Are Swim Lessons Worth It? (And Other Questions Parents Ask at 3 AM)
Swim lesson do more than teach kids how to move through the water. They build confidence, safety, and life-saving skills. At FINS Swim School, our private lessons are designed to meet each child where they are so they can learn faster, feel safer, and love the water.
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New to Lessons? Here’s What to Expect at FINS
You’ve taken the plunge and signed up for swim lessons for your child. The problem is, you’ve never taken swim lessons before – or it’s been so long that you don’t remember much about it. What do you need to know before you head out to the first of your infant swim lessons? Read on to find out what to expect at FINS swim school.
What should I bring?
If you’re taking parent and baby swim classes, you’ll need to be in the pool with your child. Make sure to bring: A comfortable, but sturdy bathing suit that will sustain a lot of movement and baby-holding A lined, non-disposable swim diaper for your child if they are not yet reliably potty trained A disposable swim diaper such as Huggies, Little Swimmers or Pampers Little Splashers A change of clothes for you and your baby, and a clean, dry diaper for after the lesson At least two towels for you and your baby
How early should I arrive?
For the first lesson, arrive about 15 minutes before your lesson in order to have enough time to dress and prepare for the class. It’s no fun being in a rush and trying to put on a swim suit! If you’re getting in the pool, take a brief shower prior to entering the pool. You’ll want to be ready for lessons and in the pool area with about 10 minutes to spare so you and your child can see other baby swimming lessons. This will help you see how things go as your baby can sense your anxiety if you are rushed or uncertain. For future lessons, you may not need to arrive as early.
Do I need to meet the instructor beforehand?
Because you’ll be in the water at your baby swimming classes, there’s no need to spend a lot of time with your instructor before class starts. You’ll get a chance to become well acquainted during the class. If your child is older you can plan to introduce yourself before or after class.
What happens during the class?
Infant swim lessons are designed to be fun! You’ll sing songs, move through the water, and focus on bonding and meeting others. The instructor for the newborn swimming classes will introduce some basic water skills like blowing bubbles, floating on their back, going underwater, and using the wall for support. The skills they learn now will be incorporated into more advanced swim lessons. If your child is uncomfortable, your instructor will help work with you to ease them into the lesson. If you’re just observing, take this time to relax and enjoy watching your little one learning a new skill!
What if I have to miss a class?
We understand things come up. Let the school know ahead of time if you won’t be able to attend your regularly scheduled baby swimming lesson. Each student is granted 1 free make-up class per month for a missed lesson. Our complete makeup policy is available in our FAQs sheet.
Starting a new activity like mommy and me swim classes can be a little stressful when you haven’t done so before. After just one or two baby swimming lessons, though, you and your child will be familiar with the routine and will be enjoying the water together. Have questions? Just ask – we’re happy to help! Download our FAQ sheet or contact us for more information about our swimming lessons!
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5 Reasons Kids Should Take Swim Lessons
For decades, experts have researched the benefits of enrolling your infant in swim lessons. In fact, studies are showing evidence that children who start infant lessons (before the age of one) experience numerous developmental benefits. Here are 5 reasons to start infant swim lessons:
1. Infant swim lessons help your baby to develop cognitively:
The Griffith study, conducted over a four-year period with nearly 7,000 children, found that children who had taken baby swimming lessons were more cognitively developed than children their age who had not. At the end of the study, it was found that baby swimmers were:
- 11 months ahead of the non-swimmers in verbal skills
- six months ahead in math skills
- two months ahead in literacy skills
- 17 months ahead in story recall
- 20 months ahead in following directions than non-swimming children their age
2. Improved coordination and movement:
This 2010 Medical News Today article describes a Norwegian study that demonstrates how baby swimmers have better balance and coordination skills compared to non-swimming children in the study. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology compared the results of 19 baby swimmers with 19 children that had not participated in baby swim lessons, revealing that the baby swimmers clearly had better balance and could grasp items better than their non-swimming counterparts.
3. Early baby sensory development:
Babies who are exposed to stimulation early get a brain boost. Professor Van der Meer’s research on hundreds of children over the years confirms that sensory perception, motor skills, and brain development happen simultaneously , and that the baby’s brain is more malleable in the earlier months of life. As a result, babies need to be stimulated and challenged at the appropriate level from the time they are born.
4. Safety in the water in later years:
Although the studies are inconclusive about reducing the risk of drowning in ages one-to-four, baby swimming lessons get children comfortable with the water, allow for bonding time between the mother and infant, and provide the baby with techniques that can be applied later in life.
5. Confidence in the water:
Studies have shown baby swimming lessons help children achieve self-confidence. One study showed that children who received early swimming lessons year-round demonstrated better self-esteem, better self-control, and a stronger desire to succeed.
