Most children are fascinated with water, splashing about in the bathtub with belly giggles. A swimming pool to a child, especially a toddler, just seems like a big bathtub to him or her. Has your child taken swim lessons? My granddaughter began her first swim lessons with British Swim School Broomfield-Louisville, on September 30, 2017, and in just 3 1/2 short months, she's gone from sinking to the bottom (yikes) to a full minute of back floating in the pool. This is all thanks to her fantastic instructor Meredith (whom my granddaughter adores!) at British Swim School.
My granddaughter Leigha was just like that. She 💗 splashing about in the pool like it was a bathtub. She's never been afraid of the water -- in fact, she has little fear of anything - scary for parents and grandparents! And combine that with wanting to play with her older cousins (my grandkids ages 11 and 13), she would charge into the pool without regard for her safety -- or her family freaking out.
When British Swim School Broomfield Louisville offered lessons for my granddaughter, I couldn't more excited -- and relieved!
How the British Swim School Lessons work
From the beginning these lessons are different. The classes are small -- our instructor Meredith taught my granddaughter and 2 other students (brothers) -- although maximum is 4. This gave each of the students more personalized instruction -- and the result was that all three progressed more quickly.
Compare this to when my older grandchildren took lessons at a public swimming pool through a local parks & recreation club, they were just one student amongst 8 or 9 other students, and the skill level took a bit longer as it was more of a group lesson.
Granddaughter Leigha began her swim lessons at the Starfish level (appropriate for her age at 3 years old). I love that the instructors speak to the kids on their age level. For example, "the monkey" is how they were taught to find the edge of the pool and move their hands along the edge to move their bodies in the pool safely. Leigha learned this the first day and was proud as can be -- and couldn't wait to show the adults how to do this.
Leigha looks forward to her weekly lesson -- even packing the night before her swimsuit, swimming cap and logoed bag (latter two provided by British Swim) School).
Flash forward to just 6 weeks later, Leigha independently back floated with instructor Meredith nearby. Now at nearly 3/12 months, she can back float for over a minute on her own. She also has been taught Survivor Skills and can swim in her clothes! She has progressed several levels and is now a "Turtle."
This progress is just amazing for me to watch and I can't wait to witness her continued progress.
Let's get real. Here are the scary statistics about Drowning:
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), child drowning is a silent death. There's no splashing to alert anyone that the child is drowning. Here are some more statistics:
- 350 children under the age of five drown in pools each year nationwide.
- The majority of the deaths occur in June, July, and August; most in backyard pools.
- Among unintentional injuries, drowning is the second leading cause of death to this age group after motor vehicle accidents. [In some Sunbelt states such as California, Florida, and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five.]
- Another 2,600 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for near-drowning incidents. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage.
- Most accidents happen quickly. Pool submersions involving children happen quickly. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone. More than 3 out of 4 of the victims (77%) had been missing from sight for 5 minutes or less.
- Seconds count. Survival depends on rescuing the child quickly and restarting the breathing process, even while the child is still in the water. Seconds count in preventing death or brain damage.
Okay, enough of the Debby Downer here, but seriously, I'm not the best swimmer, which is why I've made sure that my (now adult) children took swimming lessons and now my grandchildren. (Someone has to save Grandma, right? 🤣)
I will be updating each week on my granddaughter's progress via our newsletter and our Facebook page.
Ready to sign up for swimming lessons? British Swim School is offering this amazing deal for Macaroni Kid subscribers:
Enrollment Special for MacKid readers! 20% off four group lessons when you enroll for eight or more lessons! Call 303-495-3333 to enroll today, space is limited! Use Code #20OFFMACK
Why would you not sign up your child for swim lessons?
Thanks to British Swim School Broomfield-Lafayette for providing lessons for my granddaughter in exchange for a review; opinions expressed are my own.
