Swimming Lessons on the Farm

To Register for Swimming Lessons on the Farm – Click Here ElliottFamilySwimming.com

• One of the greatest gifts you can give to any child is the gift of learning how to swim and survive in water. Water has no mercy for a child or an adult that cannot swim and finds their feet lifted off the ground or sloshing over their head.
• Drowning is one of the top causes of death among children according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). While no swimming lesson or instruction can make a child “drown-proof,” a progressive program that allows them to learn how to swim can provide your child with the skills that can last a lifetime and potentially save their life or another person’s life someday.
• The recommendation from the AAP is that parents hold off on formal swimming lessons until after their first birthday. But you do not have to wait until their first birthday to get them familiar with water and common safety practices.
• Elliott Family Enterprises, LLC offers a full suite of swimming lessons for children starting at age 3 and going up to 12 years old! Their Elliott Family Swimming Extravaganza creates a safe environment in a pool designed and built to facilitate swimming lessons. With a tanning ledge with only 6 inches of water for children to sit and learn to a deep end that is almost 7 ft deep to teach basic diving and swimming skills without the risk of swimmer or instructor fatigue from treading water for to long. A bench in the deep end also allows intermediate learners to be able to rest between sessions while being able to watch other swimmers and learn from instructor led sessions.
• Classes are 45 minutes long for Monday – Friday and contain no more then 6 swimmers.
• Parents are allowed to watch outside of the pool fence and must remain onsite until lessons are completed
• There are three types of classes offered:
  • Beginner Classes – Starting at age 3, swimmers who are potty trained can strap on a floatation device (bubble) and be able to get comfortable in the water while learning the basics of putting your face in the water, learning to use your arms and legs to kick and push water while still having the added flotation to keep their head above water.
  • Intermediate Classes- Starting around age 6 when swimmers have mastered enough of the basics to keep their heads above water without an additional floatation device they transition into learning more advanced strokes and swimming techniques. They will learn to dive, float, tread water, and do more endurance based swimming under instructor supervision.
  • Private Lessons – Private lessons can be offered to any age or skillset when it comes to swimming. This is one on one dedicated time with a swim instructor and is best suited for anyone child who benefits from a quieter environment and needs one on one attention to become comfortable with and feel safe in the water. Private lessons last for 30 minutes and are 5 days in a row Monday – Friday of the week you sign up for.
• Lessons can be booked and paid for all online! You simply go to ElliottFamilySwimming.com and register, accept the liability agreement, register your swimmer(s) and pay online with a credit card. Also be sure to join our facebook group Elliott Family Swimming Extravaganza to learn about discounts, weather related cancellations, and upcoming offerings during the year!
• Also as a guide to parents we offer the following safety information from parents.com to help you understand the importance of parental supervision at any age when swimming in known or unknown bodies of water.

1 to 2 Years Old

At this age, you simply want to introduce your child to the water. Play in the pool with them yourself, or join a class that focuses on having fun and getting comfortable in the water (instead of learning to swim). Activities may include showing them how to splash, singing songs while bobbing around, and playing gentle games together.

Water Safety Tips:

• Keep your baby in your arms at all times.
• Do not submerge any child under 3. Kids this age can swallow a large amount of water—enough to dilute the chemicals in their blood, causing sleepiness, nausea, and seizures. In rare cases, water intoxication can be fatal.
• Dress them in a swim diaper that prevents fecal matter from leaking into the pool, which is a major health risk for other swimmers.
• An infant can drown in an inch or two of water in less than 30 seconds, so beware of all water hazards, including inflatable baby pools, buckets, toilets, and tubs.

2 to 3 Years Old

Wondering how to teach a toddler to swim? Your curious tot will be more active in the water now, though they still need an adult to hold them. In your pool or swimming program, play fun games that encourage them to move their arms (for example, throw a ball across the pool and have them reach for it), kick their legs, and float supported on their stomach or back.

Show them how to blow bubbles in the water so they learn to get their face wet without swallowing. By the time they’re 3, they may be able to do these things with little help from you.

Water Safety Tips:

• Your toddler may feel so comfortable in the water that they think they can swim solo. But don’t leave them alone—even for a minute. They need constant adult supervision around water.
• Make sure the pool gate is always closed and the lock is out of reach. That’s because “the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 69 percent of children under the age of 5 years were not expected to be in the water at the time of a drowning,” says the AAP.
• Stress basic pool safety, like not running near the pool and only going into the water with Mommy or Daddy.
• Avoid water wings, air-filled swimsuits, and inflatable flotation toys. Your toddler will sink if they deflate, and these items can give them (and you) a false sense of security. If you want to use a flotation device, buy a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
• Don’t leave toys in the pool after your child gets out. They may be tempted to reach for them.

4 to 5 Years Old

Now that your child is developing enough coordination to swim by themselves, they can enroll in formal swimming lessons. If they don’t have much experience in the water, choose a program that will help them get comfortable. You might be allowed to participate in their first class to make the transition easier.

In the shallow water, your child should learn how to float independently, submerge their head under the water for five to 10 seconds, go from a standing to a swimming position without assistance, glide through the water, reach an exit point, and use coordinated kicking and arm movements. Their swimming class should focus on both water and safety skills.

Water Safety Tips:

• Even though you don’t have to hold your child, a guardian should practice “reach supervision” by being in the water within reaching distance.
• Be patient. Your child may be a fish one day and afraid of the water the next. Don’t force them to do an activity until they’re ready.
• Make sure your pool marks the deep and shallow ends. Having a lifeline to separate the two ends is also smart.
• Never assume another adult is watching, even if a lifeguard is present.
• Some children hate to get their face wet. Practice at home by encouraging your kid to put their head under the shower spray.

6 Years Old and Up

An older child can hold their breath for longer periods of time, swim underwater, and retrieve objects at the bottom. They’ll be able to jump into the water and resurface on their own. They can start learning all swimming strokes, including the breast- and backstroke. Their greater endurance will allow them to swim longer distances.

At this point, you don’t have to be in the water with your child, but you still need to supervise all pool activities, as they might overestimate their own abilities.

Water Safety Tips:

• An adult should watch all water activities. Even a good swimmer can drown.
• Make it a rule that your child can swim only with an adult present, and encourage them to always swim with a buddy.
• Teach them to dive when an adult is watching and the water is deep.
• You should be extra vigilant at the beach or a lake. A child’s swimming skills in a pool don’t necessarily translate to open water.
• Always have your child wear a life jacket when boating or water skiing, even if they can swim.

To Register for Swimming Lessons on the Farm – Click Here ElliottFamilySwimming.com

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