Swim Success Blog -- My personal soapbox on swimming, learning, and life
 Entries tagged as 'FAQ'

FAQ Set #2: my child, best age, scared

Q:How much can I expect my non-swimming child to learn?

A. You can expect your child to learn to swim. I don't know how far each student will swim by the end of the season because that depends on a variety of factors such as the comfort level of each individual. The progress of some learners may really amaze you.

Q: What is the best age to start my child in swimming lessons?

A: Whatever age your child is right now. Given the right circumstances, even a young infant will benefit from the developmental swimming approach I use. However, I suggest you wait until your infant is 4 months old before starting. Beyond that, the sooner the better.

Q: My children are already swimming. Would they benefit from more lessons?

A: Yes. Most individuals can gain from stronger abilities in swimming and related skills. Often, children and youth overestimate their swimming ability, and their overconfidence may lead to their getting into very dangerous situations.

Q: My child is frightened in the water. Can you help?

A: Yes. I was frightened as a child, and I had several detrimental experiences in various swimming lessons. After learning to swim and becoming a lifeguard, a swimming instructor, and a parent, I have helped many students (children and adults) develop a comfortable relationship with the water. If your child starts out with serious fears, learning to swim will come much more slowly. I work on boosting the student's comfort level while teaching swimming skills at the same time.

Related Posts:
   1. FAQ Set #1: the program, swimming, strokes (May 02, 2010)
   2. FAQ (Apr 24, 2010)
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FAQ Set #1: the program, swimming, strokes

Q: What makes your classes different from other programs?

A: There are two major differences.

First, I develop a teacher-student relationship based on my respect for the students and the work I do to earn their trust. One important result: many students have succeeded here after unfortunate experiences at other programs.

Second, most programs spend precious time on highly defined strokes (e.g. "freestyle" and "backstroke"). In contrast, I focus activities on the students' natural movements and responses to their water experience, so swimming comes more quickly.

Q: But, wait right there. Don't students have to learn strokes to swim?

A: "Swim" means that they can get where they want to go in the water, that is, locomotion or traveling. Highly defined, correctly performed strokes are not required for locomotion.

Q: Do you ever teach strokes?

A: Yes. Once the student is swimming (traveling in the water), I build on that foundation to help the student group natural movements into the various strokes and skills.

Related Posts:
   1. FAQ Set #2: my child, best age, scared (May 03, 2010)
   2. FAQ (Apr 24, 2010)
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