Despite Happy appearances in this picture, Kate wasn't very fond of her first swimming lesson. She wasn't very fond of her second one either. In the past, Kate has loved being in the pool. She'll splash, blow bubbles, jump in from the side and even let us dunk her under the water. Because she's never been afraid and always loved the water, we thought that swimming lessons would be fun for her this Summer. But, there is something about the "lesson" part of it that she just doesn't like; that actually seems to make her afraid. To be fair, at then end of the second lesson today she started to have some fun. She actually moved from the stairs into the pool for two minutes and she learned a new game that she really liked a lot. I just asked her if she was excited to go to swimming tomorrow and she said, "Yes, but I'm not going under!" Two weeks ago at our hotel pool she would go under. It almost seems like the pressure of the "lesson" is too much for her. At the same time, I have absolutely no idea how to teach her to swim and I'd love some help. I'm just putting this all out there, wondering whether or not we should keep taking her? I want her to learn to swim, but I also want her to have fun... If it's not fun, should we persist? Any thoughts?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Swimming Lessons
Despite Happy appearances in this picture, Kate wasn't very fond of her first swimming lesson. She wasn't very fond of her second one either. In the past, Kate has loved being in the pool. She'll splash, blow bubbles, jump in from the side and even let us dunk her under the water. Because she's never been afraid and always loved the water, we thought that swimming lessons would be fun for her this Summer. But, there is something about the "lesson" part of it that she just doesn't like; that actually seems to make her afraid. To be fair, at then end of the second lesson today she started to have some fun. She actually moved from the stairs into the pool for two minutes and she learned a new game that she really liked a lot. I just asked her if she was excited to go to swimming tomorrow and she said, "Yes, but I'm not going under!" Two weeks ago at our hotel pool she would go under. It almost seems like the pressure of the "lesson" is too much for her. At the same time, I have absolutely no idea how to teach her to swim and I'd love some help. I'm just putting this all out there, wondering whether or not we should keep taking her? I want her to learn to swim, but I also want her to have fun... If it's not fun, should we persist? Any thoughts?
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I was the same way when I started swimming lessons as a kid. My mom kept bringing me to lessons anyway and let me sit on the side and watch. Eventually I got sick of watching and jumped right in one day!! I was a big swimmer ever since (Eventually spending most of my teenage summers lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons). It sounds like Kate is just going through a little phase- hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI would persist, but I would also spend time in the pool as a family outside of a lesson context so that she feels more familiar with the whole idea (the same pool, if this is possible). As for teaching her on your own, just encourage here to paddle her feet and move her arms; and you can help her to pretend like she's a fish (maybe Daddy can be a shark trying to get her, so she has to swim away from him?)
ReplyDeleteI think if you quit then she will feel like she was correct to be afraid.
Thanks Meg! We had a better day today, so I think that's really great advice. It's only two weeks of lessons, so Mark and I decided to hang in there.
ReplyDeleteI miss you and really hope to chat soon!
Love ya!
Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteGrandma Deb
Thanks all! Jennifer, you may have noticed that she has GiGi's swim suit. i can either drop it in the mail or give it to your mom in two weeks, which do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteI did notice that, but I figured it was because it was an old pic, not because we left it. Of course, there were some other things you were supposed to mail me, so why not throw it in all together! I could use it all, actually!
ReplyDeleteyou got it! :) i'll mail it all saturday.
ReplyDelete