How to Take Swimming Lessons

Everyone should take swimming lessons at some point in their life for safety reasons. Many drownings and near-drownings occur every year. Drowning is the leading cause of death among toddlers. Once a person masters swimming skills, he can enjoy a great exercise for the rest of his life.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Familiarize the student or yourself with the water. It is difficult to take swimming lessons when you suffer from extreme fear around water. Adults should investigate desensitization programs to move past water phobias.

2. Consider the age of your children if they are the ones learning. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, children under 4 are not developmentally ready for formal swim lessons. Assess your child's interest in swimming lessons. Forcing an unwilling child into swim lessons rarely works. If your four-year-old shrieks about swimming, drop it. Try waiting a year and ask again.

3. Find community swimming pools that include swimming lessons. Community pools and YMCAs offer swimming lessons to the public. Private instructors may teach in private pools. Consider formal lessons even if your child already knows how to swim. Formal instruction provides your children with opportunities to improve their strokes and endurance.

4. Arrange lessons with a trained swimming teacher. Ask whether teachers are certified by the American Red Cross. Many pools follow Red Cross recommendations, but the lessons should continue until the student can swim a continuous 200 yards with a variety of strokes. Lessons should include safety. Everyone should learn how to tread water and use flotation devices.

5. Check the swimming lesson schedule for compatibility with your own. Most swim lessons take place on weekdays in the summer for 2 weeks. The average child usually needs about 30 hours of swimming lessons to swim confidently. New adult swimmers can learn in an average of 20 hours of swim lessons.

6. Compare swimming lesson costs. If you notice a significant difference in prices, find out what the individual swim lessons offer.

7. Practice, practice, practice what you learn in swim lessons so that you can be a strong, safe swimmer. Regular swimming keeps swimming skills fresh.

Tips & Warnings

• Parents should closely supervise young children, even those who have had swimming lessons, at pools or at the beach.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

[calebj]

on 5/29/2009 Alto Aquatics is a swim lesson program in Palo Alto, California. The instructor teaches swim lessons — private swim lessons — one-on-one for all ages. This includes adult swim lessons — private adult swimming instruction. http://www.alto-aquatics.com . http://www.alto-aquatics.com