Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

I have no idea what to expect. It's the one on one lesson with instructor at the Westbury location. He just turned two. I know I will be in a viewing room, but I'm so nervous about how he'll react being away from me in the pool which he hates and with a stranger!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

i will be honest with you most of them cry the first couple of sessions. You drop him off and go into the viewing room.. the instructors play with them give them toys, play ring around the rosie...
they get used to it! hang in there!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Eddie loved his and his instructor, he couldnt wait to go. You can stay in the pool room if you want. Plus, the instuctors are SO used to crying kids, I wouldnt worry about it.

Good luck!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Tell him to have fun, be HAPPY when you leave, tell him you will be back at the end of the lesson then leave the room. Try your hardest not to go back into the room to try to comfort them. It is like a tease that they can scream, mommy comes in and they can't have her. At the end of the lesson, get into the pool (if you are brave) and play as a reward, if not, shower him with praise and good jobs. Let him know that even if he spent the 1/2 hour screaming that you are proud of him for going.

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

DS screamed for the first 3 lessons and then after that LOVED all the rest and never cried again!!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Thank you ladies!!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

do you have to go in the viewing room? Will they let you go in with him or even just put your legs in the water just so he doesn't feel scared?

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

As a former Saf-T-Swim instructor I'd like to let you know that we always dealt with crying kids. Maybe it was their first lesson, maybe their 10th lesson. As a parent it is much harder on you to watch. But if he is upset, he'll get used to it. Most kids go through separation anxiety at some point.

If he does have a hard time:
-Do not feel sorry for your instructor. They are specially trained for this.

-Never end the lesson early because you feel the need to 'save' your son. He will get used to this and use it to manipulate you.

-Know that even if he is screaming and crying that he is still learning. I had many kids that screamed for the first few months, then suddenly they were doing all the kicks and things themselves. They were learning the entire time.

-If your instructor does need you to come in, they will wave you in.

I had kids punch me, bite me, elbow me, kick me, throw up on me. The lesson still continued until the half hour was done. (Well, if they throw up we did have to stop briefly to clean up, but you still won't be called into the pool area for that. Otherwise they will make themselves throw up on purpose every lesson.)

One tip: Do not put Aquafor or lotion on him the night before the lesson or the day of the lesson. He will be like a greased pig in the water and the instructor won't be able to hold on.

Good luck! It's a great program!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

My DS goes to safe-t-swim in westbury and i hate to say it, but he cried the entire class the first few weeks. His teacher was wonderful and told me he was doing OK and learning and that it was way harder for me then it was for her or for him.
IMO, if you go in there at all during the lesson it is sending him the message that if he cries enough Mommy will come in.
My DS had a big issue with the seperation, not so much the water. So she would give him toys, they go and high five the other teachers etc. just to keep his mind busy.

Now we have been going for a year and he loves it! He runs into the pool to see her and when I go in to get him he doesn't want to leave!!

I know the first few classes are really hard, but stick with it and it is so worth it! I was actually thinking of stopping and his teacher begged me not to, b/c she felt he was learning, and once he stopped crying he really had learned what she taught and can kick, move his arms and climb out the side.

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Good Luck. I'm thinking of taking DD there for the Mommy & Me. How is the Westbury location?

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Posted by waterspout4

As a former Saf-T-Swim instructor I'd like to let you know that we always dealt with crying kids. Maybe it was their first lesson, maybe their 10th lesson. As a parent it is much harder on you to watch. But if he is upset, he'll get used to it. Most kids go through separation anxiety at some point.

If he does have a hard time:
-Do not feel sorry for your instructor. They are specially trained for this.

-Never end the lesson early because you feel the need to 'save' your son. He will get used to this and use it to manipulate you.

-Know that even if he is screaming and crying that he is still learning. I had many kids that screamed for the first few months, then suddenly they were doing all the kicks and things themselves. They were learning the entire time.

-If your instructor does need you to come in, they will wave you in.

I had kids punch me, bite me, elbow me, kick me, throw up on me. The lesson still continued until the half hour was done. (Well, if they throw up we did have to stop briefly to clean up, but you still won't be called into the pool area for that. Otherwise they will make themselves throw up on purpose every lesson.)

One tip: Do not put Aquafor or lotion on him the night before the lesson or the day of the lesson. He will be like a greased pig in the water and the instructor won't be able to hold on.

Good luck! It's a great program!

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?

Re: Thomas' First Saf-T-Swim lesson on Sunday - BTDT moms?