I'm a baby and preschool swimming teacher AMA

[ilovebabyswimming]

Since pools have been closed for so long I wondered if anyone had any questions about returning to the pool or baby/toddler swimming in general?

Should say I've been teaching for years, and work for one of the big franchises

Within baby and pre school, whats your favourite stage to teach? Tiny babies, 2 year olds, 4 year olds getting their 5 meter badges etc?

Do you have to pay for your own training or does your company provide it?

Whats your funniest swimming teacher moment?

Oh, sorry, I thought this was a general AMA not specifically about returning to the pools, but feel free to answer anyway.

I will ask another about corona.... what is your cleaning process for floats and woggles in between users?

Also, will you still teach in the water?

Do you ever feel embarrassed about the amount of money you charge? Both for classes and those underwater shoots?

You're a baby and you teach swimming? Kudos, you must be very precocious!

@SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel

Within baby and pre school, whats your favourite stage to teach? Tiny babies, 2 year olds, 4 year olds getting their 5 meter badges etc?

Do you have to pay for your own training or does your company provide it?

Whats your funniest swimming teacher moment?

I like the 2 year olds (once they can talk). Absolutely adore having little chats, and also hearing about what they've all been up to outside of swimming. But then with the babies it's so amazing helping parents bond with their babies (the focus in our baby lessons is hugely on bonding). It's honestly the greatest job in the world, and such a priviledge to do. I can't wait to get back to it!

All companies do it differently, I paid for most of my training.

What's your view on armbands? I have had classes in two places, one with, one without. I understand they rely on them if wearing them and are less aware of risks etc, but they also have less freedom.

@SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel

Oh, sorry, I thought this was a general AMA not specifically about returning to the pools, but feel free to answer anyway.

I will ask another about corona.... what is your cleaning process for floats and woggles in between users?

Also, will you still teach in the water?

Nope happy to answer anything at all (just seemed like a good time).

We're following STA advice - reducing equipment generally and encouraging swimmers to bring their own kit but if they'd rather not we'll have some they can use. Only 'closed cell' foam woggles (not the spongy ones), disinfected during the class by submerging for 20 seconds and then fully cleaned at the end of each session.

@SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel

Oh, sorry, I thought this was a general AMA not specifically about returning to the pools, but feel free to answer anyway.

I will ask another about corona.... what is your cleaning process for floats and woggles in between users?

Also, will you still teach in the water?

Missed the bit about teaching in the water! No - if you have to socially distance and I can't touch the children there's no point (sadly) in being in the water - better to be poolside where we have a better view. It's going to be weird though...

@PotteringAlong

Do you ever feel embarrassed about the amount of money you charge? Both for classes and those underwater shoots?

We don't do underwater photos (stopped a few years ago). We follow the latest advice on the best way to teach babies and children, which is a child-led approach. Forcefully submerging babies to take a picture doesn't work with this approach so we stopped doing it.

Our classes are expensive but our teachers have to do SO much training (both initially and ongoing), and what you get for your money is a class led by someone who is properly at the top of their game regarding what's current and best practise in the industry. That costs money I guess? They are expensive but I honestly believe they're good value.

Our two were very nervous of getting their heads wet for many, many years. Both are okay with that now (eldest is like a seal underwater) but we've had numerous other parents say to us 'oh you should just dunk them under and get out of the way' rather than very gradually building up their confidence. Any thoughts on if there is a 'best way'?

Do you have any tips for reintroducing babies to the water? Mine used to absolutely love swimming lessons but screamed bloody murder at his first one back after a for month break. He's also started to be funny about the bath over the past few weeks whereas previously he was happy having water poured over his head. Not sure where it's all gone wrong! He's just turned a year old.

@BendingSpoons

What's your view on armbands? I have had classes in two places, one with, one without. I understand they rely on them if wearing them and are less aware of risks etc, but they also have less freedom.

We'd never use any kind of fixed bouyancy device. The key to early swimming is about understanding how your body floats in the water. If I wanted to teach you backstroke, if you can lie flat on your back in the water, the kicking your legs and moving your arms bit is relatively easy, but the relaxing flat on your back is super hard initially. Same with front crawl (and all strokes). If you put armbands into the mix it completely messes with how a person sits in the water and is a huge barrier to swimming. Also from a H&S perspective, if you always put your 2 year old in a floaty jacket, he thinks that when he jumps in he always bobs back up to the surface without doing anything. The day he jumps in without it he's going to have a very upsetting time. Same applies for babies - so being held gently by a rent, letting the baby explore how it floats in the water is key.

@crankysaurus

Our two were very nervous of getting their heads wet for many, many years. Both are okay with that now (eldest is like a seal underwater) but we've had numerous other parents say to us 'oh you should just dunk them under and get out of the way' rather than very gradually building up their confidence. Any thoughts on if there is a 'best way'?

