NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN: LESSONS FOR OLDER BEGINNERS
January 19, 2024
TESTING FOR RIBBONS
March 5, 2024
It’s not uncommon for parents today to want to know when something starts, how long it will take, and when it will end. With swimming lessons, the answer is different for every child. Some children take to water much more easily than others, just like some children pick up learning a foreign language faster than others. Parent expectations are also a consideration. For example, do you want your child to learn basic safety skills, or do you want your child to learn all four competitive strokes?
Balancing progress vs. emotional & physical safety is important too. Pushing students out of their comfort zone leads them to feeling unsafe, and when they feel unsafe, they are unable to learn.
Here’s a breakdown of our levels at LPB relating to parent goals and expectations:
LEVEL 1:
After graduating L1, your child can hold their breath for a short time, swim to the side of the pool and climb out. These are basic safety skills that can buy you seconds should your child ever fall into the water. When it comes to drowning and near drowning, seconds count in saving lives and long term brain damage. Swimmers in Toddler & Me classes are considered L1.
What this means for parents: You still need to get in the water with your child and be within arms reach at all times.
LEVEL 2:
Graduates of L2 can swim without fins and breathe independently both on their tummies and their backs. Some Toddler swimmers are able to advance to Level 2.
What this means for parents: You may not need to be in the water with your child, but you need to be watching, alert, and prepared to jump in.
LEVEL 3:
L3 graduates are strong swimmers and can safely swim in deep water. They have good endurance and can tread water for up to a minute.
What this means for parents: You can now sit on the lounge chair and relax, while keeping both eyes on your kids at all times (no phones, no distractions).
LEVEL 4:
Kids finish Level 4 able to swim Freestyle and Backstroke legally with good technical form, and have the basics for Breaststroke and Butterfly. Many swim teams will accept these swimmers.
What this means for parents: Your kids are strong, confident swimmers. Swimming with them is more fun and you can relax more while still watching them from the pool deck. They may be interested in water-based sports and activities.
LEVEL 5:
Graduating from LPB’s program means students have mastered all four competitive strokes (Butterfly, Breaststroke, Backstroke, and Freestyle) and can swim them legally with good technical form.
These students should be accepted to the majority of swim and artistic (formerly synchronized swimming) teams, as well as diving and Splashball/Water Polo programs. The national programs for each sport (USA Swimming, for example) have links on their websites to search for local teams and organizations.
So, depending on what your goals and expectations are for your child in swim lessons, you can be “done” at any time. But remember, NOBODY is ever drown proofed or “water safe” (not even an Olympian!).
On average, it takes about 3-5 years to complete all 5 levels at LPB – a commitment with lifelong lasting benefits. Some familes choose to speed up the process by supplementing their regular lessons with occasional Make-Up lessons and by making use of our homework suggestions.
