In our 26th year of Instructional Swimming the Family Swim Schools approach to learning
to swim can be paraphrased simply by stating “ We understand Swimming A-Z “. Applying
this to our program facilitates our learning environment. We put Creativity and Experience
in the front (A ) and Lifetime Event at the end ( Z ).
Introducing children to water at an early age makes sense. After all, water is part of our
very essence. Babies, toddlers, and pre school children need to acquire very basic aquatic
skills just as they need to acquire skills for movement on land. ( We crawled before we
walked ) In order to accomplish this children need to develop trust and confidence in the
unfamiliar surroundings. Patience is key, for this large body of water in their eyes, is a
different environment indeed The Family Swim School understands this!
Before effective instruction can exist, Family Swim School instructors develop a bond
between the student and themselves facilitating communication. Learning to discover is
contingent upon the connection trust developed between student and instructor. What
children need at this junction is time to explore and discover, time to test their limits, and
time to develop trust and a sense of security. The Family School understands this!
Teaching children swimming promotes safety, recreation, fitness, competition,
rehabilitation, relaxation, self-esteem and more. Children’s safety around water is
paramount. Parents want their children to learn to swim so enjoyment of aquatic venues
are safe. Children acquire safety skills in a positive and nurturing way. We believe safety in
the water naturally follows from the atmosphere at home, relaxed, secure, and confident in
familiar surroundings. The component of Water Safety is introduced to our students at the
infant level evolving into an ongoing safety awareness process. The Family Swim School
understands this!
For swimming to appeal to children, the teaching, philosophy, goals, and methods are
centered on the child’s well-being. If instruction is ability appropriate and designed in a
positive, nurturing way there can be a marriage between the water and the learning
experience. When our approach of “ Children learning through Play “ is engaged, “ Sneaking
through the Liquid “ gets much easier. By keeping activities short and the lesson flowing
children get accustomed to the familiar drills and skills in our curriculum. This translates
into a “ Whole New World when their Feet Leave the Bottom “. The Family Swim most
definitely understands this !!!
