THEY DID IT! Swim Kids 2018
We have always done the traditional swim lessons. Carter has taken 6 rounds of swim lessons and Bentley had taken two I think but still was very nervous in the water and always wanted a lifejacket. As for Penny, she too was nervous in the water without a lifejacket or clinging onto you for dear life. Carter is a pretty good swimmer but I still wouldn't have trusted him to fall out of a boat or fall into a pool and know what to do even with all of the swim lessons he has had in the past. We are leaving pretty soon on a family vacation and this opportunity couldn't have happened at a better time for us. Really, it was meant to be!
These Swim lessons are everyday (Tuesday - Friday) for 10 minute one on one lessons. Because Bentley is in full day kindergarten on Monday, Wednesday and a couple of Friday's a month, he really only had them on his days off (so Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other Friday). Penny went everyday.
The whole point of these lessons is to teach your kid to be able to fall into water and know exactly what do to. They can swim and float completely unassisted and the best part is teaching them NOT TO PANIC in the water. I will admit, I kinda felt sick about these lessons as we got closer to the start of them. I know their instructor personally so I trusted her but my anxiety about the kids freaking out and loosing their minds or feeling unsafe during the lessons had my stress levels at an all time high. In fact, the night before the first lesson.. I actually dreamt that Bentley drowned. I was a mess.
The first class was on Febryart 13th. Penny always swam from 10:40-10:50 and Bentley was from 10:50-11:00.
Bentley was nervous on the first day because I explained to him what was going to happen. Penny was so excited... until the first 2 minutes of the lesson, then she started to get scared and cry and asked to get out of the water. The first week was basically learning to put your face in the water, open your eyes and find the edge. Holly taught them with SO MUCH LOVE! Seriously, they fully trusted her even though they were scared. I cannot thank her enough for making them (and me!!) feel comfortable and gaining that trust immediately.
By the 3rd class both got into the routine of it and I saw MAJOR progress by the end of the first week. Week two came quick and both were nervous for the first day again.
Week two was all about floating, surfacing and orientation. I was shocked at how fast she taught them how to float. It was amazing to see just how much progress they made every day. 10 minutes was really the perfect amount of time everyday. Carter was on his mid-winter break during this week so he was lucky enough to hang out in the hot tub while Bentley and Penny had their lessons and the great thing about these lessons is that the kids were always aloud to sit in the warm hot tub after their 10 minutes lesson which was a GREAT reward for them!
By week three, both Bentley and Penny felt SUPER comfortable with Holly and the swimming and they were just excited and ready to go! This week they focused on the same as week two. But combining floating to swimming and back to floating. Teaching them that when they get tired or need a breath, to flip over and float and rest.
Each Friday, was "fun swim" so I got to get in the water with them and Holly taught me how to swim with them. How to reward them how to let them go and it was GREAT for me to learn not to panic when they're under the water. Trusting them to know what to do. It really is amazing at what our kids can do when you teach them and trust them. Kids are amazing.
Week four was combining all the skills together. By Week four I was just elated to see them swim. Holly never once taught them to kick or move their arms, somehow it just happened. It was just instinct under the water. Both of them were SOOOOO happy to be in the water everyday. They missed it on the weekends. At the end of week four in their swimming lessons we look them one evening to canmore to go swimming and the lifeguards were watching our kids like hawks. In awe that our 3, 5, and 7 year olds would jump in the deep end and swim and float all the way across to the shallow end without help from us. At the very end, one of the lifeguards came up to me and said "its amazing that you've taught your children to float on their backs if they get tired.. you can always tell which kids have lifeguards for parents" lol I quickly corrected her and said that Brian and I are definitely NOT lifeguards BUT gave credit to Swim Kids Calgary for teaching them over the last few weeks.
Here is what one 10 minute lesson looks like in pictures! (Bentley was at school on this day)
Week 5 was initially a week I was completely dreading. It was testing and Graduating week. They were required to swim one day in their Pajamas and Penny was required to jump in and float for an entire minute completely unassisted.
They were both excited to give it a go and I couldn't believe when I watched Penny just float for a minute on her back like it was nothing.
Bentley said it felt funny because it was extra heavy. He did an incredible job too and from what I could see, wearing his pyjamas made no difference in his swimming and floating ability.
I literally jumped for joy when we left. I am so proud of these two! The next swim day was FULL clothing swim. One last step to pass the class. Now, THAT was heavy for them! They both had to wear shoes, socks, underwear, pants, a shirt and a spring/fall jacket.
Penny went in first. She again thought it was pretty funny to be swimming with all her clothes on.
But yet again, she surprised me when she made it look simple.
SHE DID IT! I Cannot believe how well she did. For 3 years old, I can totally trust her in the water. She hardly even needs my help. I mean, I watch her (obviously) but its basically all her. She went from being so nervous and crying for a lifejacket to being completely independent, excited and confident in the water!
Bentley's turn! He said his clothes were so heavy! The poor kid choose jeans to swim in and he did AMAZING!
Watching him swim and float made my heart feel so calm. Knowing very well he can do it gives me so much peace knowing this summer I won't need to worry about them.
At the end of the clothing swim, Holly presented both Bentley and Penny with an adorable personalized towel as a graduation gift and they just felt so special.
I cannot thank Holly enough for being so patient, loving and kind. For teaching our kids how to literally swim and float and be so confident in the water. When she told me that at the end of the 5 weeks, our kids would know how to swim and float and be independent in the water, I honestly wasn't sure I really believed her but... she was right! I should have believed her because she's taught over 500 kids! She TRULY is amazing at what she does!
If you want to see their progress from week 1 to week 5 check out these cute 3 and a half minute videos of them!
(Penny's video)
Penny Swim Kids 2018 from Brian Reed on Vimeo.
(Bentley's video)
Bentley swim kids 2018 from Brian Reed on Vimeo.