Don't dunk them! Ever. Children must always be allowed to make a choice at how fast they progress. If an adult was scared there's no way you'd just shove them underwater, and children are no different. If you can build up trust and confidence between the adult, child and teacher, the child will feel empowered to try new things (what happens if I put my chin in/blow bubbles? etc) whilst knowing that the adult won't force them to do anything they don't want to do. In the end, research has shown that the child who's allowed to get their at their own pace gets there quicker, is much happier, and also has the amazing benefit of the improved relationship with their parent (who was tuned in and respected the way the child felt)

@PotteringAlong

Do you ever feel embarrassed about the amount of money you charge? Both for classes and those underwater shoots?

Why on earth should she be embarrassed??!

@PersonaNonGranta

Do you have any tips for reintroducing babies to the water? Mine used to absolutely love swimming lessons but screamed bloody murder at his first one back after a for month break. He's also started to be funny about the bath over the past few weeks whereas previously he was happy having water poured over his head. Not sure where it's all gone wrong! He's just turned a year old.

Take it slowly. It's really normal for children to have ups and downs (I'm sure there are other things in his life that he used to love, then for a period decides he doesn't like them for no reason?) It can be that something happened (perhaps something happened in the bath that frightened him - could be something inexplicable like a loud noise that you didn't even notice), but more often than not there's no good reason for it. Just back right off - if he doesn't like water being poured over his head at the moment then don't do it. If he's happy with it being poured on his tummy/back/shoulders then do that instead, but try not to think about what he used to be happy with, and watch what he's actually happy with now if that makes sense? Are you back at lessons now?

Thanks. Yes, inexplicable! We're taking it very gently in the bath and using a flannel to wash his hair etc. at the moment.

Yes, back at swimming for the first time last week and the next is tomorrow. I totally accepted him not wanting to join in with the property lesson last week and just held him where he was happy with his feet dangling into the water and playing with toys. By the end of the lesson he was happy with his torso in, holding on to me. We'll take it similarly gently this week. I just feel so sorry for him and a bit sad because he used to enjoy these things so much and spend the whole time giggling!

@PersonaNonGranta

Thanks. Yes, inexplicable! We're taking it very gently in the bath and using a flannel to wash his hair etc. at the moment.

Yes, back at swimming for the first time last week and the next is tomorrow. I totally accepted him not wanting to join in with the property lesson last week and just held him where he was happy with his feet dangling into the water and playing with toys. By the end of the lesson he was happy with his torso in, holding on to me. We'll take it similarly gently this week. I just feel so sorry for him and a bit sad because he used to enjoy these things so much and spend the whole time giggling!

Sounds like you're doing a brilliant job We quite often see children who have been really super happy suddenly getting upset, even if they've not had a break from swimming so there's no way of knowing it wouldn't have happened anyway? Just keep doing what you're doing, go at his pace and don't force anything. You're so lucky to be back already! Do you mind me asking which lessons you go to?

Thanks. It's one of the waterbabies classes. I know they're not all back yet so we're lucky that they've found ways to do it at a distance and with all sorts of systems in place for us.

My toddler has glasses how can I teach her to be confident in the water and overcome her sight issues?

@Theyweretheworstoftimes

My toddler has glasses how can I teach her to be confident in the water and overcome her sight issues?

You can get prescription goggles but on toddlers generally goggles are problematic. If she can manage at all without them I'd try that initially (from a safety perspective, if she ever fell in they're likely to fall off so it would be great if she could be water confident without them, even if she can't see that well). As she gets older if she really took to swimming you could explore goggles or contact lenses then, but for now you just want her to enjoy herself? Or she could wear her glasses in the pool - plenty of adults do? Just take things really slowly, lots of praise and reassurance as it will be a new environment. If you're taking her by yourself just focus on her exploring the water, so if you can find a pool with integrated steps or beach entry, let her lead with how much she wants to do. Or you could try a class, a good one with an individual approach will tailor any activities to suit each child anyway?

Thank you! I'm very glad you said that as we never did dunk but were made to feel like we were being soft for letting them take it at their own pace.

I'm taking baby swimming with my partner on our own. Should we dunk the baby? Is it necessary how do you do it safely?

@veeboo

I'm taking baby swimming with my partner on our own. Should we dunk the baby? Is it necessary how do you do it safely?

Sorry I’ve not checked this for a bit. No don’t dunk them!

If they have good head control allow them access to the water - so hold baby facing you, ideally flat on their tummy, chin just above the water. You show baby blowing bubbles/dunking your face etc. Lots of smiles and praise. Over time (or possibly immediately) they’ll copy you and put their own face in, or possibly explore the water by licking it etc. If you want to teach your baby anything (sticking their tongue our/blowing raspberries/clapping) you show them you doing it, then they mimic. Exploring underwater is exactly the same.

If you couldn’t swim and came to me to learn, the last thing I’d do is shove you under, and it’s the same with a baby.

It’s true that tiny babies have a reflex and will hold their breath if you just dunk them, but that’s a survival reflex and therefore not something you want to encourage (survival reflexes are just that, they’re not fun to experience). Your job is to introduce them to the water, show them it’s fun and let them decide to put their face in as and when they’re ready

Xxx