Nickel
enthusiast
Posts: 271
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 01-18-05
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02-26-11 07:44 PM - Post#126898
Hi, my son is 4-1/2 and is asking about taking swimming lessons. He's never taken lessons before and we don't have a pool (or even a community one) but he does get invited to swim at people's houses often. I know Metroplex gymnastics offers these, but I wondered who else did and if anyone has had experience with the programs that are out there. Thanks!
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monita
enthusiast
Posts: 443
Reg: 06-05-08
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02-26-11 09:05 PM - Post#126900
In response to Nickel
The Natatorium offers swim lessons. I don't have experience but know some people that do and they were happy with the program.
http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/parks_rec re...
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texmomma
enthusiast
Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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02-26-11 11:40 PM - Post#126909
In response to Nickel
Cis Wishnew is in Lucas and she and her (grown)kids have been teaching swimming in her backyard pool for many years. She's a nurse who does this during the summer. She has been terrific with my kids. It's usually 4-6 students with an adult and a teen helper depending on the age level. 972-562-0964
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Homer
enthusiast
Posts: 129
Reg: 08-31-07
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02-28-11 10:11 AM - Post#126948
In response to texmomma
Cis is great. She taught all of my kids how to swim (around age 3) because we had a pool. She is well worth the time and money.
One caution (I am not sure if she still runs her classes the same way). Kids stay in the pool area for their lessons and parents sit outside the fence away from the pool and out of view of their children. Easier for her to teach the children in my opinion. If you follow her rules, your child will be swimming by the end of the lessons. If you don't, go buy them some floaties ...
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jogo
enthusiast
Posts: 1475
Reg: 08-31-05
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02-28-11 12:32 PM - Post#126953
In response to Nickel
My son took several years of swim lessons through city programs (including Allen way back when the lessons were at Ford pool). He just never "got" it though and I was becoming concerned when he was about 10. Most the other parents would drop their kids off at swimming activities but I couldn't feel comfortable doing that because he was such a poor swimmer. So, we found a lady (who no longer teaches - tried Cis but she had no openings that worked for us) who taught lessons in her backyard pool and within days he was swimming confidently. My daughter went to the same lady and was able to complete all levels of swim lessons in just two summers. I definitely recommend the smaller backyard type of lessons approach - as long as you find a good, experienced instructor of course.
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sco
enthusiast
Posts: 2714
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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02-28-11 01:05 PM - Post#126956
In response to Homer
I agree that Cis Wishnew does a great job. Parents are asked to wait outside because kids tend to respond better. They are going to have the kids learn without goggles and without floaties. My daughter was a little older when she took lessons from them but they also taught the kids how to do a survival float and get out of their clothes in a simulation of falling into a lake or pool.
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Homer
enthusiast
Posts: 129
Reg: 08-31-07
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02-28-11 02:29 PM - Post#126964
In response to sco
That is really a "fun" day for the kids too. They think it is funny to be in the pool in their real clothes - really teaches them not to panic if they fall in.
The first couple days there are usually a lot of tears since they are scared. By the third day they are getting more in the pool especially because others in the class are doing that and by the end of the first week they are swimming. Really amazing to see ...
After Cis' classes with my kids I never worried about them being in a pool. Money well spent in my opinion ...
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Homer
enthusiast
Posts: 129
Reg: 08-31-07
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02-28-11 02:33 PM - Post#126965
In response to jogo
The small pool setting is best with a good instructor. We tried teaching our kids ourselves but it never worked. I have seen parents try to teach their kids with similar results.
I think I also read floaties are a "bad" tool to use to teach the kids - vertical vs. horizontal swimming position I think.
All kids need to learn to swim and not be scared of the water ...
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sco
enthusiast
Posts: 2714
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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02-28-11 03:09 PM - Post#126966
In response to Homer
I think I also read floaties are a "bad" tool to use to teach the kids - vertical vs. horizontal swimming position I think.
All kids need to learn to swim and not be scared of the water ...
I think you are correct about both points. The floaties are very dangerous for another reason as well. The kid gets used to wearing them and being able to jump in the water and float. If they forget that they don't have them on, or they slip off, then the kid is in a world of trouble really fast. When my daughter took lessons they recommended that we never use them. They aren't allowed at public pools for safety reasons. The only flotation most professionals recommend is a certified life jacket and only for safety. They also aren't good as a teaching tool (they are designed to flip the kid on their back)
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texmomma
enthusiast
Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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02-28-11 03:44 PM - Post#126969
In response to Homer
Yes, Cis still asks parents to wait on the other side of the fence. There is a place where you can "peek" in as long as it doesn't get distracting. The last day of both weeks the parents are invited in to watch...the first Friday is generally a regular lesson where you can observe, the last day of lessons is "Safety Day" where they spend about half the lesson fully clothed in the water. That is one of my favorite things about Cis- they literally do everything they have done in lessons, in clothes, and then they also show them how to safely help someone in the pool (throw them a life preserver on a rope, reach with a pole and pull hand over hand, etc). I can't remember if they do this with the 4 year olds, but my 5-6 year olds did this. These experiences could be invaluable in an emergency.
I tried the lessons at Ford pool one year with my 4 year old. They had a couple of teens teaching, and parents were beside the pool waiting. The kids kept trying to run back to their parents- the teens were so busy trying to get the kids to stay with them and cooperate that no one learned anything. They did little more than motorboat and ring around the rosy- worthless in my opinion. This was 10 years ago, but that was my experience.
The following year I asked around and called Cis, she has taught 3 of my girls since. She is also a nurse, so she can understand how medical issues/handicaps would affect a child in the water much better than most teachers can.
One year I wanted an extra round of lessons for my daughter, and Cis didn't have room, so I tried Metroplex. The teacher ended up having some health issues, and they had a different instructor in with the kids almost every day, no consistancy. I'll give them the fact that they didn't know the instructor would be ill, but it seems that they could have handled it differently.
Edited by texmomma on 02-28-11 03:48 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Nickel
enthusiast
Posts: 271
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 01-18-05
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02-28-11 11:03 PM - Post#126981
In response to texmomma
Great advice, thanks! Any idea on the costs of private lessons, such as Cis?
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texmomma
enthusiast
Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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03-01-11 01:04 AM - Post#126982
In response to Nickel
I think it's usually about $130 or so for Cis for 2 weeks of lessons (about 30 min). I'm just going on memory here.
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