Swimming safety classes for the younglings?

[turil.livejournal.com]

My housemate said that she couldn't find a program that teaches little kids (think preschool age) basic swimming lessons that actually keeps them safe. But I'd be really surprised if there wasn't something like this nearby. The idea being that the kids should be able to float and tread water and maybe doggie paddle so that they don't panic and drown if they happen to wander into the deeper end of the pool or out a bit further in the pond (like they did yesterday, eek!).

The class that my housemate paid for (at the Kennedy pool, I believe) just put the kids in flotation devices and never taught them any independent swimming.

Anyone know of anything in the Somerville area? (Within a couple of miles of our fair city).

Comments

[thekatiegirl.livejournal.com]

Any YMCA should have that. Try the one in Cambridge

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

this is where i learned to swim, partially, of course it was about a billion years ago :D

it was mildly terrifying to jump off a diving board at the end, but otherwise lots of fun. i believe we started out wearing a bubble (do they even still use these ever?) but went on from there.

[turil.livejournal.com]

I checked them out and they seem to have a similar approach as the Kennedy pool folks, not teaching the kids how to be safe in water for quite a while.

But there does look like there is a two day transition class for slightly older kids (which these boys are now) that focuses on basic safety. I'll suggest that one to my housemates.

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

>> The class that my housemate paid for (at the Kennedy pool, I believe) just put the kids in flotation devices and never taught them any independent swimming.

^ That sounds like a Water Babies class, but then again, I have no other swim class experience there. I'm also looking for a learn-to-swim class for my 5 yo, and I plan to call the Kennedy Pool office and leave a message to ask about classes and teaching technique. (Ugh, I hate their website.)

The Arlington Boys and Girls Club offers swimming lessons for kids, small group or semi-private.
You need membership to take classes there; tot membership: $22/ year
http://www.abgclub.org/

[turil.livejournal.com]

It looks like they don't even take preschool kids for the swimming lessons, though the brochure is kind of confusing...

Arlington Boys & Girls Club

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

Page 8 of the Fall brochure has a "Fish" class for 3 and 4 year olds without parent, and semi-private lessons for ages 3-4.

Re: Arlington Boys & Girls Club

[turil.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah that is a confusing brochure! Thanks for pointing out that second section of swimming. The turtle one sounds a bit more like the level we need, only it's way too expensive and takes too long for what we need. Maybe there is just one or two of those classes that focuses on basic safety stuff that the kids could attend. I'll ask...

Thanks!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

My main experiences are with the Kennedy Pool and the Tufts swimming team classes. Neither seem to try to teach kids under 4 to actually swim by themselves- when I asked they said they weren't really ready unless they taught themselves. But in the end our son learned to swim mostly thanks to Kennedy- although it did take until he was 5.

The Tufts classes are one-on-one but only offered twice a year for a few weeks and very hard to get into (you literally need to return the form by hand the day registration opens.) We have had a good experience with Kennedy but we did need to nag the teachers to push our kid a bit (he was still in the baby pool and not learning at 5 - we encouraged them to let him try the higher level 1 class in the big pool and suddenly he was swimming. Now he swims fairly well.) I suspect many swimming classes are like this.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that Kennedy pool experience was what my housemates had. Gave the parents and the kids a dangerous (in my mind) belief that the kids couldn't be safe in the pool (or any water) on their own.

Having been involved with two preschools that taught 3 and 4 year olds to swim (and float, and tread water, and such safety techniques), I know that even toddlers are definitely capable of being excellent swimmers.

The Cambridge YMCA seems to have a similar "inferiority" approach overall, but it does look like there might be a two day set of classes for transitioning the kids into independent swimming. And I'll check out the Tufts thing. Thanks!