We have some important information to share about how to best prepare for your swimming classes! We will split into 3 parts. We hope you find it helpful！
PART 1 - Be Prepared
- Dress well!
Swimming costume (no board shorts!), swimming hat, goggles (make sure they are comfortable and good quality!), towel. For students that get cold easy it might be suitable to consider a wetsuit and water bottle with warm water in the colder months. Its also best that kids do not play in the water before their class when the weather is cold.
- No Surprises!
Make sure to talk to your child the week before the class each day. Remind them we teach focusing on fun and safety, try to make them excited for their first class. This can be a great help for the coach and your child and will make sure it’s a memorable day for the right reasons!
- Be Confident!
If parents are excited and confident for the first class, kids will be to. Its normal for kids to be nervous or worried about going to class for the first time.
PART 2 (1) - YOUR ARRIVAL
- Don’t Be Late!
The pools can sometimes be hard to access or difficult to find the first time, so make sure you allow yourself enough time. Aim to be poolside 10 mins before your class.
- Get Comfortable!
The pool environment can be very intimidating, especially the first few times. It is loud, it is bright and its very busy! Your child will need time to get comfortable in this environment before their class and that will take time.
- Observe
When you arrive early, observe some of the classes with your child so they can see other children participating. This will help them to see learning to swim is a fun and normal process for all children. While watching the other kids, you can remind them they won’t be forced to do anything they don’t want to!
- Ready to start
Be sure you are ready to start once the class start time arrives, help the kids put on their swimming cap, goggles and go to the toilet first etc. so that they are ready to jump into the class as soon as its ready to start. This helps coaches make sure they can give the maximum amount of time focused on delivering the class and the kids learning.
PART 2 (2) - Class in Progress
- We need support!
Our coaches have many, many years of combined experience. We have seen all types of personalities and first reactions to class and we are professional enough to work with them. However, we still need your help in showing as much support and encouragement for your child as possible.
- Be close…But not to close!
Swimming is the maybe one of the first activities your child will start to be independent. Make sure at class you are close enough they know that you are there if they need you, but not so close so that you can allow them to develop their independence with the coach and in an aquatic environment. The coach may provide feedback to you level of parent participation required for your child.
- Stay engaged!
Our goal is to have every student engaged in the class as much as possible and participating to a high level. We try to achieve this by making sure classes are fun and interesting for all students. We will also let them know what is expected of them in a class environment and paying attention to the coach. In this we may need your help reminding them from time to time.
PART 3 - All Finished
- Congratulations!
Your child has taken their first steps to learning a lifelong fun, active and potentially lifesaving skill.
- What about feedback?
As our coaches usually have scheduled classes before and after, there will not always be time to discuss with them poolside about every student. Our coaches keep careful track of every student’s progress and parents will receive written reports every 5 weeks on their level progress. They will also communicate through the Customer Service team or contact you at a later time by office phone if needed.
Important to Remember
1. All children learn at different rates and face different challenges through their swimming journey. Our program is designed to cover all the important aspects of aquatic development. There may be times where parents need to
be patient while students overcome some challenges. During these periods, you will always be kept up to date with report cards and other feedback.
2. Be consistent! Students will follow a structured pathway for swimming progression with specific lesson plans. Best results will be achieved when students have good attendance. We usually recommend students maintain one lesson per week all year round as a minimum.
3. Be patient! It is quite common for some young students who are new to the water to be upset or crying for their first few lessons. During this period, it is very important that parents are able to show patience and allow children to slowly become comfortable in their new environment. This may mean that children are observing poolside for the first few classes or only have limited contact with the water, this time is still valuable. Being patient and overcoming this difficult period in the beginning will certainly save time in the long run.
