Why are lessons 5 days per week and for only 10 minutes?
The reason for this is multifaceted. First, repetition and consistency are crucial elements of learning for
young children. Research shows that short, more frequent lessons result in higher retention. Second,
most children have fairly short attention spans and will not be able to focus on the task for longer and
we want to take advantage of the best time for learning. A third reason is that, though the pool
temperature is maintained at 78-88 degrees, the temperature is still lower than your child's body
temperature. Lessons are work and therefore will also be losing body heat. Instructors check students
regularly for temperature fatigue since this is an indicator of physical fatigue.
How is it that babies can learn to respond to the danger of water when they fall in?
A baby does not need to perceive danger or be afraid to respond appropriately to being underwater. If a
baby has learned to roll over and float when he needs air, he doesn't need to perceive danger in order to
respond in this manner. He needs skill, practice and confidence to calmly deal with the situation.
Do you have children that just can’t learn the skills?
No. Every child can learn. It is my job to find the best way to communicate the information so that it
makes sense to the child. I set your child up to be successful every time you bring them to me. I start
where they are and through consistent lessons, we see progress.
How do the kids react during the first few lessons?
Children often fuss during the first few lessons because they are in a new environment and around new
people. As your child becomes more confident in his/her ability in the water, the fussing will decrease.
It is not unlike the first time you tried a new exercise class or were asked to perform a task at work that
you’d never done before: the first time you try a new task it is always challenging, until you get the hang
of it. It is the same for your young child. Your child is learning to perform a skill that he/she’s never done
before.