Because of the benefits of baby swimming lessons, there are now early swim programs that offer swimming lessons for infants, as well as toddlers and older children. But always remember: no matter what age your child is or how long they have been taking swimming lessons, there is no substitute for supervision.
If you’d like more information, or if you have any questions about our programs and swimming lessons, please contact us today or stop by one of our locations.
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How Parents Can Help Kids Learn to Swim (and Build Confidence)
Playing in the water and swimming is fun, for most people, but sometimes children are what we call “reluctant swimmers.” The name says it all: they’re extremely hesitant of swimming or going anywhere near water. It may be out of a fear of water in general, or it may be because they don’t know how to swim. This is entirely normal and nothing you or your child should be ashamed of. And remember, there is a path forward for kids with a fear of swimming or confidence issues. Swimming lessons can provide the structured environment they need to learn proper swimming techniques and become more comfortable and confident in the water. But before we get there, here are a few things parents can do to lower their child’s guard and warm them up to the idea of taking swimming lessons.
1. Paint Swimming as a Fun Activity
Kids love fun, who doesn’t? They naturally gravitate toward fun activities, sometimes to the chagrin of their parents (to be fair, splashing around in the mud can be fun). If they’re exposed to swimming as a fun activity, they may be more interested in taking part.
2. Lead by Example
That’s right, parents! Your kids look up to you, and while they value your words, your actions have a far greater impact. That means you’ll need to suit up, jump in, and show, rather than tell your child the water is a great way to cool off and a perfect place to play. If your child sees you swimming around and having fun, you can begin to build their confidence when it comes to swimming.
3. Go Swimming Often
Work swimming into part of your family’s routine. If you dedicate yourself to taking your whole family to the pool at least once per week, and your child is able to spend more time around the water, they’ll begin to see it as another fun and physical activity.
4. Suggest Swimming Lessons
There’s nothing that builds confidence more than learning the correct way to do something and swimming lessons is no exception. Lessons taught by an instructor can also be met with less resistance from a child, compared to lessons from their parents. It also helps being surrounded by peers with the same amount of swimming experience, rather than older siblings who already know how to swim, or younger ones who need more hands on attention.
5. Celebrate Achievements
Swimming is a great way to build confidence in your child, and it all starts with that first dip of the toe. Make a big deal about every major milestone your child reaches in the pool. Take them out for a treat if they’re able to slowly make their way onto the stairs. Reward them after their swimming lesson. Talk with the instructor about their progress and reinforce the excitement about reaching milestones and participation. Many child development studies show when children learn to swim, they develop increased coordination and an appreciation for a new, fun, activity. But again, it starts with that first dip.
When your child is ready to start swimming lessons, we’d love to be part of the process. Reach out to FINS today and register your child for one of our upcoming learn to swim programs or contact us with any questions.
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Why Swimming Is Great for Infants, Kids, & Adults!
Learning to swim when you are young is like riding a bike – it’s a rite of passage. There are many benefits of swimming, not the very least being that it’s FUN! Some children would say that swimming is like flying through water, others love the ebb and flow of the waves in a large lake, yet others just find the whole experience to be exciting and enjoyable. Imagination abounds in the form of mermaids, play shark attacks, and diving games. Swimming also has important benefits for social, emotional, and physical health. Read on to find out the top 3 benefits of swimming and why it’s so much fun!
Social Benefits of Swimming
Swimming at the pool with a group of peers will make swimming that much more fun, because your child will share their experiences with others their age, which will have a positive impact on their social health and well-being. During swimming lessons children get to be in a small group with a caring instructor sharing their experiences together, while parents get some time to observe. For infant swim lessons, parents and infants swim together and experience the joys of being in the water, maybe for the first time. Watching the interactions with others, while splashing and having fun, shows infants and kids that they can learn a skill and have a blast at the same time.
Emotional Benefits of Swimming
The emotional benefits of swimming are not as well-known; the sea of our emotions is complex indeed. It’s clear that time in the water can be calming and therapeutic for children and adults alike. In a literal sense, water cleanses and clears away debris that is stagnant and stuck. When we apply this same theory to our emotions we experience the same phenomenon. Water is meant to cool, cleanse, and heal our emotions, and kids are no exception to the wonderful experiences in water. Emotional confidence can be gained with learning to swim as well. If your child is nervous or anxious about starting to swim, check out these fun swimming books for kids.
Physical Benefits of Swimming
The physical benefits of swimming are more studied and well known. When children swim in a pool, lake, pond, or ocean, their brains release chemicals called endorphins that are designed to make us feel happy. Swimming also builds cardiovascular endurance, keeping those little hearts healthy. Getting physical exercise and having fun at the same time? You must be swimming! Swimming also builds muscle, burns calories, and invigorates our bodies.
