Swimming Lessons 2010....

I have been struggling with Ben in the pool for two years. We had done swimming lessons at our house with the same lady for two years and I swear she traumatized him. This lady who, I swear is referred to as The Swim Nazi, would push him in the pool and make him get to the side. Ben would cry and throw-up and although she taught him to get himself out of the pool if he was to fall in, she scared him so bad he wouldn't play in the pool at all. He would never get off the swim step and absolutely never put his head under the water. I felt so bad because when kids come over they would be playing in the water and Ben would be sitting there splashing around. Poor thing. Every time I tried to work with him and get him to swim he would cry and scream, it was awful.

This year I almost didn't do lessons. I just though Ben would never be a water child. As a last minute decision I signed him up with his Pre-School Jump and Learn teacher who in the summer does swimming lessons.  The first day at lessons Ben's lip was trembling as he was waiting his turn to get into the pool. He was trying so hard to be brave.

Here he is on day one barely putting in face in the water.

Later in the lesson he was coming around and trying to swim a little.

Upon leaving the lesson on day one Ben said he had a good time and was glad Coach Sally was his teacher. The next morning he was much more relaxed and as the week went by he totally into it.

Day three he was floating on his own.

By day five Ben was not only swimming but also jumping off the diving board

Sliding down the big slide

and swimming on his own.

He was the only one in the class to get his Swim Alone Star on his skills chart

I am so impressed with his progress this week and have Ben signed up for another week just to get him even more comfortable jumping in the deep end and swimming correctly.