This post includes affiliate links or sponsored content. Read our full Disclosure here.
My very first job was at a county pool as a swim instructor. I was 13 and dying to have some extra money in my pocket. At the time I didn’t realize what an impact this job would have on my life. I worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor through high school, college and as an adult in between jobs. I have logged thousands of hours in the pool and poolside. When I had kids, I knew that water safety would be a priority for our family. I have had enough experience to know that accidents happen, drownings are preventable and you’re never too young for water safety. I had heard about swim schools in the area, but was very skeptical they would meet my high standards. We started our water safety in the bathtub and eventually moved to pools. With 3 kids under 4 it was difficult to hold on to all of them so I started asking around about swim schools. My Adventure Mom partner was singing British Swim School‘s praises and I liked what I read online so partnered with BSS Montgomery County to share our swim experinces with you. It has been strange to be on the opposite side of this experience as a parent, but I have been really happy overall.
British Swim Schoolβs slogan is survival of the littlest which really highlights their commitment to water safety. The first level of classes focuses on being comfortable in the water. Then swimmers learn survival skills that include jumping in and surfacing, rolling over into back and floating. These skills are more important than learning strokes because it gives your child the skills to save themselves if they are ever accidentally in water without supervision. Childhood drowning is a scary reality for many families, but it doesnβt have to be. Water safety lesson are just another precaution we can take as parents to keep our little ones safe. Once children can consistently perform the survival skills they learn freestyle and back stroke. Breast stroke and flutter kick are added next. Once swimmers are proficient, instructors work on stroke development and there is even a swim team!
The lessons move at the pace of the swimmer so there is no pressure to learn skills by a certain date or asking swimmers to perform skills they are not ready for. The lessons are fun! The classes include games, songs, silliness and one on one instruction. The instructors have lots of sayings they repeat which makes remembering things easier for younger kids. I hear ‘elbow, elbow, belly, knee’ every time someone is getting out of the pool. Teaching young children how to get out of the pool by themselves is an often overlooked survival skill. Kids learn elementary backstroke with the phrase ‘monkey tree banana’. These silly names for skills make trying new things more fun. Our swimmers have all had really positive experiences. They have all learned and progressed very quickly, but more importantly they have gained confidence and lifesaving skills.
Make water safety a priority for your family & sign up today!
It is never too early or too late to teach your little ones to swim! Find a class going on near you with British Swim School across the United States and Canada!
Leave a Reply