Swimming is fun for children and it has so many benefits. Learning to swim is great for the body, mind, and spirit. It doesn’t take an expert to see why swimming is so much fun. When in doubt, watch your favorite swimming character, whether it’s Nemo, Mr. Limpet, Ariel, or SpongeBob Squarepants, and you’ll see right away why the water life is the fun life. For more information about our swimming lessons, contact us today!
Infant Swim Safety Tips for Home Practice
Welcome to our final post in our ‘Welcome to FINS Intro to Swim and Safety’ series. We hope that you have found these emails informative and helpful. Don’t forget, we love your feedback! Our goal at FINS is to keep parents informed about what their child is learning in class and to provide various helpful tips. As always, ALL FINS team members are happy to help answer questions and address concerns as you have them.
Tips for continued learning while at home:
For the beginner child with fear or apprehension of water:
- During bathtime, gently pour water over the hair, letting it cascade over the face too. You can do this with a slow pour rain bucket like we have in class or a simple cup. Once they allow you to do it, encourage them to pour water on their own head! Always encourage with smiles and positivity. Make it fun!
- Talk about FINS a few times per week when you are not headed to lessons. Mention the instructor’s name a lot too! You can even ask your child questions about their instructor or help them come up with things to ask next time they see them, such as “What is your favorite color? Animal? Book when you were a kid?” By speaking openly about swim lessons and the people your child will see there, it will help to build trust and familiarity more quickly. Having questions to ask will take your child’s mind off of the water and the task of learning, and redirect them to fun little facts about their instructor!
For the child with no fear and progressing swim skills (ideas to practice at the pool):
- Swim outs – If your child wants to show you what they are learning in class, by all means let them do it! Allow them to ‘swim out’ to you from a step or ledge. Always start with a shorter distance than they are used to at FINS, as it is a new environment and circumstances. We parents sometimes want to see if they can do more, but it’s our strong recommendation that increases to their swim distance be restricted to during swim time with our trained teachers.We want your child to see pool time as a FUN experience with you. By having them swim further than they are used to in class, it could create fear and even regress their progress. You just enjoy the playtime!
- Fall in and get the wall – Again, if your child wants to show off their skills to you, go for it! Just limit this skill to no more than 3 times. Most importantly, please make sure they fall FORWARD into the water. Avoid simply scooting to the edge or leaning backward to prevent hitting their head on the pool edge, we even recommend keeping a hand behind the child in case they need a little extra push for their safety..
- Back float – Ask your child if they prefer to be held/supported by you or if they float alone. If your child is nervous and asks for your support, do NOT let go. This can instantly regress back float progress. Remember, leave the swim teaching to the instructors at FINS. We want your child to have fun showing you what they can do! Simply being in the back float position, independently or not, is major progress and they will be proud to show you!
- Have fun! If you get the opportunity to swim with your child, we recommend just a short 5 or so minutes spent on skill reinforcement. Make sure most of your time is about playing and making memories!
For ALL children enrolled in our Learn to Swim and Safely Levels:
- Reinforce the memorization of Swim Safety Rules we go over in class:
- Never Swim Alone (only swim with a grown-up)
- Always use the handrail or sit to get into a pool
- Never swim during thunder and lightning
- No running around the pool
- No eating in the pool
Thank you for taking the time to read our emails and blog posts. Again, we hope you found them helpful and informative! We also want to thank you one more time for taking a very important step in drowning prevention by giving your child the gift of swim lessons. Always remember, teaching your child to swim DOES NOT make them drown-proof. Accidents can happen anywhere and to anyone. Ways of creating layers of drowning prevention include:
- Constant Adult Supervision
- Learning CPR
- Swim Lessons
- Safety Fence Installed Around Pools
- Use of Approved Life Jackets
For more information on Drowning Prevention Education, please visit: http://www.ghadpa.org/
Read MoreShould Infants Wear Swim Goggles?
We hope you are having a FINStastic day! You have been in swim lessons for weeks now and we hope your child is having a blast. Here at FINS we get asked about goggles all the time. Does my child need them? Do goggles help? Why does FINS require children to complete some skills without goggles?
Does my child need goggles? In our Intro to Swim and Safety Levels, it is totally up to your child (and you). FINS does not require goggles in our intro levels. We find most children do prefer to use them. While many younger children do not like the feel of goggles on their faces, most will change their minds and prefer to wear them as they get older. Having eye protection does eliminate a lot of the distraction that comes with splashes to the eyes or eye irritation after water exposure. We do recommend goggles, andwe do ask that your child have their own pair if they plan to use them. While FINS has a limited number of pairs to borrow, those are reserved for the occasional use if a child forgets their own . As a bonus, having their own pair of goggles will also help the instructor focus more class time on learning to swim and less time adjusting goggle straps!
