Swimming Lessons: Zac

The boys have been in swimming lessons for the last 3 weeks. They have done great! They are both comfortable in the water, they like putting their face in and blowing bubbles, and they can both dive in and get to a back float. They also like to dive for sticks.

During Zac's second week of lessons, after his lesson was over he was playing on the stairs with the diving sticks, and got too far from the bottom step and was floundering just out of reach. The teachers were on the other side of the pool, with their current students (toddlers). I kept telling Zac to get on his back, but he was not in the mindset to compute that. I ended up stepping into the pool, fully dressed in jeans to get him. It was pretty much slow motion for me. I really did not want to get in. And to top it off, I couldn't go home. We were showing the house during the next 90 mins. So I ran to Wal-mart to get something dry to wear.

One time I took them to the rec center to practice their stuff, and they were both freaking out. I think because it was a new, unfamiliar place, but mostly because the water was cold. The pool they had lessons in was heated, like a bath. But after we practiced they were much better, when they got back to their lessons. I just wish it would warm up here to go to the pool outside and keep practicing!

There were a few teachers and we would have different ones depending on the day. This was their favorite teacher, Amanda.

This last week they were both having regular swim lessons instead of toddler lessons. Zac is working on form.

Floating on his back. They both still need to work on kick to get to the side of the pool.

Diving for sticks at the end of the lesson

Since I had to go in to save him a couple weeks ago (and 2 times last summer), after Zac's last lesson I wanted him to jump in with no one to catch him and get to his back float.  I wanted him to know that he could do it, with no help, and no one next to him. After 20 minutes of persuasion and a churro bribe, I got him to jump in the pool by himself, turn to float on his back and reach the side.  I was so proud of him, but proud of myself that I didn't just push him in after 15 mins of trying to convince :)

This is Zac breathing the right way all the way across the pool. Generally, after a rotation or 2 he will put his head up and ask how many more til he is to the side of the pool, and proceed to ask you about anything he can to distract from continuing the lap.

Zac diving and getting to his back to float.

Swimming Lessons: Max

I wasn't sure how Max would do with swimming lessons, because other than the bath, he hasn't really liked water. Last year, when we'd go to the pool he was never that keen on it. He was pretty upset the first 4 days. Everyday when we would put swimsuits on and get ready to leave he would want me to hold him. One day I even had to hold his foot (because that is all I could reach) as I drove to the lesson. But after that 4th day he walked over to the pool and put his hands out to the teacher all by himself. No matter how much they fussed or cried before or during the lesson, each time it was over they both said how much fun it was and that they liked it.

Max putting his head in and blowing bubbles as he works on his kicking.

Max floating on his back. I think both boys picked up on this about the same time. Max would just do what his teachers said. Zac would try and talk and distract the teachers or try and understand exactly what was going and what was happening every step of the way.

Max diving for sticks

Got them all!

Max is doing great! It is so comforting and fun to see them be able to manage themselves a little bit in the water.

Max diving, then floating on back

Max swimming

Teacher Appreciation Gift

This year decorated these jumbo clothes pins. I also did these last year for his teacher, and for Mother's Day. I bought them here.

We included a card, written and illustrated by Zac. This was the first time he has written a whole note all by himself. I love this!

We also included a target gift card, a great quote and note from me. The quote was by Maya Angelou:

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

 

 

 

Zac had an awesome year! He learned so much, and most importantly loves school. His birthday is the last week of August, and he turned 4 the first week of class. We decided back in Sept. that we are going to keep him back a year and start him in Kindergarten in the fall of 2011.  Last fall, he started in the 4-5 year old preschool class, but he seemed significantly younger than the other kids who were all 6 months to a year older than him. He didn't feel comfortable in the class. He said the work was hard and the teacher said he had a hard time staying on task and keeping track of what was going on in class. They also have a reading program and we were worried that he would have trouble enjoying it and staying caught up. So after a couple weeks of deliberating and talking to teachers and parents, we decided to put him in the 3-4 year old class, and therefore to wait til 2011 to start him in Kindergarten. 

 

All the parents I talked to, who have children with late summer birthdays who started Kindergarten when they were barely 5, said that their child has consistently had a harder time keeping up. So our main reason for waiting to start Kindergarten is because of that and we want him to enjoy school and be confident, not feeling behind all the time. I hear many parents keep their children back so they are bigger for sports-let's face it a year is not going to make much of a different in size with the genes he's got! He has done wonderfully in his class this year, and has loved it! When I told him it was spring break and explained what it meant, he cried because he couldn't go to school.  I am so glad he loves school.