Planning on taking a break from swimming lessons over Winter? Here are 2 reasons to reconsider:
Learning consistency and a much bigger life lesson…
Learning to swim is just like reaching your goals in the gym or learning complex algebra – is doesn’t get better with extensive time off from practice. While everyone can benefit from a break from time to time, anything more than a few weeks off, results in students losing some of their conditioning and momentum.
Progress (like most adults will be able to attest) when we are learning complex skills or reach larger goals is not a fast or linear process. Metaphorically, the process is like eating an elephant – only achieved through many, many small bites and through knowing that your perseverance will eventually pay off. This life lesson is one that, as adults, we need to remember that most of our children will not know yet and is one that we need to actively teach. While it is certainly natural to be deflated by the process when learning new things from time to time, showing up and persisting is the only path to success, mastery and developing a student’s resilience.
So if your little one gets disheartened along the marathon that is learning to swim, take the teaching moment and ask questions like:
- “What do YOU think we need to do to get you through your (insert swimming goal here)?”
- “Do you think it would help if we went down to the swimming pool one or two times a week outside of your lessons and practice your skills together?”
- “What do you think it will look like for you when you achieve your (insert swimming goal here)?”
Perhaps even exchange a story about a time that you have worked towards a goal and had to keep showing up when you could have easily chosen to give in. What did you achieve even though things were difficult?
Remember, while it is often easy to look at the progress of other people around us and go “they got that so easily”, we are often not aware of the hard slog that has got them there and that with similar hard slog we too could achieve such success.
So you are planning on taking a break because the weather over Winter gets a bit chilly?
While the weather outside can certainly get a bit grey over the winter months, the weather inside the pool hall remains stable throughout the year. If you are like me and you are attempting to keep your little one entertained on those rainy days that have dampened your plans to use the local swing and skate park, swimming is a fun and healthy way to keep your kids occupied. A trip down to the pool can occupy your kids for around 2-3 hours and will alleviate some of that parent guilt that we all can all feel from time to time. Let’s be honest, a pretty great perk of being a kid is that you can go out in public wearing a bath gown, so wrap up as you head back to the car!
Your Swim ARCademy membership covers each student under the age of 12 years for access to the pool throughout the week and for the access an accompanying adult to swim with them. A trip to the movies, indoor aquarium or jungle gym – can’t boast such economical or health benefits!
Avoid cabin fever and just keep swimming this winter! The water is warm; you are not crammed into the usual busy indoor activities that see your family catching the latest version of the common cold; and you get to be healthy and bond with your kids. Win all round!
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