You & Kids in the Pool
When I was younger, my parents were adamant that I learn the life skill of swimming and pool safety. And, now that I have my own children who love the concept of the pool, I see the value in having kids who know basic floating and treading techniques in the pool.
Another urbanFamily joined us for some pool fun the other day and there was plenty of fun: splashing, some full out swim racing, and lots of cannonballs. The toddlers, of course, required constant attention and holding. The older kids, though, were totally competent in their play and swim. The middle-aged kids, the ones age 5-7, were still a bit wary in the water, tentative, afraid to let go, even though they were generally capable in the water. While it is good to be safe, is there an in-between? A way to instill independence in the water in a safe way? Do you use floatation devices with your kids when they are pre-swim-savvy?
Before we moved to Portland, I lived overseas in a warm place where we could swim in the outdoor (heated in winter) pool, usually from about February to November. So my kids swam a lot, supervised but often not with an adult next to them, from a very young age. I didn't think about this much until we moved here and I realized my kids were much stronger swimmers than most other kids their age--which makes sense, given that they had been swimming so much more. I grew up in the Northeast, where it wasn't hot year-round, but I lived on a small lake, so we swam all summer long, and I was a strong early swimmer, too.
So yet again I'm surprised to hear that kids age 5-7 are tentative around the water. My kids were bobbing in the water happily and comfortably at ages 3-4. My older son was learning strokes before he started kindergarten. He passed the "deep-end" test, so he could do into the deep end without an adult, as soon as he was able to take it, at age 6. At my kids' old school, the swim team starts in first grade, and all those kids are able to swim at least one lap across with ease.
My kids aren't precocious swimming geniuses; they just had the opportunity to learn at a young age. It's just a matter of getting them into the water when they're young.
Posted by: daisy | June 01, 2011 at 05:52 AM
My kids were also little in a warmer climate, Atlanta. Lessons and summer afternoons at the pool made them more than competent in the water by age 7. Having them be so comfortable in the water really helps a parent's peace of mind when you finally pack them off for summer camp at age 10 or so.
Posted by: trillium mum | June 01, 2011 at 07:56 AM
As a general rule, no, we don't let our kids use floaties or life vests because we believe they provide a bit of a false sense of security for the kid as well as the parents. Floaties offer a little more freedom, but we wanted our kids to know their limits well in the water. We do own a set though, and last year allowed my just-turned 3 year old to use them when we had friends over to swim, and when I didn't want to get in the pool with the kids. (We live in AZ and my boys start swimming in our un-heated pool as soon as the days warm up, despite the fact the the pool is still quite cold! I need the water to be a bit warmer...) When we moved to AZ and bought a house with a pool, we committed to raising kids who are strong swimmers so they've gone to swim lessons nearly every week since we got here. I'm so pleased with how far they've come along, not only are they extremely comfortable in the water, but both are very strong swimmers with great technical form, thanks to the lessons. I have noticed a difference in skill level compared to their friends too--the kids who have depended on floaties in years past generally are not as strong without them now that they are older and don't need them anymore.
As with most things, it's a matter of exposure--the earlier and the more often your kids are exposed to swimming, the higher the comfort level. I think the best way to instill independence is to really up the exposure--through lessons or weekly outings to the pool--rather than buying a pair of floaties or a tube. I do realize my perspective is a bit different--when we lived in Portland, we only swam a few times a year but in AZ it's obviously a totally different story--swimming several times a day all summer is the only way we survive the summer heat!
Posted by: Leah | June 01, 2011 at 08:01 AM
When my daughter started walking at 10.5 months, she also started happily jumping into the pool from the side, into mama's arms. I wasn't aware of any infant swim/safety lessons offered where we were living at the time, so I used a floatie for her in case she decided to take a dive without me right there. She has never, ever had a fear of water. She started swimming lessons as soon as we moved to Portland, year-round, at various PPR pools, then started with a recreationa swim team at age 8, and a competitive swim team at age 9. Lots of young teens she swims with now started competitively swimming at age 6 or 7.
I look at learning to swim and learning water safety as a non-negotiable life skill. Both are equally important--the strongest swimmer isn't going to make it if the fall into a 50 degree body of water, fully clothed, so they need to understand safety as well. I've got a fearless daredevil, and I can barely swim (plus I'm a scaredy-cat!)so lessons were an absolute necessity.
Posted by: S | June 01, 2011 at 08:16 AM
Any feedback on the swimbabes program in Portland? I have been pleased with Dolfun and Children of the Sea, so I am wondering if it is worth switching over for the survival training.
