Preparing Your Child For Swimming Lessons

The Red Cross program is designed so that students can start with no previous swimming experience.  Your child can be totally "green" when it comes to pools, water, and swimming.  Instructors expect a certain number of first-time students to show up in our classes, and the objectives for Pre-School 1 and Level 1 contain pool orientation and safety information.  All that being said, just because your child can start from scratch doesn't necessarily mean that there's nothing you can or should do to prepare them.  The list below outlines some suggestions that will help your child feel more comfortable in swimming lessons. 

1. Take your child swimming.
This one may seem obvious, but some families do not swim.  Maybe there is a lack of facilities nearby, or one of the parents has had a bad swimming experience and is fearful of water.  Whatever the case, if you decide to sign your child up for lessons, it might not be the best idea to have their first water experience be in a lesson.   Swimming is a weird sensation.  The the size of the pool area, the temperature of the pool water, the change in balance and buoyancy can all cause hesitation and anxiety at first. Let your child experience the water wherever is most convenient and comfortable for you, from a lake to a wading pool.

2. Swim without floatation devices.
Life jackets and suits with built-in floaties are great for initial introduction to the water, but are usually not allowed in a formal swim lesson.  If your child is used to swimming with floatation, it may be best to have a few sessions without any of these devices to prepare them. 

3. Read up!
Red Cross has published two books;  Raffy Learns To Swim and Waddles In The Deep. Both are illustrated children's books about a brother and sister duck and their activities at swimming lessons.  The advantage of using the Red Cross books is that the activities that Raffy and Waddles go through will closely correspond to those that will happen in your child's class.  The books also offer safety information and skills checklists for the levels associated with each book.  Raffy Learns To Swim deals with Pre-School levels 1/2 and Level 1.  Waddles In The Deep correlates to Pre-School Level 2/3 and Level 3.  While I recommend these books specifically, any book that can help your child understand what will happen at their lesson will make them feel more comfortable. 

4. Visit the pool at which the lessons will take place.
Even if your child is familiar with swimming, the unknown of a new pool can still cause anxiety.  Some children might fear that they cannot find the bathroom or won't know where to meet their teacher.  A visit to the pool allows parents to point out lockers (we will put our stuff in here), parent areas (this is where I will sit and watch while you swim), bathrooms, etc.  Swimming at the pool allows children the chance to test it out.  How warm is the water?  Which areas are shallow, and which are deep?  Where are the ladders and stairs?  When the child returns for the class, they feel more confident knowing their way around. The only "new" thing is the lesson its self. 

5. Go over pool rules and safety.
Shower before swimming
No running anywhere
Lifeguards are here to help
No jumping in head-first in shallow water (diving)
Do not enter the water until given permission
There may be other rules at your specific facility that you will want to go over, but these five are pretty much standard at any pool you may go to. 

6. Watch a swimming lesson. 
If your facility has classes going continuously, such as mine does, you may be able to observe a lesson. You can point out to your child the rules of the class, and get feeling for the skills being taught.  Kids can see where they will be swimming and what they will be doing.  This is also a good idea if your child is older and you are unsure that they are in the right level.  If you and your child observe a level 1 class, and your child's skills are more advanced, you may be able to move them to a level 2 before they even start classes. 

7. Practice listening to the teacher and taking turns.
For some students, swimming lessons may be the first "formal" class they ever take.  Children must be able to listen to the instructor, stay put when told, and take turns.  If your child has not had much experience with formal instruction, practice with them.  Hold a "pretend" lesson. Have your child sit on the side or hold the wall until you allow them to move, or count to three before jumping in.  Play "Simon Says".  Come swimming with friends and practice waiting their turn to hop across the pool or throw a ball.  Talk to your child about following instructions.  A good instructor will have many methods of class management, but it never hurts to plant a few seeds!

8. Take a Parent/Child Class.
If you would like to work on some actual swimming skills with your child, you can sign up for a Parent/Child class.  The goal of a Parent/Tot class is to acclimate young children to the water, and to teach parents some skills they can work on with their child.  Children up to age 5, with their adult partner, can participate in Parent/Child lessons.  Read Red Cross Swimming Lessons: Parent Child for a brief overview of skills taught in this class.  The class is loosely structured so that children experience following directions, and there is some instructor/child time to get the kids used to trusting other adults in the water.  This may be a good option if your child is under 3 years of age, or you feel they are otherwise not quite ready for independent lessons. 

These are simply my suggestions for ways to prepare your child for their first swimming lesson.  Please share any others you may have found useful!