Swim Lessons 2016- Let's Do This!

Not sure if this is a regional thing or what, but in Waco there are a couple of private groups that run swimming lessons in a backyard pool.  They are quite the operation; detailed procedures for drop-offs, what kids are allowed to bring/have, when parents are allowed to watch, etc.  They do small groups every half-hour all day and there is no wasted time in between- it's a machine.  The lessons are not cheap, but from what I'd heard your kid WILL be swimming by the end of the week.  RJ was at the point where she needed to be swimming independently.  She was almost there last year but needed to get over the hump and increase her confidence, so we decided to sign up with one of these groups.  I knew Ada would benefit too and, to be honest, it was just convenient for me to have them both doing the same thing at the same time!  As the week got closer I started second guessing spending so much money on one week of lessons but after day two I was sold.

From Summer 2016

 Ready to swim!

There were 4 kids in Ruby and Ada's group and 4 teachers in the water.  So basically a one-on-one lesson.  Both girls jumped right in the pool and had smiles on their faces when I came to get them out.  Ada did worry a bit at home the first couple evenings about having to wear her goggles and go under the water, but she was always happy to get in the water when we arrived.  The girls begged everyday to go to the Y directly from lessons to swim some more!  I was amazed to see Ruby jumping in the deep end and swimming back to the side and doing flips in the water all by herself on Tuesday!  Ada was diving under to pick up rings/toys and swimming short distances to me too!

From Summer 2016

I wasn't up for the pool one day after lessons, so the girls convinced me to stop at a splash pad on the way home for a bit.  I tell them everyday that their life is basically a party.


Friday was Show-Off Day and I got to see all the amazing things they learned!  For reference: Ruby is in the colorful suit and blue goggles and Ada is in a pink suit with pink goggles.  They learned how to swim using scoops (crawl stroke) and circles (breast stroke), how to float and swim on their backs, what to do if you fall in a pool without a grown-up, and even how to "dive"! Swimming Lessons 2016 from Steven Nelson on Vimeo.



Ruby is still in that I-can-swim-but-I-look-like-I'm-drowning phase, but she's super proud to be able to play in the deep end with her friends.

From Summer 2016

Ada usually forgets to use her arms and just swims with her legs.  I'm not sure how she does it, but it's hysterical and she looks like one of those wind-up toys her legs just a kicking!

From Summer 2016

So very proud of our little fishes!

From Summer 2016