Survival Swimming Lessons Can Be Fun

There’s a preconceived notion about survival swimming lessons, and the phrase traumatic experience has often been used to describe them. But the reality is there’s nothing aggressive or brutal about survival swimming lessons when they are done correctly. 

When a child is exposed to anything new, you can expect to see new emotions and feelings as they adjust to something they’ve never experienced before. That doesn’t mean they are traumatized. It means they are navigating the nature of the new.  

Let’s dive in a bit more and see how survival swimming lessons can actually be fun for children and how the work put in now will make a difference in the long run. 

Are Survival Swimming Lessons Fun?

Survival swimming lessons can begin for children as young as six months old. Children will gently be introduced to the water by their instructor, and once a child is comfortable in the water, the instructor will work with them to guide them through the lesson process and build a level of trust and comfort in the water. Once this is established, a child will begin to learn how to roll-back-to-float and then eventually start the swimming process depending on the child’s age.

Do tears mean they aren’t having fun?

Expect to see tears. Children, especially at a young age, cry to communicate. And they cry when things are hard because simply put, they are emotional beings. We all are. Think about the last time you felt overwhelmed, stressed out, or challenged. Were tears a natural part of your response? It doesn’t mean you are in danger, it means you are emotionally connected to what you are feeling and your body is responding accordingly. 

When learning any new skill, it is inevitable that young children will become frustrated. But it is our responsibility to provide children with a nurturing environment while working with them at a comfortable pace to build their trust and confidence in the water. Once they learn to trust and become more at ease, the emotions will become less and eventually subside, leaving you with a confident swimmer who is equipped with the right skills should an aquatic accident occur. One of the best things we witness as a survival swimming school is the growth in our swimmers, no matter their age. 

The Importance of Survival Swimming Skills

Bodies of water need to be respected. Since drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children aged 1 to 4, a backyard pool is the most dangerous thing someone can have at their home. If a child is ill-equipped to get themselves to the floating position should an aquatic accident occur, death may be inevitable. And contrary to what people think, drowning is nothing like the movies. There is no flailing, no screaming, and no time to hear and react. It is silent. It takes seconds. And it is deadly. 

At Texas Swim Academy, we do not offer parent-tot classes for a reason. Yes, swimming is fun. Yes, family time in a pool is a great way to have quality time and make memories. Yes, splashing with mommy and daddy will make a child happy. But you won’t always be there, and a child needs to be able to react immediately if they find themselves in the water without being able to hold on to their parents. That is why we do what we do. 

So will there be tears? Yes, and we’re OK with that. Our instructors have been well-trained to communicate with their little swimmers throughout the entire lesson, talking them through what to expect, gearing them up for the new experience that’s coming their way, and walking with them side by side as they navigate their lesson. We train our instructors to be sensitive to the emotional needs of each individual child, encouraging them, comforting them, and helping them reach success in each lesson. 

Growth happens at a different pace for each individual, and we expect that. No two children are the same, which is why Texas Swim Academy is different. Teaching a child to save their life is our top priority. We do so in a manner that takes into account each child and their individual needs. 

Your Katy Survival Swim Experts

We encourage all parents to enroll their children in survival swimming lessons whether they own a backyard pool or not. Chances are your child visits a home where a pool is readily available, and they need to be able to save themselves if necessary. Drowning happens most during non-swim times when no one is even in the pool. Always check the pool first if a child goes missing. 

Give us a call to learn more about our survival swim program and to enroll today. 

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!