Swimming Lesson Rules

1. Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills students must be 42” or taller.
2. Be sure children use the appropriate locker rooms. An alternative family bathroom is available at the front issue counter.
3. Students must take a shower and use the bathroom prior to class.
4. Be sure to spit out any gum or candy before entering the pool area.
5. Please remove shoes while on the pool deck.
6. Parents are asked to not interfere with any swimming lessons unless an instructor requests their help.
7. If you would like to watch your child’s swimming lessons, please watch from the atrium area, from the glass door in the hallway, or from seating areas away from your child’s lesson area. This allows for less interference during the lessons.  Please be patient and allow your child to work through the anxiety of separation and being placed in an aquatic environment.
8. Rules will be reviewed on the first day of class and will be enforced. Any child exhibiting inappropriate behavior may be asked to “sit out”. This will include not listening or misbehaving. After the third incident the child will be dismissed from class.
9. Teachers will call their students when class starts. Please stay in the chairs or nearwall until that time. Do not enter the water until directed by the instructor.
10. Children with shoulder length hair or longer must have it tied back.
11. Parents, if you know your child will be missing specific dates, please inform the instructor.
12. Please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to class or wait until after class to talk to the instructor.

Suggestions to help you to provide the best experience for your child

• Prepare your child for this experience.  Give your child an opportunity to visit the pool before the beginning of class.  Describe what will be happening and perhaps talk to an instructor.  Even very young children can benefit from this orientation.
• Be prompt.  Children can get anxious if hurried.  Allow plenty of time before and after class for showering, going to the bathroom and dressing.
• Follow rules and regulations.  You are responsible for your child’s actions, not the instructor or lifeguard.  Teach, talk about and review the pool rules with your child.  Lead by example.
• Attend every lesson.  Frequent practice is the key to adjustment and learning.  Children can regress quickly if not allowed to practice.  It is a good idea to encourage a crying or hesitant child to continue attending the class.  Just being around the pool and observing the activities can help your child adjust.
• Complete all the levels.  Make sure your child completes all the learn-to-swim levels so that he or she truly has the skills to be safe in, on and around water.
• Encourage safe practices.  Young children cannot be expected to exercise good judgment and caution.  Children must be constantly reminded to walk slowly in the pool area and only enter the water with the instructor during the class and with you after the class.
• Have patience.  It is important not to pressure your child to perform before he or she is ready.  Readiness results from maturity, experiences and other individual factors.
• Avoid comparisons.  No two children develop at the same rate.  Each child learns at a different pace depending on factors such as physical growth, individual development, comfort, practice and previous experience.  Respect your child’s qualities and do not compare them to their siblings or other children.
• Provide encouragement.  A good rule is to encourage your child to do everything, but not to force him or her to do anyth8ing.  Forcing a child will only bring negative results.  Let your child know that learning involves lots of practice and they should keep trying.
• Be positive.  Use a positive attitude when correcting behavior or enforcing rules.  Discuss what behavior is expected in addition to pointing out what the child has done wrong.
• Give praise.  Recognize your child’s efforts, no matter how small the accomplishment.  People are not motivated by failure or ridicule.  Success promotes success.  Praise should be descriptive of an action.  Rather than simply saying “Good,” say, “I like the way you blew those great big bubbles.”
• Facilitate practice and review.  Try out the skills and activities at home or during the recreational swimming hours at the pool.  The bathtub, shower or wading pool is a perfect place for practice.  The more practice, the better your child will learn and the more quickly he or she can progress.