Dan and I have always wanted to start our children early on swimming lessons, as swimming is such a valuable survival skill and the earlier kids learn, the better! I think I got my first swimming lesson at 7 or so, which is pretty late, and my swimming skills are still mediocre at best… My siblings are kind of in the same boat, although some are slightly better than me. Dan is a really good swimmer, and is much more comfortable in the water. We want to make sure Mio takes after Daddy and not after me!
As soon as summer registration opened for programs at the local rec center, I signed Mio up for Toddler & Me swimming classes. I quickly came to learn that these are much-coveted spots by parents and they fill up super fast! The June classes were already full by the first hour on the first day of registration, so I had put Mio on a waiting list just in case a spot opened up and also signed her up for July classes. June passed and no spots opened, so we just waited until this month’s classes. The Saturday Toddler & Me classes are for half an hour every Saturday for four weeks, and requires an adult to accompany the child. During the class, the kids get used to the water, and practice basic swimming poses and strokes while being held by their parent. It’s a great start to introduce your child to the water, get past any fears and make them comfortable and ready to swim. There were definitely one or two kids who were terrified and screaming their head off in the water, but most kids seemed to do just fine. Mio was a little scared and apprehensive at moments when she had to lie flat against the water, as she doesn’t like getting water in her ears, but overall she did great and seemed to really enjoy the swimming lessons!
Here’s a compilation of video clips that I took on my phone during Mio’s first swimming lesson!
Afterwards, we got together with our friends Pat and Theo and their adorable girls at Fairfax Corner for lunch and an afternoon of fun in the fountain and pottery painting!
