swimming in the summer time!

The kids were so excited to start swim lessons a few weeks ago.  This was Jason's third year and Elizabeth's first and we were a little worried that Jason wasn't getting that close to swimming, or so we thought.  We have been taking lessons at the YMCA in a town about 45 minutes away.  They have three levels and for the past two years Jason had been at the first levels.  This year I was debating on if he was ready to move up, but he was put into the next class up and seemed at about the same point as his classmates.  Elizabeth has been sitting on the sidelines for the past two years and was thrilled to get to join in this year.  It also made it easier for me because I didn't have to try to entertain her while keeping her out of the pool. 

They both did pretty well listening to their instructors.  They worked on freestyle and froggy (breast stroke) swimming.  Elizabeth's favorite part of the class was at the end when her instructor got out a few pool toys and let the kids throw them and swim for them on the shallow area of the steps.

 

Jason's instructor started the class working on strokes with each kid then as the days progressed she worked on getting them to work more and more on jumping in and swimming (or trying to swim) to her.  Most of the time Jason's swimming looked pretty frantic, but by the end he was starting to get it down a bit.  His form needs a lot of work, but he is able to get his head out of water to take a breath which is a huge improvement.



 

At home we practice with them in our pool, but have their continue to wear their lifejackets when we are playing to be sure they are safe.