Conference moira::parenting

    Lisa
    
    Will they let you go in the pool with her?
    
    Breanne took swimming lessons when she was 3 1/2.  I went in with her
    the first time but after that she wanted to go by herself.  I think it
    definatley helped her that I was able to go with her the first time.
    
    Kirsten
    

    No, I will not be with her.  These will be given through the daycare
    during the day. 
    
    Lisa
    

    My daughter has loved the water since she was little and I thought I
    should have started at 6 months old. However, I would check on sosme
    things as we had to miss a semester to wait out a fear caused by an
    instructor having had her jump in and go under.
    
    Make sure the water is warm...kids will get cold...
    Make sure she doesn't ever have to do anything she is not ready for..
    Make sure other kids are at her level and not way ahead or the class
      will be aimed at them.
    
    I know it is hard but, if at all possible, take 6 or 7 lessons with
    her.. that is lessons in which you are in the water with her. The
    objective is to have fun...not to learn to swim. Then see if she is
    ready to go in with "only the teacher" while you watch...eventually,
    she'll tell you to go away !
    
    I'm beginning to wonder whether these lesson do anything to teach
    children to swim. I suspect they enable children to be comfortable and
    to practice while they are developing into swimmers.
    
    Some things are taught..like how to climb out of a pool just in case
    you fall in...
      

I started Breanna in swimming lessons this past weekend.  She's 18 months
old.   I go in with her and never let her go.  These lessons continue
for 8 weeks.

At some points she was having fun and at others she was scared.  The
instructor said to stick with it, even if they cry, and to make it fun.

We sang alot of the songs she knows while doing some of the lessons and
she really enjoyed that.  What she didn't enjoy was being on her stomach
(with my support) as I pushed her across the water.

Good Luck

    
    Since we don't own a boat or a lake front property, and New
    England water is mostly non-swimmable, we waited until our
    daughter was 6 and sent her to a summer camp with daily swimming
    lessons (Red Cross certified). We figured that was one fewer 
    thing for us to worry about. It worked out real good. Every
    summer she has swimming lessons 5 days a week, no driving no
    fuss for us parents, at the end of the summer, she gets a Red 
    Cross card stating the level she completed. After 4 summers,
    she is good enough to go snorkling in the 30'- 40' of water
    off a dive baot and go body surfing/boogie boarding in Florida. 
    
    It was no pain for us ;-)
    
    
    Eva

    Jason was 9 months old when he started in the pool at his sitters.
    This was young enough that he had not developed a fear of water.
    Alex will be just over a year when he starts in the pool this summer.
    *I* was a little fearful of having my babies in the pool but I think
    the confidence and respect for water/pools that they learn has far
    outweighed my initial concerns.

    So, I guess my take is that they are never too young or not ready.
    However, if a child has developed a fear of the water, I think the
    approach would be different.  I second the recommendations to have
    someone the child trust go in the water with the child and to also
    seek out a course that emphasizes overcoming a fear of the water
    and having fun in the pool (rather than swimming per se).

    I taught non-swimmer lessons during my summer lifeguard stints in
    high school.  The goal of these classes were to get the kids
    comfortable with the pool.   It took us several classes to actually get
    the kids in the water; the first couple of lessons were kicking from
    the side, putting faces in the water to blow bubbles, and other water
    games.    Maybe your daycare's class will be similar.....

    Carol

I used to be a Red Cross instructor, years ago.  The guidelines I was given
said no lessons for anyone under three years.  Part of the reasoning was that
the kids had not developed a sufficient wariness about the water, that they
weren't generally able to learn to swim per se at that age anyway, that some
kids develop overconfidence about the water and can get into trouble.  Perhaps
the curriculum now is more gradual at the beginning level, I don't know, but I
agree with the guidelines in general.  Nothing wrong with having fun in the
water, and getting comfortable (to a point), but swim lessons is another story.
(IMHO, of course.)

I most definitely would NOT push a young child to participate in a swimming
program or a swimming lesson; if they don't want to do it, there is plenty of
time.

						Brian

    I gave each of my three children lessons the first summer they were
    over 1 year old.  When my first child was little, we had a cottage on a
    lake.  For the second two, we had a pool.  My goal was not that they
    learn to swim, my goal was they learn to not be afraid of water, and to
    respect it's potential danger.  If they went under water, they knew
    enough to hold their breath.  In the pool, they knew enough to reach
    for the side, in the lake they stayed in shallow water.  I could care
    less if they have a proper stroke.  I do care that they are safe and
    that they have fun.

    We started my son in swim 'lessons' at the age of 9 months through the
    Colorado Springs City Recreation Program.  At this age, the goals are to
    teach kids to hold their breath when underwater and feel comfortable in
    the water.  Each child had a parent as their buddy instructor.
    
