Swimmin' School
This week Marcus and Will took swimming lessons at our pool. They were up and in the pool by 10:00 each day. The lessons were more of an introduction to swimming skills as a way to get comfortable in the water. They practiced things each day like kicking with a kick board and on the side of the pool, laying on their backs and bellies in the water while the instructor supported them, blowing bubbles in the pool, and putting their faces in the water. During the course of the week Marcus and Will both became more proficient in these skills but definitely will need some more practice. More importantly to me than actually learning to swim, I was interested in seeing how they would respond in a somewhat structured "class" setting where they had to listen to the teacher. I sat a few feet from the pool and cheered the kids on and periodically had to remind them to listen to the teacher.
Marcus did really great! He started out the week very slow. On the first day, he stood like a statue in the water. The teacher couldn't get him to do much of anything. About halfway through the first class, he loosened up and became the Marcus we all know and love. He was eager to try his best at whatever skill he was being presented with. He almost always was the first to say he would try something. At the end of each class, he would help the teacher clean up the diving rings. On the second day he got a little teary when I told him I was going to go sit in a chair by the pool. About five minutes later Will had to pee. The bathroom is a good way from the baby pool and Marcus asked if he could stay in the pool while I left with Will. Go Marcus!
Will did pretty well too. He was one of the younger kids in the group and that made a big difference. Mostly his attention span was not long enough to keep on track with what the rest of the group was doing. He did a pretty good job at blowing bubbles and laying on his back. I reminded him each day that he needed to listen to the teacher. Poor Will is so skinny and void of any body fat, that he just doesn't stay warm in the pool very long, and particularly not that early in the morning. The poor kid was freezing his pants off.
I can't wait for swim lessons next year already!
Marcus did really great! He started out the week very slow. On the first day, he stood like a statue in the water. The teacher couldn't get him to do much of anything. About halfway through the first class, he loosened up and became the Marcus we all know and love. He was eager to try his best at whatever skill he was being presented with. He almost always was the first to say he would try something. At the end of each class, he would help the teacher clean up the diving rings. On the second day he got a little teary when I told him I was going to go sit in a chair by the pool. About five minutes later Will had to pee. The bathroom is a good way from the baby pool and Marcus asked if he could stay in the pool while I left with Will. Go Marcus!
Will did pretty well too. He was one of the younger kids in the group and that made a big difference. Mostly his attention span was not long enough to keep on track with what the rest of the group was doing. He did a pretty good job at blowing bubbles and laying on his back. I reminded him each day that he needed to listen to the teacher. Poor Will is so skinny and void of any body fat, that he just doesn't stay warm in the pool very long, and particularly not that early in the morning. The poor kid was freezing his pants off.
I can't wait for swim lessons next year already!
posted by Annie and Greg @ 7:34 PM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home