Second Session Swim Lessons

In my previous post about swim lessons, I mentioned that I made an impulse decision to sign Lyla up for a second round of swim lessons. The instructor told me that we could move her up a level so that she would be with three year olds who were comfortable with the water and already learning their stroke. I felt like that might help Lyla actually learn how to swim, since she would be able to watch the other kids and follow their lead. 

The three other kids in her class were so sweet as were their moms. It has turned out that we live close to the two boys in her class and run in to the quite frequently when we are out, especially at the library story time. It is fun to get to know people who live in our area.

We had one week of swim lessons and then we were headed to the beach for a few days. These lessons were over the course of 5 weeks (one 30 minute lesson per week) and would lead up to leaving for Texas. I figured it was better to stick with the same routine, then waste time trying to find another place for her to take lessons and better than not doing anything before we left, that way the first round of swim lessons would not be a waste. 

It really did make a HUGE difference being in a class where the kids were a little bit older, and they were kicking and doing their arms on their own to the instructor. Lyla definitely became more confident in the water and started understanding the "concept" a little better. She was by no means swimming by the end of the five weeks, but at least she was confident around the water....probably a little too confident. 

They practiced kicking in streamline, rainbow arms, blowing bubbles, jumping in, kicking with the noodle, and going underwater.

Love those pig-tail braids!

The two girls in the class. Lyla and Emily.

Jumping in. Can you say "no fear what so ever of the water"??!!

The two boys in the class. Logan and Michael. You can see Lyla floating on her back in between them.

Blowing bubbles.

Swimming to the teacher.

Streamline.

Practicing big arms, or rainbow arms. Although at that point, Lyla's arms looked more like the "wheels on the bus" movement.

Kick, Kick, Kick.

"Momma! Watch me!!"

Big arms!

Trying to swim.

The kids' favorite part.

Sweet girls.

Jumping over the noodles.

Would I do these swim lessons again? No. Do I think they gave her a basis and a basic understanding of the concept? Yes. So even though I was not overly impressed, it was a chance to get out of the house, give her (and me) a chance to socialize, and gave her even more of a love for the water. Every time we pass the pool where she took lessons she always says "My pool!!" "See Tracy, momma!!". 

I was definitely worried going in to the summer with the pool in the backyard and her "no fear" mentality. We go over the rules a lot about the swimming pool, like the fact that she cannot go out there by herself. We also have the doors out to the pool locked with a key and the key is not where she can reach it (or where she even knows it is). We also have the round handles that she cannot turn yet. I know that won't last but for now makes it even safer. The gate to the pool is also locked. Once again, Lyla has surprised me and is doing AMAZING in the pool. As of today (we are at the beach) she is swimming by her self and doing great at it! I am SO impressed by her. I cannot wait to see how much more she is doing by the end of the summer!!