Turning Dominic into a Duckling - week nine
As the weekly swimming lessons continue, read how Dominic and mum Claire are progressing in the pool.
Not a massive amount of visible progress to report this week, the boy is happy in his arm bands and is doing intermittent leg waggling underwater. I suspect most of the time more fluke than conscious effort. A bit early for an underwater camera to do some stroke analysis. He still needs to realise that by moving his limbs he can get from A to B. But how do you make getting to ‘B’ more interesting than drinking pool water and trying to pull Mummy’s swimming costume down?
He still needs to realise that by moving his limbs he can get from A to B. But how do you make getting to ‘B’ more interesting than drinking pool water and trying to pull Mummy’s swimming costume down?
I am hoping that light bulb moment will come! I also hope that persistence will pay off. With kids you often find yourself saying or doing the same thing over and over, until you are blue in the face. With no apparent effect. Then one day they surprise you! (If you're lucky)
So we have booked for the next course. I might need to change to a later lesson after next term. As he gets older his sleep times will change. But you never know by then he might be ready to move up to the next Duckling stage anyway! She said, hopefully.
I often find myself discussing the lessons with other mums. Comparing our sessions to ones at other centres. I try not to turn into nightmare competitive parent!! Some people go to posh health clubs but their progress doesn’t seem any better or worse. Here is a case where it's clearly not 'you get what you pay for', it's more about the quality of the teacher I think.
Actually it’s interesting to find out how many people don’t take their children to swimming lessons. Most often it’s because they feel they can’t fit it in to their busy schedules. Gymnastics, music groups, playgroups, even tennis lessons. But I feel learning to swim is incredibly important. A forward roll or a backhand smash won’t save your life after all!
Apart from the ‘life skill’ thing, I find that the lessons give a structure to our day. We always go to the café afterwards. He gets to have a treat from the vending machine most times. He just loves choosing a brightly coloured packet and seeing it appear like magic in the tray. His little face is a picture. Simple pleasures! That’s what it’s all about. Patience, lady, one day I will get pleasure from seeing my boy swim too!
Useful?
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