As most of you know, our family LOVES the outdoors. The beach, camping, boating, diving, or just a backyard BBQ. Whatever it is we like to be outside. Thankfully Parker and Sydney have inherited this LOVE for the outdoors. We decided since most of what we love to do involves being in or around water, we would get the kids in some swim classes.
The kids have always loved their time in the pool but we wanted to feel comfortable with their abilities in and around a pool. We wanted to know that "if" there was ever a chance that they would fall into one they would know would know what to do. They would know how to survive!
We did tons of research and found ISR(Infant Swimming Resourse)to be what we were looking for. It consists of 10 minutes lessons(each child), 5 days a week for 5 weeks.
The kids completed their lessons the last week in September.
It is so exciting to see them in the water now.
They have learned a respect for the water. They can swim and then roll over to float/breathe/rest and then can roll back over to swim again.
If you are interested in seeing what ISR is all about you can check out their website: http://www.infantswim.com/
You will see there are a lot more videos of Parker at lessons than Sydney at lessons. The reason for this is both of them spent the first three weeks of lessons crying through every lesson. Learning but crying. It was hard as a Mommy to sit back and watch but seeing their progress each every day made it worth it.
Then around the three week mark, Parker just stopped crying. He actually started giggling and getting excited during his lessons. He was giving high fives and clapping his hands. I think I shed a few tears of happiness that day.
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These are just some quick clips of some lessons. Remember they have to work their way up to this point. The first couple weeks are about teaching them signals to do certain things and then slowly the instructor takes away those signals until the child can do things on their own.
9/5 This was probably the second lesson where Parker was finally excited about what was going on in lessons.
9/12
9/18
9/18 Here you can see that he knows to get to the wall and if he can't get to the wall then he has to roll onto his back and float and then he can roll over and try again.
9/19 The last three days of lessons were his check out lessons. These lessons are important because they test the child in real clothes and a real diaper to see if they can perform what they have learned with those on. Remember the focus of these classes is on survival and if a child falls into water they will likely be dressed in their everyday clothes. Also remember that real disposable diapers are made to absorb water so when a child wears one in the pool that is what it continues to do. It continues to absorb and becomes very very heavy and bloated.
This was Parker's first check out lessons. Here he is wearing summer clothes: shirt, shorts, diaper, and sandals. He performed like it was any other lesson. He was kicked back and relaxed. Look at him navigate his way to the steps!!! Too funny!
The next day after this lesson(not shown)was also in summer clothes but with socks and shoes. Then the final check out lessons is winter clothes: long sleeve shirt, long pants, diaper, shoes and socks.
I have a picture of that day that I will include but no video.
GO PARKERMAN!!!!