    We started YMCA lessons at the age of 3.  Beginning classes consisted of 
    3-5 students to an instructor and only 1 child was in the water at a time.
    Parents could attend the 1st and last classes in a session.  By the
    age of 4 (more advanced class), kids are swimming 25 yards - freestyle, 
    backstroke, and doggypaddle.  They can hold a kickboard and race each 
    other.  They can swim to a depth of 4 feet.  Side effects include a 
    healthy appetite, sleeping great, and becoming very strong.
    
    If possible, I would observe a swim class before signing up my child.
    We noticed that kids tend to fuss more when parents are present.  With
    a good instructor, the kids have fun and forget to be afraid.

    
    What can I do as a parent this summer to get Lauren used to the
    water?  We are not planning swim lessons (at 18 months) but we
    will visit my parents often at their lake house.  Should I just
    let her play at the waters edge or should I attempt to get her
    used to deeper water and the concept of swimming?  I don't want
    to frighten her so obviously I will not push anything on her that
    she doesn't want. 
    
    How can I teach her to hold her breath?  What techniques do swim
    instructors use?  
    
    I am an advanced swimmer myself but never taught swimming before.
      

    re: .10 (Karen Healey)

    The technique that was taught in '75 was to blow in the baby's face. 
    When you blow (softly, btw) in the baby's face, her instinctive reaction
    is to hold her breath.  A quick (very, very quick) dunk under the water
    can then be done.  When the baby comes up, you need to react with
    giggles and laughs and praise, before she has a chance to decide
    whether or not she liked it.  

    I'm sure that since '75 there has been a change in theory and
    technique, but that's how I did it.  I also read the book by Bonnie
    Prud____, How to teach your baby to swim.  Again, it's probably a bit
    dated at this point.

    In 1991 the city program used this technique on 9 month olds:
    
    Count aloud "1-2-3"
    Blow gently on the baby's face
    Gently & Briefly dunk them
    Smile & Laugh
    
    I was rather nervous watching my wife walking the length of a pool and
    dunking my 9 month old son for up to 5 seconds, but the babies did not 
    complain.   The instructor photographed each child under water.  They
    had their eyes open !  Maybe womb habits ?
    
    After we gave our 3 year old son some goggles, he spends lots of bathtub 
    time underwater looking at toys & coins.  An adult is always present at 
    any water opportunity.

	Up to what age does the breath holding instinct last ?

	I sometimes do this in play with Andrew (14 months), and
	I've noticed that the reaction is not as strong as when he
	was a baby (sometimes he'll hold his breath, sometimes he won't).

	Would this still work for an 18 month old ?

	My three year old has been quite afraid of the water.  We've never
	dunked her.  As much as she likes the bath, she was even fearful
	of wading pools at the beginning of last summer.  By the end,
	she had overcome that fear, and would go into wading pools at
	the beach, but you couldn't even carry her near the ocean's edge
	without tears.

	We had some success bringing her into a large pool last summer,
	by holding her at first, only going as far as she was willing to
	go, and then trying to make the pool fun.  I would jump up and
	down in the water while I held her, and make silly faces and
	noises.  After about 20 minutes in the pool, she would let me
	let her float in the water, as long as I kept one hand on her
	tube.

	I would rather go very slowly and build her water confidence than
	rush her and make her permanently fear the water.

	Karen

    I've observed in my own kids that fear of the water comes and goes. 
    For a couple of months, I couldn't get Holly into the bathtub; now
    I can't get her out of it.  Last year, when we were on vacation, James
    wouldn't go into a pool, but he'd go into the lake when we were at the
    in-laws' place in New Hampshire.  Go figure. 
    
    I would say there is no hard and fast rule, but a child should be able
    to follow simple instructions, IMHO.  Above all, let the child take the
    lead.  I've seen a couple of cases where forcing a kid to swim or take
    swimming lessons bred a lifelong fear/hatred of the water, and as you
    know, it takes a whole lot to overcome that so you don't transmit it to
    your own kids.
    
    Frankly, I'd rather see swimming instructors emphasize water safety
    first, and swimming lessons second.  Again, just MHO.

    At 7 months my son LOVES the tub, so I'm hoping he'll also enjoy
    the pools....we have one in our backyard, and there's a big one
    where we camp every weekend.  I discussed going in the water with
    his pediatrician, and he said, go ahead, have fun, but do NOT dunk
    him under this summer.  He said too many moms dunk their babies
    too early and they end up swallowing the water and it causes too
    many problems.  Nothing specific, he just emphasised no dunking.
    So I guess we won't go 'under' until next summer, when he'll be 
    ~20 months.

    
    I think I'll just let her go at her own speed.  No dunking this summer.
    After all, I was a little fish when I was a child (grew up on a lake
    from age 4) and nobody made me go under at 18 months.  I'll just let
    her play at the waters edge and float around in the water with me or
    daddy if it does not distress her.  We can wait another year for the
    swimming lessons!
    