Do goggles help a child to learn to swim? Having goggles does tend to aid in the process when swimming longer distances in our advanced levels and helps eyes not be become irritated from prolonged exposure to water (whether that is in a pool, ocean, lake or river). They may also help cut down on distractions. However, as mentioned above, the use of goggles in our intro levels does not directly affect the ability to master skills.
Why does FINS require children to complete some skills without goggles? We have not been shy about expressing that our main focus is on water safety and drowning prevention. By the time your child completes this program, they will be able to fall in, turn around and swim to the wall WITHOUT goggles. We require this as an exit skill because should your child accidentally fall into a pool, it is highly unlikely that they will be wearing goggles. We want to simulate the accidental fall while practicing so that it feels as familiar as possible in the real event. Our goal is for them to know how to perform the self-rescue techniques instinctively and in all circumstances.
Where should I buy goggles? FINS sells goggles we LOVE and work well for many swimmers. In addition, there are a few local swim shops who sell other brands if you would like to explore further. Buying goggles at a big box store may not be the best plan. We tend to notice more leaking and quicker breaking of those goggles. A good pair purchased a FINS or a local swim shop will only cost a few more dollars, but will be worth it’s weight in gold! How do we define a “good pair” of goggles? First and foremost is comfort. The child must like the way they feel. Secondly, you must make sure the part around the eye seals tightly on the face. If the goggles are too big (or too small) water will constantly leak in making the goggles essentially useless.
Be on the lookout next week for our final email in this series. We will talk about ways you can help further advance your child’s swim and safety skills by practicing at home!
Read MoreFINS Parent Portal
We hope this email finds you well and that our weekly emails are answering all of your questions while also teaching you about things you didn’t even know to ask about! Our goal is to have every parent at FINS feeling very informed about what their child is learning, why it is important and how they can expect to see everything play out during swim lessons.
Today’s blog post is going to divert from what is happening in the classes to show you how you can use FINS Parent Portal online to check on your child’s skill progression, make updates to your account, email your child’s instructor, see class openings and more!
Instead of writing a long post about all of the things you can do, here is a 2 minute YouTube video all about the FINS Parent Portal.
If you attempt to log in and do not know which email address we have on file, please give us a call or stop by the front desk and we are happy to help! Additionally we can always do a quick password reset for you if needed! Tablets are available at our facility if you would like to try the portal while you are here, we’re happy to help!
Thanks for watching, reading, and learning! We hope each week you find the information helpful and you are learning something new. Be on the lookout for an email next week where we talk about goggles. We will answer questions like: Does your child need them? Do they help? Why does FINS require some skills without goggles?
Read MoreSwim & Safety Lessons at FINS
Congratulations! You’re rolling right along and getting into a new groove of swim lessons with your child! We hope it is an activity that they (and you) look forward to each week. Each lesson they are not only mastering new skills toward water safety, (as we discussed last week), but they are also learning beginner swimming skills. The cool thing about swim lessons is that it is an activity they can enjoy for the rest of their life. As your child grows, knowledge of water safety and swim skills can be used at the neighborhood pool, on family vacations, birthday pool parties, or even to get involved in the sport of swimming by joining a swim team! …but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
This week, we are going to learn about creating muscle memory and forming strong synapses in the brain (connections) that will help your child swim longer distances.
Learning to swim longer distances is not as easy as 1-2-3. The development of breath control involves creating muscle memory, feeling relaxed in a different environment (unlike fish, we humans don’t live in water), and using multiple areas of our brain simultaneously. That’s right, we use our cerebellum (in the back of the brain) to control our balance, coordination and muscle control. We use our brain stem (at the bottom of the brain) to control our fundamental body functions like breathing, which is done naturally when out of water but requires timing and thought process in the water. Who knew learning to swim would also make your child smarter by using multiple areas of the brain at once?
By the time your child completes the Intro to Swim and Safety program, they will have progressed from a non-swimmer to swimming at least 10 feet on their own! Of course, there will be baby steps along the way to help them reach this distance goal. We will start with skills like: a jellyfish float (learning to float in a prone (face down) position), exploring the pool with the use of the barbell floatation tool, and using leg momentum to push off the step or wall into a forward glide. As their comfort level and breath control increases, so will their swim distance. Remember that our goal is to create a fun and positive swim experience each time they come to swim at FINS. Instructors will watch for cues to determine when your child is ready to go a bit further and when they simply need to gain confidence in the current skills they have mastered!
Thanks for reading and learning! We hope each week you find the provided information helpful and that you are learning something new. Be on the lookout for an email next week where we will tell you all about the FINS Parent Portal and all the cool things you can do, like check on your child’s skill progression, see class openings, make updates to your account, and more!
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