What a Swim Instructor Can & Cannot Do

Learning to swim really is a miraculous experience. It’s my belief everyone has the potential to swim. Some of us might float better than others, some might have different abilities, but I think the body loves water.

There can be much confusion, or at least a difference of opinions, when a group of parents, instructors or kids for that matter sit down an try to define what swimming is. For one mom, it’ means their 3-year is able to jump off the steps and use arm and leg motions without assistance. For another, it’s dropping her 7-year off at a swim party with no fear the kid would be able to take care of his/herself with little pool supervision.

Just the same, it’s important to distinguish what an instructor can and cannot do:

• A swim instructor cannot drownproof anyone. I’m not drownproof. It’s a false term and any person or school that advertises this benefit is promising something they could never deliver. But a swim instructor can teach swimming and water survival skills.
• A swim instructor cannot stop a child from panicking. We can give the skills and review over and over again what to do, but it’s really age, personality, strength and comfort that helps a child act correctly in a dangerous situation. People don’t drown because they cannot swim; they drown because they panic.
• A swim instructor cannot stop a 2-year old from running straight for the water. We think starting early means getting more control: As the Academy of Pediatricians states, children are not developmentally ready for lessons until 4, and what they are getting at is anyone younger has a lack of judgment skills. Teachers who are certified in or specialize in infant survival skills can teach infants and toddles to roll on their backs if they fall in.
• A swim instructor cannot tell you how many lessons it will take for your child to swim. Especially if they never saw your kid swim. I can estimate. I can ballpark. I can assess, reassess and conference with you every step of the way. But there are too many variables to put a number to it and every child is different.
• A swim instructor cannot talk a child out of being cold. In all my years, I have yet to learn how to do this. Temperature comfort is one of the most important element in swimming — a teacher can make important decisions about creating optimal pool comfort.
• A swim instructor cannot give your child a lot of one-on-one time in a group class setting. If I have 6 students in a :30-minute period, it’s easy to figure the math: I can give your kid a little under five minutes of individual attention.

Hope I don’t sound like I’m venting. It’s actually the complete opposite. I think instructors need to be as open and honest as possible with their clients, and their client’s time, money and kids. Learning about swimming is as much of a lesson for the parents as it is for the kids.