Learning how to swim is an important milestone in a child's life, so it stands to reason that the way in which he or she is taught plays a major role in determining how positive this experience will be. When considering enrolling their infants in baby swim lessons West Chester PA patents should follow these guidelines.
Classes should be paced slowly, allowing each child to learn and acquire new abilities at his or her own speed. Teachers must demonstrate exceptional patience and enthusiasm to create an encouraging learning environment centered around fun. Babies and toddlers respond particularly well when lessons implement colorful toys, and lively games and songs to stimulate their senses.
One of the most popular types of classes for infants and toddlers are the "parent and tot" group lessons. Children attend classes along with their parents or another adult in a small group lead by a swimming instructor. This format is a great chance for both children and parents to socialize with one another, and it also creates a comfortable, fun learning environment that is unified, but also encourage each child's personal growth.
Sometimes parents may prefer private instruction where the parent and child work together with the teacher. While this can be an effective way to learn water skills, one must ensure that the child does not feel pressured and above all still has fun. The teaching method used must be leisurely paced and "baby-friendly" and the length of the lesson should be no longer than a half-hour.
Not only is it much safer for young children to learn with a parent alongside them, but it also makes the strange, new world of water seem less intimidating if mom or dad is close by, it also serves as great bonding experience between parent and child. The parent is also better able to gauge the aquatic abilities of their child so they can later work with him or her at home and practice these new skills.
It also improves the swimming experience for the young learner if the temperature of the water and the air is warm and comfortable. Babies do best in pool temperatures between 90 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit with surrounding air temperatures greater than 80 degrees in most cases. Swim-caps and infant-sized wetsuits can also help keep the child warm enough.
In terms of class frequency, at the introductory level, it is recommended that children attend four classes each week for the first month of instruction. Once basic water adjustment and breath control has been grasped, this number can be reduced somewhat to about two classes per week. If such frequent attendance is challenging to the schedules of parents, they can encourage the child to practice their new water skills at home during bath-time.
Before signing the child up for any swim classes, parents should talk to other moms and dads and find out which ones they would recommend, then sit in on these lessons to see for oneself if the children seem to be learning and happy there. Simply asking questions over the phone is not enough, observation is the best way to assess if the teacher and approach used measure up.
Classes should be paced slowly, allowing each child to learn and acquire new abilities at his or her own speed. Teachers must demonstrate exceptional patience and enthusiasm to create an encouraging learning environment centered around fun. Babies and toddlers respond particularly well when lessons implement colorful toys, and lively games and songs to stimulate their senses.
One of the most popular types of classes for infants and toddlers are the "parent and tot" group lessons. Children attend classes along with their parents or another adult in a small group lead by a swimming instructor. This format is a great chance for both children and parents to socialize with one another, and it also creates a comfortable, fun learning environment that is unified, but also encourage each child's personal growth.
Sometimes parents may prefer private instruction where the parent and child work together with the teacher. While this can be an effective way to learn water skills, one must ensure that the child does not feel pressured and above all still has fun. The teaching method used must be leisurely paced and "baby-friendly" and the length of the lesson should be no longer than a half-hour.
Not only is it much safer for young children to learn with a parent alongside them, but it also makes the strange, new world of water seem less intimidating if mom or dad is close by, it also serves as great bonding experience between parent and child. The parent is also better able to gauge the aquatic abilities of their child so they can later work with him or her at home and practice these new skills.
It also improves the swimming experience for the young learner if the temperature of the water and the air is warm and comfortable. Babies do best in pool temperatures between 90 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit with surrounding air temperatures greater than 80 degrees in most cases. Swim-caps and infant-sized wetsuits can also help keep the child warm enough.
In terms of class frequency, at the introductory level, it is recommended that children attend four classes each week for the first month of instruction. Once basic water adjustment and breath control has been grasped, this number can be reduced somewhat to about two classes per week. If such frequent attendance is challenging to the schedules of parents, they can encourage the child to practice their new water skills at home during bath-time.
Before signing the child up for any swim classes, parents should talk to other moms and dads and find out which ones they would recommend, then sit in on these lessons to see for oneself if the children seem to be learning and happy there. Simply asking questions over the phone is not enough, observation is the best way to assess if the teacher and approach used measure up.
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