Posted by: Kathryn | June 01, 2011 at 09:16 AM
In response to the main post - I think getting them lessons sooner than later is wise. It's a lifesaving skill that also provides loads of pleasure come summertime or vacations. They don't have to know how to do a perfect dive or every single type of stroke, just the main -"I won't drown in the deep end" type of swimming.
In response to Kathryn - I'm not sure what the swimbabes program is but I highly recommend the swim lessons through Portland Park & Rec. They seem to train the instructors really well in communicating effectively & positively with children, moving them through new steps at a nice pace, and checking in with the parents/guardians of each child throughout the "term" to let us know of progress and any items that could be worked on. At the end of each 2-week session every child is given a colorful certificate stating that they completed that session of swim lessons. The kiddo is always thrilled to receive this. The certificate also states which level of lesson should be taken next. Sometimes this means they are repeating a level, but because of the way it's presented it has never been my experience that a child felt as if they had failed. Simply that some levels are harder than others and take more than one 2-week session to get through.
Hope that helps.
Happy Swimming!
Posted by: Melissa | June 01, 2011 at 09:46 AM
I agree that swimming is a non-negotiable life skill. When I was young my little sister almost drowned in a local lake and I have never forgotten that harrowing experience. Here in Portland you have to go out of your way to help your child gain swim skills but I think it is worth it.
Posted by: watermom | June 01, 2011 at 09:53 AM
I agree with the earlier the better! My kids have taken lessons at both PP&R and riverplace. In my opinion, PP&R is awful. Their teenage instructors take a very laid back approach with the kids, and for my kids, that just didn't work. They'll do what they want when given the choice, and with PP&R it is always a "choice" to do what the class is doing. That works fine in preschool, but not when you want your children to learn basic swim techniques.
We have LOVED Riverplace. My 5 year old can do 5 laps in the adult/lap pool. Swimming is just her thing. My younger two at 3 could swim across the smaller pool on their own - not with great form, but knowing the basics to get to the side if they get nervous. We still use a great deal of caution when at other pools, especially if crowded or with a deep end. That's more because they think they are better swimmers than they are though, and we don't want them to do anything stupid.
We don't use floaties. We do use life jackets when it makes sense -- like in non-pool water (lakes/ocean) as well as when it's super crowded and deep (for them) like a water park wave pool.
I do think swimming skills are critical. We don't really push the kids to do anything they don't want to, except swimming - learning water safety and how to swim is not a choice in our house.
Posted by: Mummytothree | June 01, 2011 at 09:56 AM
Both my kids go to Swimbabes in Milwaukie. The older one is 3, and takes independent stroke development classes (started independent classes at about 2, I think). The younger one is 13 months, can float independently fully clothed, and swim from mom to dad. They both started in "synchrobabies" in the 3-5 month old range. The water is kept at 92 degrees, which is nice and I like the teachers. I was on a swim team by the time I was 4 (in Santa Barbara, CA) so that seems kinda normal for me.
Posted by: sara | June 01, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Much like with weaning, transitioning to own beds and potty training, this will be very child led in our house. I was terrified (I mean TERRIFIED) of water until I was 10. And it wasn't because my mom didn't try to put me in swimming lessons several times, which she did. I was also around water a lot. I just wanted nothing to do with it. Then I turned 10 and started relaxing about it. So, once they're ready, they'll get swimming lessons. And if we're at the lake or the coast they'll have life jackets. I got caught in a sneaker wave once, was a VERY scary thing. I was 13. Thank goodness I had finally learned to swim, and also knew how to break free (by swimming parallel to the coast.) Oregon mommas, watch your kids out at the coast, those waves really do sneak up on you. The one I was caught in was in the Caribbean, in what I thought was relatively calm waters.
I think it all just boils down to making sure we (both us and the kids) are prepared for things. Teach em to swim, but also keep an eye on them. (Without hovering too much of course.) Now that I'm a momma I can think of the times I thought I had all this freedom but really my mom was 2 steps behind me with a watchful eye. But I was on some grand wing spreading adventure : )
Posted by: Erin E. | June 01, 2011 at 12:08 PM
My son is nearly 6 and starting the polar bear class at PP & R. So when the heck is he going to learn how to swim? Like tread water? Swim in the deep end? We go to lesson after lesson all year round and STILL my son does not know how to swim in the deep!! He can float, do strokes, etc. Is he developmentally just not ready? I agree with the poster above. I think we need to move on from PP and R. Their approach is soooo slow!
