Do you know how to swim

[Buried 0]

Quote

Wow, I need some geography help - there's water there?

it's close to the gulf.. you know waist high water for 50 yrds

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[PhreeZone 20]

I learned to swim at less then 4 years old. When we have a kid they are not going to get to their first birthday with out going to the pool and learning.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[popsjumper 2]

I learned to swim at age 6...the summer before scholl started for me.

My motivation?
My buddy dared me to jump off the high dive. I climbed up and stood on the end of the board staring at the water for like forever...well at least until everybody in the pool AND the lifeguard was yelling at me to jump or get down.

So I did the manly thing and jumped....Oooops, couldn't swim to the side and the lifeguard (very pretty blonde, I remember) had to jump in and save my sorry ass.

I was so embarassed by having to be saved...by a girl no less, that I made up my mind to learn to swim.

And 30 minutes later I was swimming like a pro.
I simply watched someone swimming and did what they did...went back to the lifeguard to show her I could swim across the pool and back now and she let me back into the deep end.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Channman 2]

Yes, they have a large fresh water lake there on the property. Chrildren and grown up swim there during the summer, and water landing training occurs there as well.

Steve or Eric swoop it from time to time as well as others, so during Skyfest we can untie their shoes when they pass over.

[PLFXpert 0]

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

He is only almost two...I think that he is plenty young for swimming lessons. Maybe you can slowly help to acclimate him to being in the water, somehow. Don't force it, if he's not ready, yet. You'll know when he is ready for this. For now, let him be a young child and enjoy his childhood...with or without swimming.

The thing that makes him different from all of the other kids is this - he's old enough to really object! The reason why he is getting swim lessons is that he likes to hang out around - and IN - our pool and spa. If he's gonna be enjoying himself around it, he's gonna learn how to keep his head out of the water and get to safety.

His objection comes in that he wants to be in the pool on his terms only. He likes the pool, so long as we don't make him try to swim or otherwise do what we want him to do. He entered the Terrible Twos a couple of months ago.

Younger children are more docile, and probably more trusting of their parents. He was MUCH better yesterday than he has been (my first time in the pool - his mom stayed home) and I figured that it was because I don't coddle him as much as his mother does. The other mothers noticed he didn't cry at all - that is, until I made him try to swim. Even after that he was much better than he has been before.

He's gettign used to it, and hopefully has the idea that he's got no choice. The sooner he swims, the easier it gets. It's really tough having him do something that he doesn't like. It's like taking him to get shots. It hurts me badly when he cries, but his life may very well depend on what we're making him do.

I assure you - he's ready for the water! He's fallen in twice so far (I ruined my favorite suit jumping in to get him, too). He now climbs in our pool and stays on the step, but if he loses his balance, I'd prefer that he have the skills to save himself. We'll still supervise him, but it'd be nice if he was nothing more than scared or angry after he gets out of the pool the next time he falls in.

It's because he is a young child that we want him to learn to swim.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Quote

I assure you - he's ready for the water! He's fallen in twice so far (I ruined my favorite suit jumping in to get him, too). He now climbs in our pool and stays on the step, but if he loses his balance, I'd prefer that he have the skills to save himself.

Whoa...that's totally different than my story. I didn't know that you had a pool! Yes, you should have given him swimming lessons earlier!

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

When I taught swimming the infant class was my favorite to teach b/c it was the only one that involved the parents too in the water, each holding their child.

This is the class we've got my son in. After the last class, I may tell my wife to stay home and let me handle it. Despite the fact that I didn't particularly enjoy how much he hated it, I actually felt more like a father to him yesterday than I have in ages.

And I also gotta admit, he seemed to love me greatly, unless there's another explanation for the 30 minute hard hug he gave me. He's never given me such big hugs before.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

I didn't know that you had a pool! Yes, you should have given him swimming lessons earlier!

It's fenced off. He is only allowed back there when one of us is supervising. He'll STILL only be allowed back there when one of us is supervising. But, maybe he can have some fun with us, too.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[kelel01 1]

Ok, now what's a BC?

[popsjumper 2]

Quote

Wow, I need some geography help - there's water there?

No...it's 12 miles away. Do you want weather insurance?

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

The reason why he is getting swim lessons is that he likes to hang out around - and IN - our pool and spa. If he's gonna be enjoying himself around it, he's gonna learn how to keep his head out of the water and get to safety.....

Kudos (from me, for what it's worth) to that ENTIRE post

There are LOTS of things the "Terrible Twos" don't like doing that parents NEED to make them do for their own good, whether it's swimming or making sure the child has proper nutrition.

I personally just don't understand how people can think it's necessary to make their children do some things for their own good, and yet will NOT make them learn to swim even if they don't want to.

It's SOOOOOOO important. I live and grew up in Florida. I can not tell you how many news stories of parents leaving children with nannys who turn their backs for two seconds, or whatever the case might be.

Welcome to another PLFXpert soap box

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

Ok, now what's a BC?

A "Buoyancy Compensator." It's a vest that has bladders wherein air can be put in or bled off to achieve a neutral buoyancy or to keep you afloat when you surface. At different depths it's can be filled to different levels for neutral buoyancy.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[PLFXpert 0]

This brings back memories--I did so many things at the same time in college but my steady income was swim instructing.

I remember six or seven parents in class and one or two babies crying. One of the crying babies' parent would always hesitate to "scoop" their child under water to them if they were crying. "But his mouth is open. I'm so scared he'll inhale the water." And I kindly and humorously (I ALWAYS add humor in class, it's the best medicine) explain if they fall in the pool, likely too their mouth will be open Instinctively, they WILL close their mouths. It became amusing to the parent after the first few times (B/c I always taught with the 1, 2 3 and then scoop so after a few times, by "3" the crying child would suddenly stop and get ready) .

