We enrolled the Little Bean into unparented swimming lessons this year. At the end of last year, we did a couple of parented ones at the Dawe Center that went pretty well. While we are no stranger to the swimming pool, especially on Toonie Sunday family swims at the Collicutt Center, Everett did a lot better when there were other kids participating in the lessons at the Dawe than with mommy and daddy at the Collicutt.
Here are a couple of video clips at Recreation Center. There were only two kids signed up, Natalie and Everett!
As uncomfortable as they are, Everett loves wearing his goggles.
We continued to build on skills back at home. Last week we were out at a conference in Banff and there were some toy squids in the kids pool. I showed him how I put my face in the water and grabbed it, and for the first time, he voluntarily put his face in the water! Then in the bathtub, Everett put his face in the water and blew bubbles under water. It all comes down to the story. I had a couple of this bath toys “blow bubbles” under water at him, and then he went ahead and blew bubble back at the toys. So far, Everett is able to jump into the water by himself, although he wants you to be “really really close” to catch him, so that he almost lands right on top of you. He can very slowly get around in a life jacket, as long as there isn’t too much current from pool jets, and he can spin around in one spot. He really doesn’t like the back float but might be able to be coaxed to do it once.
The very last lesson was a write off. Everett was tired and having one of those days where he wanted mommy to be with him the whole time. Consequently, he cried for most of the lesson despite Natalie trying to console him. In the end, he passed the course anyways.
Sierra wants to be in the water too, and feels left out sitting up on the bleachers. Papa and grandma came up to visit on Everett’s first swimming lesson.
For Sierra’s water education, here she is learning how the submarine sprayer works! Now how can I take a drink of water without getting water in my face?
