessons.

3. Make sure you bring some essentials

Bring sunscreen! Our pools are outside and it is never fun to get a sunburn. Make sure you give the sunscreen about 10 minutes to dry before hopping in. If you do get a sunburn, then make sure to take care of it as soon as you can by putting on aloe vera lotion. A  big fluffy towel is a wonderful welcome out of the pool. Sometimes it can be a bit chilly outside when you are all wet and a towel makes leaving the water and going home much better. Dress appropriately. Wear your fun swimsuits. If you are 3 or under, then we (and the State) require that you wear a disposable and reusable swim diaper. Chicas put your hair up so it isn’t in your face for the whole lesson. Don’t eat or drink for about an hour before coming so you don’t get an upset tummy – save snack time and meals for after the lessons.

4. Smile!

A big smile can make everything feel better. We are there and will have big smiles on our faces to make you feel happy.

5. Talk to us

If you have any questions or concerns for your lessons, give us a call! We would love to talk to you and calm any fears.

We want swimming lessons to be a positive learning environment as well as a fun time! We are excited to see you and hope that this advice will help making preparations for your first day of class successful.

When I was five, I walked into the family room where my dad was watching the movie Jaws. I saw the great white shark eat several people and was scarred for life. I would not get in the bathtub or the shower and I would not go anywhere near any body of water because I knew that there was a shark waiting to eat a little girl.

Soon, summer came and my parents decided to help me confront my fear of sharks and water by putting me on the swim team. That year, I won a lot of blue ribbons and was one of the fastest 6 and under swim awards in the state of Colorado. This was not because I was particularly talented. It was because I was terrified of the water and wanted to get out as soon as possible! My coaches used to physically push me in off the blocks and I would take off!

Eventually, I was able to swim comfortably in the shallow end of the pool but during practice I would swim up to where the pool deepened and then turn around and head back to safety! I would go in the deep end only when a bigger treat for the sharks swam next to me, but these excursions did not last very long.

My coaches then came up with shark repellant! In reality, it was a spray bottle with water inside but I believed that it would save me from the sharks.

I was terrified of the water until I was ten years old. Every summer I swam on the swim team and every year I avoided the deep end. I made sure that I was hosed down with shark repellant every time I came to the pool but I was always a bit afraid. I continued to swim and eventually I got over being afraid of the pool…though, I’m still working on getting in the ocean past my shins! I’m a work in process

Who would have thunk that I would become a swim coach today? The little girl who cried and protested and had an intense fear of water is now teaching swim lessons! And I love it! Every summer, I turn brown as a nut and smell like chlorine because I love the water and playing with… I mean teaching children how to swim. I love working with kids and don’t worry everyone, I still have some shark repellant that I bring to every class!

Here’s a brief video of me from last summer talking about my blessed shark repellant.

Group swim lessons are a great way to learn to swim.  Together with friends, kids can learn the skills needed to swim with confidence and allow you as parents to relax during summer swimming at the pool. Group lessons also help the more timid students to build off of other’s confidence.

General tips and advice

As parents, there are several things you can do to help your child get the most out of his or her lesson:

• Make sure that you sign your child up for the correct level. Levels are based primarily on age. However, parents should look through the expected outcomes for each group class to make sure that your child will be challenged. If your child can do all of the outcomes, it is possible that private lessons may be a good consideration.
• Your supervision can help or hinder progress. Be mindful that some children perform better when they know their parents are watching, whereas some children prefer being left on their own during a lesson. Since the environment is so important in helping children to succeed, do not be alarmed if you are asked to step out during the lesson.
• Learning to swim is not done exclusively in swimming lessons. It is extremely important that you practice with your child in the bathtub or at a swimming pool. Skills taught during lessons are solidified consistent practice of these new skills outside of the 9 day session.

Specific tips based on swim level

If your child is about to begin the Tadpole level (level 1), have them practice putting their face in the water and opening their eyes. Express enthusiasm for any attempt. If your child has troubles opening his or her eyes, try swimming with swim goggles.  Quality goggles can make a world of difference for many children. Though, a child should first try to learn without goggles.

If your child is about to begin the Guppy level (level 2), have them  review the skills from level 1 (these can be found on our group swim lessons page).  Have your child practice holding their breath and floating on their front as well as their back.

If your child is about to begin the Angel Fish level (level 3), have them practice the motions of each stroke in and out of the water.

Doing these things will help ensure that your children will get the most out of their lessons.

Some advantages of group swim lessons

There are definite advantages to small group swim lessons over private lessons:

1. Peer Learning – Peer learning is very powerful. The “if she can do it I can do it” logic is very real and is a great way to improve skills and learning.
2. Fun –Children love swimming with other children. Enjoyment = Success.
3. Price – It is often the most economical way for children to learn to swim.

