Keeping Up Swim Lesson Progress During Vacations
Vacations are certainly a time to clear the schedule and relax, especially for families with packed calendars. Quality time away together means fewer appointments and planned activities.
Have Fun
If your trip involves time around the water, you’ll definitely want to pack swimsuits and goggles. If you have new swimmers or you will be spending time on a boat, we have some recommendations on flotation aids. And, waterproof sunscreen is also always a great idea!
As you’re packing, consider what will help your family maximize your time in the water. Dive toys make it fun to practice skills like pushing off from the wall and controlling breathing when submerged. Games in and around the water like Sharks and Minnows can allow experienced swimmers the chance to practice efficient strokes, proper form and powerful kicks. Games like Red Light/Green Light can work for swimmers or even with walking in the shallow end.
Practice Skills
“Look at me!” “Watch this!” There’s nothing like showing off to your parents!
While you’re on vacation, you can keep up your child’s hard-earned swim skills and give them a chance to show you what they’ve been working on in weekly lessons at Big Blue. Pushing off from the wall and showing you their proper stroke form are all skills they are working on during their weekly lessons. In the hotel tub, younger learners can show how they blow bubbles and are gaining confidence while submerging their faces.
If you’re curious about what your child is learning or can continue to practice after demonstrating mastery, just check the Big Blue app. You can see recent progress as well and descriptions of skills they’re learning. Using the same language as our professional swim instructors, from terms like monkey walk to flutter kick, helps create consistency.
Stay Safe
Modeling comfort and good decision making in and around the water is one of a parent’s best lessons to hand down to their kids.
If you’re staying somewhere with a pool or will be visiting open water, it’s important to plan ahead to keep children safer. Even if your destination has lifeguards, ensure access to pools is limited and always have an adult present and attentive any time a child is near water. Not sure what else to consider? We have 5 tips to help everyone be safer when water is involved.
Avoid pressuring your child or allowing anyone else to pressure them to do anything in the water they aren’t ready to do. Even if your child has the skills to swim independently, be in deeper water, or go off a diving board, they may be more hesitant in a new environment or around new people. That’s okay! Being comfortable with setting limits is an important skill. If older siblings are ready for the high dive, a younger child may need and want to stay in the shallow end. Asserting themselves for safety is always a good idea.
If you’ve got travel coming up that may mean missing a scheduled lesson. Enjoy these tips to keep skills up and, remember, it’s easy to manage your schedule or rebook a missed lesson on the app! We’ve got how-to tips for you right here.
