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\n“My child is anxious about swimming. How do you help nervous swimmers?”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Learning to swim is an essential life skill that not only promotes physical fitness from baby through to old age, but also builds confidence and ensures safety in and around all areas of water. However, for some children or adults, the idea of swimming can be intimidating<\/strong> and nerve-wracking<\/strong>. At Cindy\u2019s Swim School, we have long understood that to better assist nervous swimmers in overcoming their fears, so that they too can learn how to swim and enjoy the fun that swimming offers, it is crucial to adopt a friendly and helpful approach whilst teaching from a trusted and proven swimming programme<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
In this article, I will explain the various strategies and techniques we at Cindy\u2019s have developed to create a supportive environment that encourages nervous children to embrace the water and develop their swimming abilities.<\/p>\n
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Cindy\u2019s Swim School was founded on a few key core foundations:<\/h3>\n
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- Water safety – swimming is a vital life skill that every person should learn!<\/li>\n
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- Anyone can swim, all they need is someone with the right set of skills to teach them.<\/li>\n
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- We are insanely passionate about what we do and love ALL things swimming and want to share that love<\/li>\n
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- We genuinely care about our swimmers, our teachers, the message we are spreading – all of it!<\/li>\n
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- Everyone should have access to learning how to swim!<\/li>\n
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I could quite easily talk about all the above points in much greater and deeper detail, but it is Point 2 that I want to focus on; \u2018Anyone can swim, all they need is someone with the right set of skills to teach them\u2019 – as this is where the magic at Cindy\u2019s happens \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s world we are so much more clued up and informed about all the different learning styles and abilities there are out there. Learning, and indeed teaching styles, have truly transformed in the last decade. It is now common knowledge that if you want to teach and reach your audience most effectively, you need to incorporate multiple learning styles into your teaching approach. And that is exactly what we do at Cindy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Coming from a dyslexic and dyspraxic background, as well as having experience in near drowning, has given me a particular insight into how best to make swimming, not only accessible, but a safe and joyful place for learning, especially for those who at one time may have been very nervous swimmers!<\/p>\n
Now although not everyone has a learning difficulty, being nervous about swimming<\/strong>, having anxiety about what swimming lessons might entail, fears about learning a new swimming technique, or even confronting an exercise that seems out of our reach, are very common and normal feelings<\/strong> to have! This applies whether you are two years old and just starting swimming lessons, a six-year-old struggling with somersaults, or 65 years old and taking the plunge for the first time.<\/p>\n
Five golden rules you need to teach a nervous swimmer:<\/span><\/h2>\n
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- to be helpful and confident<\/li>\n
- to be friendly and fun<\/li>\n
- to build trust<\/li>\n
- firm boundaries, so that it doesn\u2019t all seem like chaos and terror!<\/li>\n
- And you need to know how to teach swimming to different learning abilities \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Nervous swimmers need someone who is not only qualified and experienced<\/strong> enough to navigate them through the journey of learning how to swim, but someone who also has the right amount of empathy and knowledge<\/strong> within their tool set to teach their swimmer how best to overcome any fear and anxiety<\/strong>, and give them the right coping mechanisms<\/strong> so that they can take power of it and manage their fears effectively whenever they may arise.<\/p>\n
At Cindy\u2019s, we have created a rather amazing swimming programme<\/a> that is structured and teaches in a layering flow, which is ideal for those who need a clear and calm learning approach. We also understand that every swimmer is unique<\/strong>, and their fears and learning styles may vary. To cater for all the different learning styles, we provide individualised instruction for specific needs by using the VARK teaching approach. VARK, standing for Visual, Audio, Reading and Kinaesthetic, highlights the main different learning styles. By using this tool, our teachers tailor their teaching approach to suit each swimmer’s personality and learning preferences, ensuring they receive the attention and support they require.<\/p>\n
We then further help our nervous and anxious swimmers by using various tools and methods, to teach them the different exercises and strokes. BUT, the first place we always start is\u2026<\/p>\n
1. We establish trust and build rapport<\/h2>\n
The first step in helping nervous children learn to swim is to establish trust and build a strong rapport with our new swimmer\/s. We take the time to get to know our new swimmers, to understand their fears, and address any concerns they may have. Our passionate and experienced teachers genuinely care, and teach with empathy and patience, constantly assuring our swimmers that they are there to support and guide them throughout their swimming journey.<\/p>\n
2. We create a safe and comfortable environment<\/h2>\n
We also ensure that we have created a safe and comfortable environment at all our swimming locations, which is crucial for nervous children to feel at ease in the water. We make sure that our swimming areas are free from distractions and potential hazards. Initially, our teachers will give full physical support as they introduce a nervous swimmer to the water. We then gradually and calmly progress the swimmer to using swimming aids such as noodles, which provide additional support and reassurance before moving into deeper or further sections of the pool as their confidence grows.<\/p>\n
3. We incorporate fun and playfulness<\/h2>\n
