Every parent knows swimming can be a huge safety concern when it comes to children. It only takes a few seconds of not paying attention for things to take a turn for the worse. If your child finds themselves falling into a body of water do they know what to do?
The British Swim School
This year for swimming safety month we decided it was time to put Max in the British Swim School. Drownings in Arizona are sadly too common and we wanted to know that if something were to happen that he would have the knowledge and skills needed to stay safe until help arrived.
The British Swim School provides year-round swimming lessons in a gentle environment. They aim to promote awareness of water safety as an essential life skill through uniquely trademarked techniques. They even have lessons for infants as young as 3 months old. The goal of the beginner classes is to teach children how to flip over on their backs and float to avoid drowning. From there they learn how to swim to the side, climb out of the pool, different strokes for swimming, as well as many other swimming techniques.
Growth Through Learning
Max was so excited for his first class and so were we. We hyped it up all week so that he would have a positive experience and not be scared or intimidated by the water. When we arrived at his class he was a little shy but warmed up quickly as he watched the other kids in his class participating. His instructor, Emily, was very sweet and patient with teaching him “safe entry” into the pool among other simple skills.
We spoke with the manager of the location, Dejan, about their unique techniques and what the goals were for each skill they were teaching during the lesson. The British Swim School has crafted very clever ways of teaching kids important swimming skills in a fun and safe way. Dejan was very thorough and helpful in answering any questions we had and really put us at ease.
The Progression
After the first lesson, Max couldn’t wait to go back and do it again. After the second lesson, he even advanced from the starfish class to the minnow class. Since he was picking it up so quickly we decided to enroll him in classes twice a week. Every week since then he has progressed with every lesson.
He went from knowing nothing to being able to enter/exit the pool, float unassisted on his back, hold his breath to go underwater and climb out of the pool using a ladder. He would grab his ears as soon as he entered the pool due to the water and would cling to the instructor’s hands. Now he doesn’t even reach for a hand and never flinches when water gets to his ears.
I could sing praises all day long about how impressed I am with the British Swim School. They are intuitive and really strive to teach your child at any level basic survival skills as well as broadening their swim career. If you’re interested in finding a location near you, check here and tell them I sent you!
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Swim school is so important! When my kids were little, they all learned to swim at an early age. Now that I have grandkids, they all know how to swim as well. I still watch them like a hawk when we’re in the pool, but knowing they can swim is such a relief.
What a wonderful experience for your son to get to swim with the British swim team. Every child needs to learn how to swim and enjoy the water.
I live in Miami and know the importance of learning to swim at a young age. Swim schools really teach kids the right way with confidence.
I enrolled my girls in swim classes when they turned 2 and today they are good swimmers. Little Max looks like he has been swimming for a while, love his confidence in water
What a great school for kids! I wish they had something like this when my kids were small. I did have them in swim lessons, but it didn’t seem they were like this.
This sounds like a really wonderful program. We have something similar in my town. Would have a love for my son to attend this school though.
What a fun school for kids to learn to swim. I think it is especially important for kids to learn to swim. Where I live there are way too many drownings. The second my kiddo could he was in the water learning how to swim. This looks like a lot of fun for them.
Learning to swim is so important, particularly if you have any bodies of water or pools nearby. It sounds like a nice program.
This is something I wish I would have done with our girls when they were little. It looks like so much fun.
My kids went to swimming lessons last year. Three really liked them and one did not. I think that they still need a few more lessons and lots of practice before feeling comfortable.
I have heard great things about the British Swim School. My daughter is in need of lessons so we were thinking of trying it this summer.
My mom took me to swim lessons when I was around 5/6, but it wasn’t a place dedicated to learning. It was like an “summer extra” a country club offered. I’m glad there are places specifically for kids!
I have never heard of this swim school but started looking into them so I am prepared when my son is ready to learn. I’ll definitely check this out.
I love that the British Swim School focuses on water safety rather than just the act of swimming itself. This is something I would love to enroll my little one in!
Wow, it’s nice to see him enjoying the swimming lessons. I love reading and also his improvements. I can imagine you being so happy and indeed proud of your little one.
I think it is great to start teaching kids at a young age how to swim. I wish I did it with my kids but they learned on their own.
Swimming lessons are so important. After a relative drowned a few years ago, hubby – who was a former lifeguard – and I decided lessons were a must for our little ones.
Even though my son can swim I still would like to get him into professional Swim Lessons because he loves to dive into the deep end of the Pool and as a mom I would feel better if he had lessons. So I plan on checking to see if this school is in our area.
learning to swim is such an important life skill. This sounds like an amazing school!