Kimber's First Swim Lessons

 We started Kimber is swimming lessons this summer at the local pool. The lessons she is signed up for are for 6-36 month old children. Not to learn to swim, but to get them familiar with the water. Since Gramma & Papa go camping several times a year and eventually she'll make a trip to the family cabin, I figured Kimber will be swimming a lot in the next couple of years and I want her to feel comfortable in the water.

 

The lessons are from 6-6:30, twice a week {Tuesday & Thursday} for three weeks, so it's not a huge time  commitment. Even though the main reason we signed her up for classes is to get comfortable with the water, it's also nice to have something else to do at night. Living in the country with a baby can get pretty boring. I can only go for walks up & down the driveway or push her in the swing so many times before I need a change of scenery.

 

Day One: The first day of lessons, it was in the low 70's and lessons were cancelled due to the cold weather. Instead of staying home that night, Miranda & Callan met us at the local hotel pool. Kimber was not a big fan of the water. We were in the water for 45 minutes and it probably took her a good 30 minutes before she'd start splashing around.

 



 

 

These two gingers were born a couple hours apart at the same hospital. They had their first play date when they were day old in the hospital room. The other moms at swim lessons thought they were related because of their red curly hair!

 

 

Day Two: Even though it was still a little chilly on Thursday, we still had swim lessons. She was still somewhat hesitant during the class and it took a while for her to feel comfortable but by the end of the class, she was splashing around and kicking her feet.

 

The instructor walked us thru different activities to try with the kids - floating on their belly, sit on the side of the pool and kick their feet, throwing a toy and floating towards it, 'jump' off the side of the pool and several other activities.

 

Auntie Allysha gave Kimber this swimming suit for her birthday and it is ADORABLE!

 

 

Day Three: The weather was amazing on day three and the water was nice & warm! I'm not sure if it was due to the water being warmer or if Kimber was getting more comfortable with the water, but she did great at lessons!! From the time we got in the water until we got out, she was kicking her feet, splashing around, jumping off the side of the pool {from a sitting position} and overall enjoyed the entire lesson!

 

 

Traci {our daycare provider} and Roma are taking lessons, too. Kimber & Roma are best friends! They get SO excited when they see each other every morning. They give each other kisses, 'talk' to each other and love to play together. It's so cute to watch them interact & smile at each other during the swimming lessons!

 

 

Day Four - Five:  Since swim lessons are at 6pm and that's Kimber's normal supper time - she can be crabby if we don't give her a good sized snack before lessons.

 

On day four, we were able to give her a snack and she did great. She did all the tasks that the instructor wanted us to try with the kids and was splashing around the whole time.

 

On day five, it was a different story. I left work late and didn't get home until 5:30. We ran inside changed into our suits and were out of the house by 5:45...so there was no time for a snack and you could definitely tell at lessons! The instructor handed out rings for the kids to play with in the water. The parents were suppose to put then under the water and have the kids reach for them. She WOULD NOT let me have the ring. Every time I asked her to give mommy the ring or I tried to take it away from her, she'd throw a HUGE fit. So she pretty much just held the ring the entire lesson.

 

 

 

Day Six: Swim lessons were cancelled on the final day due to the weather being 70 degrees & rainy.

With the summer coming to an end, she probably won't get in the water again until next summer so I'm sure it'll take her a while to get comfortable with the water at that point. I do plan on signing her up for swim lessons again next summer so she continues to get more familiar with the water and isn't scared of it.  

Overall, I really enjoyed the swim lessons with Kimber. My favorite part was when she 'jumped' off the side of the pool. I'd sit her on the ledge and say "1,2,3" and she'd say "GO" and jump {or slide} off into my hands. She could do that over & over with a big grin on her face!