Games are a great way to review skills while having fun. Encourage your children to play games in the water to increase their comfort level as well as help them to improve their abilities to swim.

Cork Game Race

Skill level: 1 and 2

Number of players: Any number, in two or more teams

Equipment: Several dozen small floating objects, such as corks or ping-pong balls

Strategy: The teams line up on opposite sides of the swimming area, and dozens of small floating objects are thrown into the water. On the signal, the teams try to get as many of the objects as possible. The team collecting the greatest number in a given time wins.

This assists children to practice submerging their faces and have experience in the water.

Floating News Report

Skill level: 1–4

Number of players: Any number

Equipment: One sheet of newspaper for each player

Strategy: Players line up at the starting line with their backs to the finish line. Each takes a newspaper. On the signal, each player glides on the back, kicks, and reads aloud from the newspaper.  The player must try to keep the newspaper above water at all times. The player crossing the finish line first wins. A player who drops the newspaper or stops reading aloud has to drop out. You can adapt this game into a relay race for more advanced swimmers, who may use various kicks.

This assists children in flotation.

Find Your Man

Skill level: 5 and 6

Number of players: Any number, in two teams

Equipment: None

Strategy: Teams line up on opposite sides of the swimming area. On the signal, members of Team A perform feet-first surface dives and swim along the bottom towards the other side. Members of Team B swim the breaststroke, dive, and try to find members of Team A. If a Team B player finds a Team A player, he or she must try to tag that player and they return to the surface together. This discovered player from Team A must help the Team B player search for other members of Team A until they have been found or have reached the other side. Then Team B has a turn underwater. Each team member who reaches the other side scores I point. The first team to get 20 points wins.

This assists in underwater swimming.

Sharks and Minnows

Skill level: All

Number of players: Any number, in two teams

Equipment: None

Strategy: Teams are called “sharks” and “minnows.” In shallow water, the teams line up opposite each other, across the width of the playing area, on a line set by the instructor. Players stand in a stride position facing the instructor with one foot on the line and ready to run towards either goal line, which is their “safety zone.” The instructor stands at one end of the two lines and calls either “sharks” or “minnows.” If the instructor calls “sharks,” they run and chase the minnows. If a shark tags a minnow before the minnow reaches the safety zone, the minnow becomes a shark. The sharks are chased by the minnows when the instructor calls out “minnows.” After each chase, the players resume their starting positions on the line again unless they were tagged onto the opposite team. The team with more players at the end of the game wins. The teams must be given equal opportunities to chase.

This can be used for a variety of  skill practice.

Because of how often we receive questions about infant swim, I have decided to design a list of the best ways to prepare and help your child get the most out of our infant swim program.

Before class begins, be sure that your child…

1. Does not drink or eat for at least two hours before getting in the water. When young children are learning to swim, they tend to swallow a lot of air (not to mention water) which when added to a full stomach is likely to result in an upset stomach, uncomfortability and yes, even vomiting.
2. Be sure that your child uses the restroom right before entering the water. Any child who is not completely potty trained must wear both a disposable and resuable swim diaper to protect other swimmers from infected water.
3. Be sure and tell your child how excited you are to watch him or her swim, and do a good job listening. The more calm and sure you are, the more likely your child will be to replicate your example.

During class, be sure to…

1. Acknowledge what your child is doing well (even when forced to do it). Please do not add to the coaches critiques during the lesson. We want to avoid a child feeling like they are being ganged up on. It is okay to let the coach be the bad guy!
2. You may be asked to move out of sight during your child’s lesson so that your child can focus on the instructor and the skills that he or she is being asked to learn.  If this is necessary for your child’s benefit and retention, please respect the instructor’s wishes and continue to encourage your child before and after lessons.
3. Try to be inconspicuous. Children often struggle to focus and often look for distractions, which they are likely to find. Please let the coach handle your child’s attention span. It is often more distracting and time consuming to have multiple people trying to call the child’s attention.

After swim class…

1. Have a towel ready for your child so that he or she can walk over and get warm as soon as they exit the pool. Also, we highly recommend that each child put on shoes before leaving the deck. Pool decks are very slick when wet and we want to avoid any injuries, if possible. Shoes make  your child a lot less likely to slip.
2. Be sure to always tell your child how well he or she did, even on days when it seems like they struggled or didn’t accomplish much. Positive reinforcement is key to your child’s success.
3. Please introduce food and liquids into their systems slowly, especially on days when it is apparent that they have gulped lots of air and water.

Finally, if you have any concerns, questions, or comments please let your coach know immediately. We welcome your comments and even critiques. We are constantly looking to improve and you can help us do that!