FAQ
- How are you different than other programs?
- When can my child begin lessons?
- What is submersion?
- Does crying mean that the child will hate swimming or is not ready for lessons?
- Why don’t you use floaties or float belts?
- Do you teach competitive swim strokes?
- Do you teach adults?
- Why do you teach children to roll-over?
- Can a 2 or 3 year old really learn to swim?
- Do you allow teacher requests?
- How long are the lessons/sessions?
How are you different from other programs?
First and most obvious is, with the exception of our babies under 2, we do private lessons until a child is comfortable and has some competence in the water. The second is that we use no flotation devices because we want children to trust and enjoy the properties of water without them. The third is that we require children to attempt skills regardless of their emotional response to them. This is often necessary to overcome their natural fears.
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When can my child begin lessons?
We encourage parents of infants from 3-24 months to take our Mom/Dad ‘N’ Me class. These lessons offer a great opportunity for parent and baby to become comfortable in and around water together. They are also an excellent foundation for private lessons which we teach to children two years of age and up.
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What is submersion?
Quite simply, submersion is going under water. We believe it is a “base skill,” with other skills dependent on it. Submersion is one of the first skills that we teach our students. We begin submersion at 3-6 months.
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Does crying mean that the child will hate swimming or is not ready for lessons?
It means neither. Crying occurs in many children when they are required to master new swim skills. Just like riding a bike or going down a slide has an element of fear to overcome, so does learning to swim. We work to build a trusting relationship with children and require that they work with us to overcome their fear.* With some children, it is not an issue of fear but of self control. Please encourage your children to express themselves appropriately. They will learn quicker and enjoy it more. Also, fear compounds with age. The younger a child starts, the better. Many of our students under age four also cry because their parents are not present. This ends quickly as they become comfortable with the water and the teachers.
*~ Children who are very fearful may cry until they are comfortable in the water. Although parents are not present pool-side during these beginning lessons, they need to be prepared to perhaps hear some of their child’s crying. It can be difficult for the parent at the time, but is forgotten by both parent and child once the child overcomes the fear and is enjoying new skills in the water.
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Why don’t you use floaties or float belts?
In an emergency, children need to know how to handle themselves. Because we are concerned about their safety, we do not use flotation devices until children are at a stage where the device acts as an aid to a specific skill. We have seen tremendous dependency develop in beginners who wear flotation devices. Their source of confidence is in the device, not in their own abilities.
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Do you teach competitive swim strokes?
Absolutely! Most of our instructors have been competitive swimmers at some level. See instructor bios for more information.
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Do you teach adults?
Yes we do! Learning to swim as an adult takes patience, determination and courage, but is well worth the effort. We love working with adults, although it does usually take a bit longer for them to learn then young children.
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Why do you teach children to roll-over?
We teach children to “roll-over” from tummy to back as early as Mom/ Dad ‘N’ Me. The reason why is that it is the safest position to be in – you can breath on your back! An infant, toddler, or young child trained to roll over has a higher chance of survival should they accidentally fall in water or are unable to reach an exit. *Note: nothing is safer than adult supervision in and around water until the child can swim on their own. No child is “drown proof”.
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Can a 2 or 3 year old really learn to swim?
A young child can learn to propel themselves through the water. A 2 or 3 year old can learn to get a breath, roll on their back and use their arms under water. Until a child is close to four they will usually not look like freestylers or backstrokers unless receiving regular training. (Many children at 3 1/2 could swim freestyle, backstroke and elementary back) because they continued in instruction combined with lots of fun time at the pool with family.
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Do you allow teacher requests?
It is easy to become fond of an instructor. Different students respond to different teaching and personalities. Please remember that all our instructors are trained regularly and are individuals of high character. With the combination of different locations and instructor time off, and patron requests there is NO WAY FWFSS can guarantee any particular instructor request.
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How long are the lessons/sessions?
Our lessons are 1/2 hour long for all but the adult classes. Our programming lasts from May through August.