Posted by: eastsider | June 01, 2011 at 01:15 PM
Our experience with my son taking lessons at PP&R was not good. He is a physically cautious kid by nature, was not super comfortable in the water to begin with, and they didn't do much to get him in the water and get swimming. We threw away plenty of money and time on group lessons there until he was 5, still couldn't swim, and we'd had enough. We paid for a couple of months of private lessons and the difference was remarkable. Group lessons might work better for my daughter who is almost fearless and wants to be in the water learning, but for my son who is cautious by nature and was uncomfortable in the water, group lessons were a waste of time for us for a long time. I totally agree with others though that swimming was a non-negotiable skill I wasn't going to give up on my kids learning.
Posted by: Maggie | June 01, 2011 at 01:32 PM
Life jackets are a smart choice when you have lots of kids in the pool (or even just one or two if the pool is busy and you are trying to chat with another parent). PP&R pools all have life jackets available. I think for kids in that in between stage--not hanging onto Mom all the time but no yet a confident swimmer, no matter what the age--I would choose life jackets over any kind of floatie. Floaties are toys and aren't reliable for keeping a kid safe. Life jackets are designed for keeping kids safe. Seems a clear choice to me.
When my son was a baby (and he was also the kind to just jump into the water whether someone was there to catch him or not), we used a vest with foam inserts in the front and the back. This wasn't to keep him safe, just to make him float so he could practice kicking and swimming with his arms. He was really muscular but skinny--even as a toddler--so he didn't float well on his own and it's hard to learn to swim if you automatically sink to the bottom every time you let go of mom or dad. The vest had elastic straps around the sides, shoulder straps, and a crotch strap, but foam only on the front and back, so it didn't get in the way of his arms at all. We phased out of it once he was about three and a half. We also used it a bit with our daughter, but she wasn't as much of a risk taker and was happier to have us hold her or tow her while she practiced kicking and blowing bubbles and such.
Posted by: j | June 01, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Regarding SwimBabes--I have a friend who is a long-time teacher there (Sara.) All four of her children went through the program. I'd highly recommend looking into it...they start kids when they are itty-bitty. I've seen a lot of kids go through the program, and I'd term them all "water-safe."
In terms of PP&R lessons--my daughter went through the entire program. For a period of time, I did sign her up for semi-private lessons because the group classes weren't serving her well (too much waiting around for "her turn." I do think they are good for most kids, but not everyone. Something I will caution--most learn-to-swim programs teach "swim lesson strokes", and not legal "swim team strokes." No matter how much of a rock star your kid is in swimming lessons, if they do end up making the transition to swim team, they'll have to relearn most, if not all, strokes.
Posted by: S | June 02, 2011 at 09:12 AM
I feel the need to speak up for PP&R, we have always been very happy with their swim program. While perhaps it's not for every type of kid, I think most do well, and the affordablilty makes it accessible to all (they even have a free week coming up). I have found the teachers to be patient, kind and encouraging through both of my children's lessons in the last 2 years. And as far as motivation, they do not move up to the next level if they don't put in the work...
For the price, you really can't beat it, IMO.
Posted by: fanofppr | June 02, 2011 at 11:33 AM
I'm looking for advice when a child simply doesn't WANT to do swim lessons... we did a few sessions at the Beaverton YMCA when he was 2 and we were going to be going to the Bahamas and he had already jumped into one pool into the deep end while just walking by... it was hard because it was at naptime, and halfway through the second session he got wise that he could just get out, say he needed to potty or tie his suit or make some excuse and I would spend all the time getting him back in. Afterwards, I said I wasn't going to pay for more lessons that he didn't want to do... only now he's 7 and adamant that he doesn't wish to learn to swim ever! He has some of the skills, it's a matter of putting them together. He likes to go in pools, though... but then if I say he needs to know how to swim, he doesn't care. It's not enough incentive to say you must learn to swim to use the pool... plus we keep hoping if he gets in the pool that he will somehow learn or wish to take the lessons! We've tried saying it's a life skill that everyone needs, but he doesn't agree. While we could maybe force the issue, I don't want him going in with a huge resentment about the whole thing... either then not learning anything, or feeling that we forced him (as we never force him in any other activity) against his will. I'd thought of buddy lessons, but his friends can all swim! Maybe private lessons, but then it's a matter of the right person and the high cost...
Posted by: spottie | January 31, 2012 at 01:30 PM