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The Seahorse class focuses on what to do when falling into the water. Roll to float, float for a longer time waiting for someone to come and get them and/or finding the edge of the pool to climb out. If the child is coordinated enough the teacher will incorporate elementary backstroke and front crawl arms.
The Starfish class is designed to help children learn safety in the pool much like the seahorse class, but geared towards our older friends. They learn to swim, float, swim. Strokes are incorporated with elementary backstroke and front crawl arms that will turn into freestyle arms when the child is coordinated.
Another important skill for the child is to learn how to be in a semi private class with another partner. Safety is the biggest concern with children in the pool and we want to make sure they learn how to have fun in the water but still respect the water and their surroundings. Because of this it is important to learn water rules before they can go to a semi private class.
All the classes are 15 minutes, 1:1 with the same instructor each week. We do not recommend having multiple instructors.
Seahorse: Children learn by consistency and repetition. We've found that 2-3 times a week helps a baby and toddler develop a pattern and find less regression the more they do it. They will progress with one lesson per week, but the speed of progress will be significantly less.
Starfish: 1-3 times a week is a good starting point. We have a class session that is a minimum of 6 classes. You can do 1 time a week for 6 weeks or 3 times a week for 2 weeks. The teacher must approve them to move into a semi private class. May take more than 1 session depending on the student.
Other water survival type classes for infants and toddlers have a different approach than we do. We want your child to learn to love the water but also know the dangers it can bring. With anxious children we build up to submersion in the water, floating skills and rolling over with repetitiveness. The instructor may use toys, try to calm the child down, and gain the trust of the student. Yes they will start doing the repetitive motions, but they may wait to put the child under the water after the first lesson. The instructor is trained in the ability to read your child and not every child learns the same or different needs. Once a child has breath control we work more with submerging. We may have a few minutes of playtime at the end so we end the lesson happy and the child feels less anxious each time they come. Playtime usually incorporates activities that will allow the children to practice and improve their skills.
All children are unique and often learn and progress in different ways. We adapt to each child to encourage progress as well as develop confidence in each swimmer. For example, some children are well acclimated to the water with very little anxiety. These children will be “pushed” differently than a child with major anxiety.
Fear vs. Respect: We strongly believe that a swimmer can develop a healthy respect for the water without being terrified. Swimming can be a lifelong skill that provides amazing health benefits as well as participation in fun activities. While we want them to have fun, safety around water is imperative. When they are old enough to understand, children are taught that they must wait for permission before entering the water or leaving the safety of the wall or bench.
This does not replace parent supervision and we recommend that you never leave your child alone around water. While good supervision is the best deterrent for drowning, accidents can still happen. When they do, it is our hope and goal that the skills we teach babies and toddlers will greatly increase their chance for survival.
The best thing for a child to learn is how to survive if fallen into a body of water. That's why we teach three basic survival skills.
Breath control when they are submerged and to get to the edge to climb out.
Buoyancy. If they need to breathe the best thing for them is to learn to stay on top of the water.
Rolling over when face down in the water to get to their back for breathing.
Beginner freestyle arms, kicking and elementary backstroke for those students ready and coordinated.
No, we recommend the child not be able to see a parent. This will help them trust the instructor more and lessen any anxiety that they may have. If your baby cries don't, worry it is normal!
Children are all different and learn at different paces. We won’t be able to tell you the exact date your child will be able to do the skills on their own, but they will get there. We recommend starting at 6 weeks and going from there.
We are all parents and safety is our number one priority when it comes to our kids. We don't recommend using flotation devices as it can cause regression in your child with our lessons. They also provide a false sense of security that will sometimes lead parents into thinking they don't need to be vigilant. However this is a personal choice for you and your family to choose what is best. We do highly recommend spending as much time in the water with them allowing them to practice their skills. The more they swim independently, the safer they will be.
To be up to health code standards your child will need to have a swim diaper on and a reusable cover or swim suit over. You'll also want to bring a towel.
Sometimes the child will drink or choke on water before they learn breath control. Feeding your child right before or giving a bottle mixed with this can cause an upset tummy. We recommend waiting to eat or eat at least 30 minutes to an hour before the lesson.
If your child is ready we recommend going into our mini private classes/starfish class at least once a week. Consistency is key to keeping up with all skills. Younger children may regress after long periods of not being in the water. Less frequent maintenance lessons are highly recommended. Those that have passed the water safety classes talk to your instructor about semi private. Some students may progress with a partner and others may progress better with one on one and stay in a 15 minute or move to a 30 minute private. All of our instructors are able to talk to you open and honestly. Just ask them!
Contact the office today at 281-547-7604 or email scheduling@fasttrackswimming.com
Find out more information at Fast Track Swimming.