Your child’s first swim lesson can be a very exciting event. What a milestone! However, it can also come with some stress, anticipation, and worry from both children and parents. That’s okay! We are here to help! Here are some tips to help prepare you and your swimmer for a smooth transition during swim drop off and beyond. 

1). Before the lesson

• Your energy matters. Your child will sense how you feel, react to, and approach the idea of swim lessons. If you are stressed, your child will be too. 
• Don’t over sell the event. Mentally preparing them for something new is important. However, too much talk and attention around the new activity can lead to anticipation anxiety. 
• Be cool. Stay calm when arriving at the building and walking into the facility. Your child will sense your calm approach to going to swim lessons, and they will mirror it. 
• Arrive on time, dressed, and ready. Being too early to swim lessons can increase your child’s anxiety. Arriving late to swim lessons can have the same result. We suggest arriving no more than 10 minutes before your scheduled lesson. It helps to have your swimmer dressed and ready for the lesson.

2). Drop off

• When it’s time for class to begin, give your child “one more hug and kiss”, remind them you will be watching, and pass them off to the instructor. If they are crying, that’s okay! It’s completely normal for them to be unsure about this new transition. Lingering on deck will not help them calm down. Allowing your child’s instructor to react to their emotions is the first step to building a trustworthy bond between instructor and student. 

3). During the lesson

• You can watch the lesson from the viewing area upstairs or from the outdoor terrace. If your child sees you and is crying, reaching for you, and not engaged in the lesson, it might be a good idea to go out of sight. 
• It can be stressful to see your child upset; however, we strongly encourage you to let them finish their lesson. Going to pick up your child early from the lesson because they are crying will only delay progress. They will learn that crying gets them out of the swim lesson and will likely continue to cry to achieve the same result. 
• Remember - this won't last forever. The lesson is 40-minutes long. Most children stop crying by the second or third lesson. If they cry for longer, that’s okay too! Every child is different. Our instructors are here to work with you and your child to make swim lessons enjoyable and fun. 

4). After the lesson

• NOW is the time to talk it up! “You did great! Are you proud of yourself? You should be. I am so proud of you. I cannot wait to see you swim again”. 
• Rinse and repeat. Same time next week. Consistency is vital to success in swim lessons. Skipping lessons lengthens the amount of time your child has to be stressed about the next lesson. Don’t delay the inevitable, just keep swimming!