I am thrilled to provide an update to our swimming journey with British School. My two kiddos moved up from the Starfish to the Minnows level and have successfully completed it! They are now officially in the Turtle 1 Class! Looking back at the first two levels, I am amazed at all the swimming and water safety skills they have learned thus far. In both the Starfish and Minnows swimming levels, the skills flowed seamlessly from one to the other, moving at an age-appropriate pace for my 5-year-old twins. The Minnow level required my kids to be more independent in the water, and with the preparation they had in the Starfish level, they were ready for the challenge!
| Just as when we began the Starfish level, Amy Joyner, owner of British Swim School in Raleigh, thoroughly explained to me the skills that my kids would be working on in the Minnows level. In addition, I received a brochure that outlined the swimming and survival skills that would be taught at the Minnows level so that I really could understand what my kids would be learning. As a mom and a former middle school teacher, I love being able to reference exactly what goals my children are working towards and know how to help them during the week when they are not at swim lessons. After each lesson, Amy offers specific skills that we can work on, both in and out of the water, to help cement the techniques that they practiced in their swim lesson. Practicing the ‘Monkey-Airplane-Soldier’ technique to introduce the elementary backstroke has certainly became a part of our regular routine at home. |  |
I continue to love how British Swim School’s lessons combine fun and instruction. While each lesson is designed with learning in mind, my kids continue to be so eager to get into the pool each week. It is also amazing to see how each lesson builds upon the previous skill. For example, in the Starfish level, my kids had to do ‘shark arms’ to the wall. In the Minnows level, they had to do ‘shark arms’ to the wall, with their face in the water. Amy explained how the next step of the progress would be to learn to push off the wall doing 'shark arms', with their face in the water. This skill will set them up for learning to push off the wall to do the freestyle stroke. I’ve enrolled my children in swimming lessons from multiple swim clubs and parks and recreation programs, and I have never seen this manner of detailed, progressive teaching. Once my kiddos master a move, more skills are added to their swimming routine. Some skills havetaken a little longer for them to master, but when they do, there are lots of high fives given which encourages them even more! On a recent vacation, they were enthusiastic to practice their routine regularly so that they could go back to their swim lessons and show their teachers!
We have had a busy schedule this summer and my children haven’t been able to attend swim classes every week, however, they have still made steady progress! I attribute this to how excited they have been to practice their swimming skills whenever possible. They understand that they are getting better and that encourages them to practice more and more. The best part is they really love learning how to swim! Whenever we visit a pool, they have been excited to jump in and do the ‘Monkey-Airplane-Soldier’. They are enthusiastic to “show off” what they have learned in their lessons! Being that there is just one of me, I actually have to slow them down sometimes and make sure that they take turns. From my perspective, it’s a great “problem” to have; my children are so excited about practicing their swimming skills! I have seen their excitement rub off onto other children too, at the pool and even at the beach.
If I needed more proof that the British Swim School style of teaching works, I will never forget the look on my daughter’s face when she swam on her own for the first time! For weeks the instructors had supported her, literally with their hands under her back or her shoulders, as she practiced doing the elementary backstroke. I watched them gradually help her less and less and knew that soon she would be able to do it on her own. When it happened, she just took off and didn’t want to stop! I could hear her chanting “Monkey, airplane, soldier, monkey, airplane, soldier,” again and again! When she came out of the water, she had the biggest smile on her face and yelled, “I swam all by myself!” And she was right--she did swim all by herself. My son wasn’t far behind in being able to swim on his own and he was just as proud of himself as she was. I have to say, the feeling was entirely mutual. What is most important to me is how proud my kids are of their swimming progress, and how excited they are to learn more. I can officially say that both my son and my daughter are swimmers! I know that British Swim School will continue to support their swimming development. Seeing my son and my daughter swim on their own is a feeling of pride that I can’t fully describe. I thought my kids were enjoying swimming before, but they've really been bitten by the swimming bug now! I’m just as excited as they are for the next part of their swimming journey.
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Safety Week at British Swim School
A cornerstone of the British Swim School curriculum, that occurred during the Minnows class for my children, is Safety Week. The swim class during Safety Week more intensely revolved around pool safety and swimming safety rules. For example, they practiced throwing an inner tube to someone who is in trouble in the water instead of going in to help them. My son and daughter have retained so much of the safety skills they have learned so far, such as when we visit a new pool, they know to go to the side of the pool to see how deep the water is. They report back to me and remind me that they can stand in 3 feet of water, but not in 4 feet of water. I am happy that they are aware of these various water safety practices, both at their swim lesson and when they are out and about!
British Swim School offers programs in the Raleigh area. It is their mission to ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. For locations, classes and more information please visit https://britishswimschool.com/raleigh or call
919-258-2066.
