Get Wet

Water may not be a big deal for everyone, but it is for me. I grew up in a swimsuit, whether it was at the beach or at the pool. I can't live without it. We didn't waste any time introducing Audette to water either. She went in the pool for the first time when she was 4 months old. (We would have taken her in sooner if the pool had been warm enough.)

Recently, I decided to sign Audette up for swim lessons at a community center because backyard pools just don't exist in Seattle. You can find swim lessons just about anywhere, at community centers, schools with pools or at the YMCA. Ours is a group class for kids ages newborn to 4 years old that is held only once a week for 30 minutes. You're probably thinking, what's the point? That is barely enough time to get in the pool and get out again. I was shocked by all that we do and how much it is helping Audette. The instructor sings songs with the kids and teaches basic skills to the parents, and then he helps us teach our children. Every lesson I keep hearing the same phrase, "You are the ones who will teach your kids how to swim and water safety. I'm just giving you the tools, but it is up to you to keep your kids safe." For someone who dunked their 4 month old under the water the very first time she got in the pool, let's just say that these classes are doing me some good too.

We practice everything with the kids from going under to laying on your back, kicking, arm strokes, hanging on to the side by yourself and jumping in. But probably the best skill we are learning every week is water safety. The first time the instructor had us put our kids on the edge of the pool, he told us to have them sit and not jump in while we said, "wait." It wasn't until we asked them to jump in the pool that they could come in. We're still working on the skill, but I'm realizing how important it is to teach kids safety, even at this age. In fact, I was just reading recently on babycenter.com the following:

Even children who aren't talking yet understand a lot more than they let on. One day your child will surprise you by repeating an oft-heard safety phrase, and as he gets older and really learns to swim, he'll be familiar with the basics of water safety.

Even if Audette doesn't come out of this class the next Mike Phelps, we will be happy if she learns not to jump in the pool without her parents there to catch her.

A darling family that takes the class with us also shared some useful information with me during one of our lessons. They are taking the class with their three-year-old and one-year-old. They said that they wish they had started taking their three-year-old son to the pool at an earlier age because he is very afraid of the water, while his one-year-old sister has no problems. Of course, every child has different personalities, likes and fears, but we even noticed with Audette that you have to ease kids in to something new, especially the pool.