By Let Mommy Sleep. April 23, 2015
Guest Post By: Bonnie Alcid, British Swim School of MD & VA
As summer approaches, many parents start thinking about swim lessons. Swimming is not only a life skill, it’s a life-SAVING skill. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children under five and it is PREVENTABLE.
With so many different options for swim lessons, it can get confusing. Choosing the right swim lesson program is very important and can mean the difference between success and frustration for you AND your child.
So what do you look for in a swim lesson program?
- A program that starts water acclimation as early as 3 months old, it’s not too soon to get them used to the water (and LOVING IT)!
- A small instructor/student ratio, classes that are 4:1 or 6:1.
- A program that teaches survival skills FIRST, then strokes. All children should be able to float on their backs and call for help. The back float is the ultimate survival skill. A child floating on their back is able to breathe and call for help. As students advance, this skill is also necessary if they get tired while swimming. Some bodies of water do not have an edge to swim to, or the edge is not easily accessible. Back floating is the best way to ensure safety.
- Level progression based on your child’s swimming ability, not their age. We see no reason to hold a child back from progressing based solely on their age.
- Swim Instructors that are trained as Swim Instructors. Lifeguards are not necessarily trained to teach swim lessons correctly.
- A program where no water wings or other flotation devices are allowed or used as part of the swim lesson.
- A program where the instructors are IN THE WATER with the students. If a swim lesson program does not meet all of these requirements, we suggest you keep looking.
About the Author:
Bonnie Alcid is the Franchise Owner, British Swim School of MD & VA. Learn more about their programs by visiting www.britishswimschool.com.