Swimming Lessons

I don't remember ever taking formal swimming lessons but I do recall being fearful of the water and a very hesitant swimmer.  I didn't want that for my children, so they were enrolled in swim lessons at a local pool when they were quite young.  One of them needed the lesson experience to overcome fears much like I had and the other needed the lesson experience to learn technique even though swimming seemed to come naturally at a very early age.  

Recently, I visited with some of the grands as they were wrapping up their last day of swimming lessons for the summer.  They had been in a two-week course to learn techniques and gain confidence as a swimmer.

Linley's class was first.  Because she is two, she was enrolled in a Mommy and Me class.  If you ask me, the Mommy part was just for the security of the teacher where Linley was concerned.  I don't think she really felt much need for her mother!

As soon as we arrived, it was pretty clear that Linley was ready to get going!  She was the first in the pool and began her swim-time almost immediately.

She thought it was her duty to stretch the rope across the pool to designate the shallow from the deep end of the pool.

The teacher worked with her a wee bit and then she was off splashing and kicking toward her mother.  She was quick as a flash and I almost missed the instruction part of the lesson!  The teacher had a short conversation with Jessica and Linley and left them to practice while she worked with other children and their mothers.

Soon, she was pushing a pool noodle across the pool and it looked to me like mom was having a hard time to keep up with the little splasher.

The teacher came over for a bit more instruction and, once again, Linley and mom practiced.  Then, it was time for the fun part...

First, she practiced her sitting dive technique.  She was in such a hurry, that mom hardly had time to back away to give her room to jump into the pool!

Next, came free-form jumping from a stance on the side.  Each time she would instruct mom to back up a little further and so she could swim to her.  At one point, we heard her say, "You can let go, I've got this!"

She enjoyed herself and splashing and moving around in the water so much that I had a really hard time getting a picture of her face because it always seemed to be in the water!

Our little fish at the pond that day really had a big time at her final swimming lesson.  She was rewarded with a blow pop but I think mom was exhausted!

Then, it was time for big brother to showcase what he had learned.

Harris and his group started with a quick push off the side, keeping hands out front and swift kicks to propel them across the pool.  He and a little girl were constantly working on the deeper side of the rope.

From one side to the other, each child would push off and swim with the teacher watching and giving instructions.

His group practiced floating on their back and used the pool noodle to warm them up for the sitting dive and swimming across the pool as well.

Next, they practiced a sitting dive, swimming across the pool to the other side, and swimming back to their original spot again.  Harris was smiles all around.  Then, it was time for the big finale - jumping off the board!

The first time required a little extra to screw up the courage.  However, once he got to the ladder, he was quickly headed back to get in line for another attempt!

Summertime fun!  Ah! There's nothing like going to the swimming hole!