Many parents will agree that we are all just tired of Winter and are ready to embrace Spring with open arms. I know that I sure am!
Summer is not too far behind from Spring and many parents may start thinking of summer activities and vacation. These plans may often involve swimming or water so why not use Spring to get ahead and start or hone your child’s swimming skills? We took this question to the experts themselves to see the benefits of “Spring Training.”
We chatted with Nikki, General Manager at Aqua-Tots in Burlington to get the inside scope on having a child enrolled in multiple swim lessons per week.
Spring is in the air and that means Summer isn’t too far behind. What types of programs are available in the Spring to help children get ready for Summer?
We offer lessons 6 days a week here at Aqua-Tots! We usually recommend a 2 day-per-week plan for your child to really excel in their swimming. We see swimming as riding a bike – the more you practice the quicker you will learn. In addition to swim lessons, all of our members have access to our Family Swims every Sunday from 1 PM to 2 PM. Family swim is a great way for you to bring your children into the pool to practice skills they have learned in class, or just to have fun and splash around!
What are the benefits of taking multiple swim lessons per week?
There are many benefits to swimming multiple times per week – especially with Summer coming up! To name a few:
Muscle Memory
The more you practice a skill, the more your body begins to get comfortable and confident with the movements and it soon becomes second nature. Once you learn how to swim – it is impossible to forget, just like riding a bike!
Confidence
If you are looking to grow your child’s confidence around the water, exposing them to lessons multiple times per week will help them to understand the importance of lessons, it will also help them to gain trust with the instructor and the skills they are being taught in their class. When I first did a swimming lesson, I was eight years old! I felt nervous as I had never been in a structured swim setting. Once I realized I was capable of doing the skills the instructor was teaching, my confidence sky-rocketed and it became my passion. I went to become a Lifeguard and Swim Instructor and I cannot imagine my life without the pool.
Skill Progression
If you have your child enrolled in swimming lessons but feel as if they are reaching a plateau this is okay! Instead of taking a break from the lessons, this is a sign that it is time for more exposure to the water. By signing up for multiple lessons per week, you are giving your child more of a challenge and a new excitement for lessons.
Tell us a memorable moment of a child who has benefited from multiple swim lessons per week.
When we first opened here in Burlington, we had a student in our Level 3 Younger Leapfrog Class (2.5 years old) who was apprehensive about the water. During their first few lessons, she would cry for nearly the whole class only stopping when she knew it was time to go and see Mom at the end of class. As their parents grew concerned about whether or not they would able to overcome this obstacle, they decided to switch to a 2 day-per-week plan. What a difference 2 days-per-week made for this child! Within a week of the new plan, the once nervous swimmer was doing full submersions and completed many advanced skills. Now to this day, this swimmer comes into our facility with a big smile and can barely contain their excitement when Coach calls their name to enter the water.
What can parents do to help prepare their child for multiple swim lessons? For example, any worries they may have of the child being too tired.
There are a few things a parent can do to prep their children for multiple swim lessons. Here are a few we suggest:
Talk About It
Remember swimming is an essential life skill that your child absolutely needs to learn. As a parent, if you emphasize the importance of swimming, your child will grow to appreciate how special this skill is to daily life. Throughout the week, talk about how exciting it is that they get to swim at Aqua-Tots on Monday AND Wednesday now, for example. If they are with two different Coaches, talk about how fun it will be to see Coach A on Monday and then Coach B on Wednesday. If they are nervous to enter the water without you, remind them that “Mommy/Daddy watch swim class from the red chair and they come in the pool for Family Swim on Sunday.” Instead of saying “Mommy/Daddy forgot their bathing suit and cannot go in,” remind them of why you do not go in for lessons. Otherwise, they will have an expectation that you are allowed to go in for lessons.
Flexibility
We pride ourselves in our non-seasonal school and our ongoing schedule. You can utilize your 2 day-per-week plan in many ways. The first is a back-to-back lesson option. This is where you would have your child enrolled in two consecutive half hour lessons. If this is not an option for you, or you feel your child is too tired, try two different days of the week. For example, Tuesday evening and Saturday morning. When you’re in the water, you are invigorated by the splashing and the enthusiasm of the instructor! Your child might be a little tired AFTER their sim class but this is totally normal and a sign they worked hard and learned a lot in the water.
Family Swim
If you are still undecided about a multiple day-per-week plan, try to incorporate our Family Swim into your routine first. That way, you will be here once during the week for your lesson, and once for a Family Swim.
Any special promos for parents who want to take advantage of Spring time for more swim lessons?
This Spring we encourage everyone to take advantage of our Ollie the Otter package. Sign up for 5 months of swim lessons and receive your 6-month free, plus 10% off all retail and priority access to all special events. For maximum progression we also recommend that children swim multiple times a week and when upgrading your plan from 1 to 2 days per week or 2 days to 3 days, we provide a discount on the additional day being added!
Any other tips or advice you would like to provide to parents or children who want to be better swimmers?
The best piece of advice I would give to parents and children as a swim instructor and Lifeguard is to remember how important swimming is to daily life. There is so much water in the world and it is important to know how to swim not only for safety, but for individual confidence as well. Talk about how exciting the water is and make a big deal for every new swimming milestone. We say, “Turn Tears Into Cheers” – if your child does a submersion or gets the ring from the bottom of the pool, throw your hands in the air and cheer! This will show them that tackling your fears is something to be celebrated! Talk about how fun swimming is as much as you can and always try to provide your child with opportunity to take swimming lessons or come to a Family Swim.
Your child might not master all of the skills in their level within the first few weeks and that is totally normal. All it takes is continuous exposure and positive verbal reinforcement from parents/guardians and the coaches.
Always remember our Aqua-Tots motto, “Safety First, Fun Ever Second!” See you at the pool!
Special thank you to Nikki for taking the time to offer her expertise and we hope this information has enlighten you all to think about “Spring Training” with your little one for the upcoming water season.
We love Aqua-Tots Swim Schools as their programs and facilities are absolutely wonderful with families always in mind.
If you would like to enroll at the Burlington location, please contact them at 905.331.3393 or visit them online to learn more about their amazing programs.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
-Momma Braga
– Momma Braga
This article is a paid partnership with Aqua-Tots Swim Schools. Views and opinions expressed here belong to Momma Braga.
