Ooops! I Fell Off the Steps

The reality of teaching swim lessons to children is that unexpected situations do happen. Every so often, a child might slip or be pushed into the water when the teacher is not expecting it.

Our instructors have been trained to use directional teaching and we have deck supervisors on the pool deck. Still...a situation may occur.

It is our first choice and our constant goal to never have one child slip into the water unexpectedly. However, a small scare does have some positive benefits. Very active children with little inhibition can consequently become more cautious around the water after such an incident. We would rather that our students have a small scare at swim lessons than a serious accident swimming someplace else.

If your child falls in during lessons, the first thing we will do is make certain he/she is physically safe. If he/she is upset, we will provide comfort.

The next objective is to point out to your child what went wrong and how he/she can become safer around the water. We have found that this is a very teachable moment.

We would like to have your child finish the lesson if possible. Fear should not be their last memory of swimming. We need to rebuild their confidence in the water.

As a parent, there are a few things you can do. Avoid running to your child and taking him out of the lesson if possible. This allows the teacher time to accomplish all the above objectives.

Parents will have some great opportunities to discuss the incident at the pool with the child afterwards. Try to avoid using statements that could prompt emotions like "You almost drowned out there!" Instead, tell your child "I saw you holding your breath," and ask "Were you kicking back to the wall?"

If you notice unhealthy fear in your child, call the swim school for individual help from one of our managers or lead teachers.

What To Do If Your Child Cries During Swim Lessons

Is your child crying in swim lessons? ItÍs hard to know what to do when your child cries during swim class. Please be assured that a crying child in lessons is not uncommon around the swim school. The crying is a natural expression of his/her emotional discomfort due to a new class experience in the water and/or separation from you. We will actively combat your child's discomfort. Our great staff of instructors establish trust with their students and find creative ways to ease them into this new experience.

Hand Your Child To The Teacher
If your child is fussing prior to swim lessons, walk your child out on the deck and hand him/her over to the teacher. Then calmly walk upstairs to the viewing room with a confident expression. Try to avoid having a teacher chase your child or physically pull them off you as this will more than likely make your child want to argue more. By handing your child over to the teacher you are telling your child that you can trust the teacher. That vote of confidence will greatly help the teacher.

Hide Or Hide In Plain Sight
If your crying child continually looks at you and calls to you in the viewing room, break eye contact or step away from the window. This can easily be accomplished by looking at a magazine or book every time he/she looks at you. By breaking eye contact with your child during lessons, your child will become involved in his/her lesson and the instructor will have his/her full attention. Feel free to take a peek at your child without he/she noticing. Keeping a pleasant expression assures your child there is no reason for alarm.

How Long Is Too Long?
How long is too long for your child to cry in swim lessons? On average, most crying students have stopped after the third or fourth lesson. At the very least you should notice that the crying is less with each lesson. If not, it is possible your child might need a private lesson. Feel free to discuss all your options with the instructor or a manager.