And then there's the parents who did everything I asked them, but with this terrified look on their face and I would have to remind them to smile and be excited---b/c children pick up on their parents reactions and if they see mom or dad deathly afriaid when their child is swimming on their own or when they've scooped them underwater, then the child will pick up on that and relate that activity to being frightful as well.

It was SO CUTE to see the obviously terrified mom or dad forcing a smile and a "Good boy" and then wiping their eyes for them.

I've always said when I "retire" I'll go back to teaching swimming for free. I just really, really loved it

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[skymama 37]

Quote

I can not tell you how many news stories of parents leaving children with nanny's who turn their backs for two seconds, or whatever the case might be.

It only takes seconds for them to slip in too. My parents had everyone over to their house at Easter this year. Most of us were sitting on the porch talking, and my nephew, Ryan, (the one who had the brain surgery) slipped into their Koi pond because he was chasing a ball. Only my grandmother saw him, he didn't even make a splash! He can swim and the pond is very small, but the problem was that his arm got caught in the tubings for the filter and he couldn't get out. It was definitely a scary few seconds and a reminder of how quickly it can happen, even with a bunch of people around.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Quote

I believe it should be a REQUIREMENT to learn how to swim. 75% of the world is WATER. Just b/c you are not on/near it now doesn't mean you won't be in the future.

I get SO angry at parents that are too scared to put their kids in the water to learn to swim.

It should NOT be optional.

From your statements, it sounds like perhaps you have not traveled much outside of the United States, Carrie. It's true that, while shocking to Americans, much of the world does not know how to swim. Swimming in a pool is a luxury, that much of the world does not have.

My family has recently had a pool built and donated to a small village in South America. I was there in December for the Inaguration/Opening of our pool for the village kids, and I plan to return next summer to teach them to swim. Believe it or not, the kids themselves WANT to learn how to swim because it's considered a luxury and privilege. It makes sense to teach them when they are there of their own free will.

Of course, I think that it's best to take them with their parents as babies. That is my plan for integrating my own children into the water, someday...as infants with myself. Still, I don't think that people should freak out so much about their children taking a longer time than others to feel comfortable learning different things.

I say this because I used to teach at a private children's school, where we didn't pressure/harass the kids about things. We encouraged them towards all things positive and to be open to learning as much as possible. We praised them to push themselves beyond the normal limits that people find acceptable for children's capacities. My kids were quite advanced...I had second graders doing square roots. I love that we used the positive reinforcement, as opposed to forcing them to do these things. These kids are amazing and will go far in life because they have set high standards for themselves!

Lawrocket~
Believe me, Jerry, i know that you're a good dad, and that you'll encourage your child in a positive way. Don't feel the need to beat yourself up for not having him in the water prior to now.

• Quote

[PLFXpert 0]

I'm glad grandma had a good eye

Grandma's usually DO have an additional eye on each side and two more in the back by their age

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

it sounds like perhaps you have not traveled much outside of the United States, Carrie.

I'm not sure how/why you would make that assumption but this is the internet.

I've traveled a LOT and all over South America, if that means something to you or this discussion.

Quote

It's true that, while shocking to Americans, much of the world does not know how to swim. Swimming in a pool is a luxury

I don't find this shocking (or even to be new information to me) at all. I don't think I mentioned a pool having much to do with it.

Of course I understand locations/availability but I assure you there are ways.

That is all.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lisamariewillbe 1]

So you are putting child abusers and parents who do not give their children swimming lessons in the same catagory? Swimming is a recreation, it is not a need in anyones life. My children swim but I didnt throw them in nor did I put them in lessons. They swam because we had access to a pool. If we wouldnt have then they would not have learned.

You can have strong opinions on child issues, I do to , but to say a parent is negleting their child if they do not know how to swim is obsured. If the parents have a pool then thats one thing but well it doesnt matter, I just find it funny that someone thinks this is abuse. My children do not know how to play baseball is this abuse as well?

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

I love that we used the positive reinforcement, as opposed to forcing them to do these things.

I'm not sure you understand that the two are not mutually exclusive.

You can insist a child do something (for their own good) and STILL make it a very positive experience and use positive reinforcement. I don't recall ever using anything but when I taught.

I'm not understanding while you're feeling the need to discount my opinions on the subject, but I'm certainly not surprised.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

So you are putting child abusers and parents who do not give their children swimming lessons in the same catagory?

I'm certain I categorized it as "neglect"

I am done here. Dinner time.

And I refuse to explain myself to way-off inferrences.

Sorry, lisamarie.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

It does make a HUGE difference, Carrie, to know whether or not you understand the ways that people live in third world countries. If you've traveled beyond the touristy areas in countries outside the US, then perhaps you understand my point about swimming lessons being a HUGE privilege.

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Quote

You can insist a child do something (for their own good)

What does that have to do with learning to swim? I do not know how to swim and the only reason I am going to learn is so I can get my B lisence. Insisting that someone learns to swim is like forcing a child to enter a beauty pagent or forcing them to play soccar. I never insist my children do something that is supposed to be fun unless they want to.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Quote

I'm not understanding while you're feeling the need to discount my opinions on the subject, but I'm certainly not surprised.

Carrie, I'm confused here. Was this in response to me or my post? What is this in reference to, exactly? I am posted to answer to what you posted to me and to others. I hate when people put words in my mouth. I never said that I discounted your opinion, but I have MY own opinion, which is also just as valid.

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Neglet is child abuse....

Figured they put that in those books about being a parent and such...

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this