Beginning as early as infancy, children can start the journey towards learning how to swim. In order to ensure a positive experience for their children, when looking for baby swim lessons West Chester PA moms and dads should make sure these classes meet the following essential criteria.
The pace of the instruction needs to be slow, letting each child learn new skills when he or she is ready. A good teacher is someone who is both enthusiastic and patient, and makes swimming fun and interesting for these young students by incorporating sensually stimulating toys, games, and songs into water activities.
Group learning can be particularly effective for this age group, children enjoy socializing together and seeing others also becoming familiar with swimming can help them learn. Usually termed "parent and tot" classes, each group consists of a small number of children accompanied by a parent, lead by an instructor. The adults also enjoy the social aspect of this format, and overall it promotes a sense of unity but simultaneously accommodates individual progress.
Sometimes parents may prefer private instruction where the parent and child work together with the teacher. While this can be an effective way to learn water skills, one must ensure that the child does not feel pressured and above all still has fun. The teaching method used must be leisurely paced and "baby-friendly" and the length of the lesson should be no longer than a half-hour.
The presence of mom or dad, or another adult caregiver goes a long way in reassuring children as they become accustomed to moving about in the water. It adds to their sense of security, and also acts as a valuable opportunity for bonding. This also familiarizes the parents with the child's swimming progress, so they can help him or her practice at home, or anywhere there is a pool.
It also improves the swimming experience for the young learner if the temperature of the water and the air is warm and comfortable. Babies do best in pool temperatures between 90 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit with surrounding air temperatures greater than 80 degrees in most cases. Swim-caps and infant-sized wetsuits can also help keep the child warm enough.
In terms of class frequency, at the introductory level, it is recommended that children attend four classes each week for the first month of instruction. Once basic water adjustment and breath control has been grasped, this number can be reduced somewhat to about two classes per week. If such frequent attendance is challenging to the schedules of parents, they can encourage the child to practice their new water skills at home during bath-time.
Parents need to make sure they are choosing the right swim program for their child before enrolling him or her. Talking to other mothers and fathers who are taking their children to lessons and then checking out any classes they recommend in person is the most reassuring way to find out if the program and teacher make the grade.
The pace of the instruction needs to be slow, letting each child learn new skills when he or she is ready. A good teacher is someone who is both enthusiastic and patient, and makes swimming fun and interesting for these young students by incorporating sensually stimulating toys, games, and songs into water activities.
Group learning can be particularly effective for this age group, children enjoy socializing together and seeing others also becoming familiar with swimming can help them learn. Usually termed "parent and tot" classes, each group consists of a small number of children accompanied by a parent, lead by an instructor. The adults also enjoy the social aspect of this format, and overall it promotes a sense of unity but simultaneously accommodates individual progress.
Sometimes parents may prefer private instruction where the parent and child work together with the teacher. While this can be an effective way to learn water skills, one must ensure that the child does not feel pressured and above all still has fun. The teaching method used must be leisurely paced and "baby-friendly" and the length of the lesson should be no longer than a half-hour.
The presence of mom or dad, or another adult caregiver goes a long way in reassuring children as they become accustomed to moving about in the water. It adds to their sense of security, and also acts as a valuable opportunity for bonding. This also familiarizes the parents with the child's swimming progress, so they can help him or her practice at home, or anywhere there is a pool.
It also improves the swimming experience for the young learner if the temperature of the water and the air is warm and comfortable. Babies do best in pool temperatures between 90 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit with surrounding air temperatures greater than 80 degrees in most cases. Swim-caps and infant-sized wetsuits can also help keep the child warm enough.
In terms of class frequency, at the introductory level, it is recommended that children attend four classes each week for the first month of instruction. Once basic water adjustment and breath control has been grasped, this number can be reduced somewhat to about two classes per week. If such frequent attendance is challenging to the schedules of parents, they can encourage the child to practice their new water skills at home during bath-time.
Parents need to make sure they are choosing the right swim program for their child before enrolling him or her. Talking to other mothers and fathers who are taking their children to lessons and then checking out any classes they recommend in person is the most reassuring way to find out if the program and teacher make the grade.
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