A big part of our programme foundation is to make swimming lessons enjoyable by incorporating fun and playfulness throughout our lessons. We make use of toys, games, colourful equipment and encouraging communication to engage a nervous swimmer\u2019s interest and make the learning process more enjoyable. For example, if we are teaching a swimmer to pick up a sinker from the step with their face in the water, our teachers will often make a game out of it, distracting a nervous swimmer, so that they get caught up in the fun of the exercise and put their nerves aside. To illustrate, a swimmer might enthusiastically blow bubbles into the water, and put their face in further than they intended, not minding the sensation. By associating swimming with fun, nervous children will be more likely to embrace the water and look forward to their lessons.<\/p>\n
Positive reinforcement<\/strong> plays a vital role in helping nervous children overcome their fears, and praising their efforts no matter how small, our teachers build confidence and motivate them to continue learning. This celebration of their achievements and focus on their progress rather than comparing them to others makes such a big difference to nervous swimmers\u2019 self-esteem and learning.<\/p>\n
4. We teach the core foundations in a structured format<\/h2>\n
A big concern for most nervous swimmers starts with breathing technique<\/strong>. Accordingly, this is where we start, so that once mastered, everything our teachers want to teach is easier. Our teachers use special techniques that emphasise the importance of exhaling underwater and inhaling when our face is out of the water. We then practise these techniques in a controlled and supportive environment, gradually increasing the duration of them blowing bubbles as their confidence grows.<\/p>\n
5. We break down learning skills and strokes into manageable steps<\/h2>\n
By breaking down skills into manageable steps, our fun and structured lesson plans then progress to teaching the swimmer the other core foundations of swimming, such as water safety exercises<\/strong>, floating<\/strong> and how to enter, exit and handle oneself safely in and around a pool<\/strong>. Core strength and water independence are then taught until the swimmer is confident and able. We then start to teach the different strokes, beginning with backstroke and front crawl, ensuring that the swimmer builds a strong stroke first, before layering on the next more technically or physically demanding element.<\/p>\n
Once our swimmers can swim a strong backstroke and front crawl, they become water-safe<\/strong>. It is from here that we finesse these strokes and teach more co-ordinated strokes and techniques, such as breaststroke, butterfly and tumble turns. Catchy rhythms help the swimmer learn and remember the key elements of each stroke, they are also an amazing tool to help calm nerves and anxiety – a very handy coping mechanism<\/strong> indeed!<\/p>\n
6. We are patient and understanding<\/h2>\n
Patience and understanding are key to teaching anything! They are especially important when helping nervous swimmers learning how to swim. Our teachers recognise that progress may be slow and setbacks are normal. We avoid pressuring or rushing nervous swimmers, as this may further exacerbate their fears. By agreeing a solid plan with the parent, in this case, we focus on building confidence gradually, allowing swimmers to set their own pace, while providing gentle guidance and support.<\/p>\n
In summary<\/h2>\n
By creating a safe and comfortable environment from which to learn<\/a>, breaking down exercises, strokes and skills into manageable steps, incorporating fun and playfulness, offering individualised instruction with a friendly and supportive approach, we not only empower nervous swimmers to overcome their fears and develop essential swimming skills, but we also teach them all the joys that swimming and being in the water can bring!<\/p>\n
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How to make the transition from pre-school swimming lessons to after-school or weekend<\/h2>
Your little one has turned 4-years old and is ready for reception, but what to do about their swimming lessons? Do they move to an after-school slot? Will it be too late? Will they cope? Or if you pause swimming lessons so they can adjust to school, will they forget everything? Will their water confidence take a knock?<\/p>
These are all questions that most parents are faced with when their children start their school journey.<\/strong><\/p>
We as parents have all learned the hard way, if you don\u2019t use it, you lose it. Add in the million things that our children need to learn on a daily basis - this statement couldn\u2019t be more true. If they are not using swimming in their week to week routines, their bodies and brains will lose \u2018it\u2019 in order to make space for the million other things they need to concentrate on and learn. After putting in all the effort, time (and money!) into building a solid swimming foundation for your little ones, would it not be such a waste if they lost it all and had to start over again?<\/p>
So, how do you support your child to continue swimming after the school day or week?<\/h2>
At Cindy's, we care about our swimmers and want their time with us to be the best it can be. Our toddlers have such an amazing time in their lessons<\/a>, learning so much and gaining so much confidence, but most importantly, building a solid foundation from which to dive into their full stroke swimming journeys.<\/p>
We thought it would be helpful to explain the ways we support our young swimmers whilst they settle into big school (or reacclimatise to being back from the long summer holidays) and why it is so beneficial for your little ones to continue their fun swimming journey!<\/p>
Look for teachers who are trained to support little learners (and their parents)<\/h3>
We actively and regularly train our passionate and dedicated teachers<\/a> on how best to support new school goers, or those swimmers who are just going back to school after the holidays. Our lesson plans are specifically designed to build on their swimming foundations, whilst taking time to build back strength and fitness, as they settle into their after school routines. Our teachers also know to take it easy for the first few weeks while your little ones may be tired. With our open door policy, we always encourage parents to regularly update their teachers on anything that might be helpful in having happy and confident swimmers.<\/p>
Seek our structured lessons that are aligned with your child's development<\/h3>