    I think she might be afraid of the water though.  Last weekend, I
    walked up to the edge of our pond (swamp) holding her and the closer
    I got, the tighter she held on to me.  She even wimpered a little
    which surprised me because we have never threatened to put her in 
    the pond!  Last summer, she was playing on the edge of the water at
    my parents house and my husband threw a stick into the water.  My
    brothers retriever got all excited, jumped Lauren, knocked her over,
    and kicked sand all over her, as he chased the stick.  I grabbed her
    up, dunked her in the water (not over her head) to wash her off,
    then consoled a hysterical baby.  I wonder if her fear of the pond
    is because she remembers that incidence?  Is that possible?
    
    Karen

    
    At what age is a child "able" to swim with their head above water??
    Last year Anna (3 at the time) learned to swim underwater. She hated
    wearing swimmies but would in pools,but whenever we were at a pond/lake
    (state ones don't allow the kids to wear them) she would stand in
    waist deep water and just dunk under, swim around a bit and then stand
    up. She didn't get very far but it got better as the summer went on.
    She basically taught herself how to do this. I was thinking of having
    her take some swimming lessons this year (she's 4 now) to start to
    learn to swim above-water. Is this possible??? Or is she still too
    young?
    
    Patty

    My daughter turned 5 last week and has taken swimming lessons from
    January to May both this year and last.  The first year she mostly got
    comfortable with the water, getting in and out of the pool, and jumping
    in (assisted).  
    
    This year she really progressed.  She now swims under water, floats on
    her back, and jumps in unassisted.  If we kept up the lessons, she
    probably would be swimming above water by the end of the summer.  But
    we like to go to the beach or lakes and don't want to be tied down to a
    Saturday lesson.
    
    Her lessons are at the Nashua Sheraton Tara.  Last year we used the
    YWCA  but the ratios are lower at the Tara so I think that helps her to
    progress more quickly.  Of course, we paid more at the Tara, but I
    think it was worth it. 
    
    Judy

    
    Jason started to swim on top of the water (some of the time!) 
    last summer.  He turned 5 that September.    So in re. 17,
    your daughter might start swimming above water this year...
    
    cj/

Re: .17

>>    I was thinking of having
>>    her take some swimming lessons this year (she's 4 now) to start to
>>    learn to swim above-water. Is this possible??? Or is she still too
>>    young?

Sounds to me like she's ready.  Find lessons in a place where she can stand in
the water unassisted (some pools have a height requirement for beginning
lessons).

>>    She hated
>>    wearing swimmies but would in pools,but whenever we were at a pond/lake
>>    (state ones don't allow the kids to wear them)

As with baby swim programs, swimmies are controversial.  Kids wearing them can
wander into water deeper than they intended, and can become overconfident about
their ability to swim without them.  Flotation devices are very helpful for
learning how to swim, although I believe the hand-help types would be
preferable.  The state rules are there with good reason.

						Brian

P.S. I did a spell check on this note, and the suggested replacement for
"swimmies" was "swamis."  :-)

    Karen,
    
    Keep in mind that ~2 is a very popular age for kids to HATE water.  You
    may be dealing with "a stage" more than anything else.  Jonathan's 20
    mos old, and you should SEE the routine we go through to try to
    convince him to get in the tub, without inducing hysterics.
    
    Never underestimate the power of LAUGHING with your child!!
    
    Good Luck!
    

Hi,

My little boy, Alastair, is just 3 and has started to swim by himself.

I took him to lessons when he was about 18 months, but after 3 serious screaming
sessions, I gave up. His problem was that he refused to be held. he insisted on
floating about with arm bands on, and he wasn't allowed to wear armbands in the
lessons.

So we just went swimming on our own after that. Alastair is overconfident, if
anything, probably due to the fact that his Daddy (and I used to be also) a
SCUBA diver. Alastair is obsessed about going underwater. I wasn't sure whether
to start swimming lessons again at 3, so I looked for a good book.

The book I found ("Teach your child to swim" by Usborne) was brilliant. It
confirmed that Alastair was heading in the right direction and made me much more
confident about the stages at which children do things. All children are
different, of course, but the following information seemed to fit in with
Alastair's development really well:

- Some children learn to swim underwater before 3, but can't raise their heads
out of the water till after they are 3.

- Children should be able to do a width (10 yds) on their own using
doggie-paddle before they are taught any strokes.

- Children can be taught how to do strokes once they can swim 10yds on their
own, usually at the age of 4 or 5.

Alastair swims about 4 yds on his own at the moment, underwater. He's just
starting to be able to lift his head out. I plan to let him have swimming
lessons once he can swim 10yds with his head out of the water.

Sue

	This month's Parents' magazine has a statement that
	"children are not developmentally ready to learn to 
	swim until 3 years of age"

	There is no further explanation of the statement.

	Karen

My son, Josh, turned 4 last in Feb. His daycare has swim class 
every day, june-aug. Last summer was his 2nd year and by the end of the 
summer he was swimming without the arm floats.

Every child is different.

daryll