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COVID update
Firstly we hope everyone is keeping well and managing ok in yet another COVID lockdown. While necessary, they certainly don't make it easy to develop swim skills, especially when we know how quickly learners can de-skill.  

We are also massively grateful for your understanding and support though this pandemic. Almost to a one our customers have gone out of their way to be helpful, so very big thank you.

Can I make up any lessons missed from COVID?
Yes, we've added makeup tokens to everyone's accounts to cover for the COVID closure. Importantly, this helps the children to attend enough lessons to make progress and reduce de-skilling. And also helps us to manage these costly closures.

Each lesson is one step closer to acquiring swim skills, so we also encourage everyone to make the most of the three extra tokens we provide over the school holidays.  If you can't use them, these extra tokens can be gifted to non swimming friends and siblings, the more kids learning to swim the better! If you are struggling with your make up tokens please drop us an email.

How far ahead can I book my tokens?
It's best to book your tokens close to when you are ready to use them. This is because class levels and skills can quickly change, meaning the class may not still suit your child if too far ahead. 

And many, many makeups are missed when kids catch bugs or other household adventures get in the way of swim lessons. And of course we can't predict when others will be away.  So best to check close to the day you need. 

Once again, we will be adding extra makeup classes to our weekends to cater for this COVID closure.

Do you have or know someone with an anxious child?
Sometimes children are anxious around water, this anxiety might be the result of an unpleasant experience, fright, or repeated warnings to stay away from the water.

Forceful teaching methods almost always cause fear and anxiety and can leave the child highly anxious and even more nervous about water than they were in the first place.

Children should never be forced underwater
Using a gentle, fun approach to develop a love of the water is much more successful and helps to build a lifelong love of water. 

We advise parents not to pressure these children, instead give them plenty of time to explore the water and let them move at their own pace.
With an understanding and compassionate approach the anxious child will learn to love the water and become a confident little swimmer.

Time in the water is vital
When your child was learning to crawl and walk many hours were spent every day learning to balance, crawl, toddle, walk, hop, jump and eventually be competent enough to run.

Just like crawling, walking and running swimming is a locomotor movement and is going to take time, effort and practice to master. It’s unrealistic to expect your child to learn the skill of swimming competently and safely without adequate practice time in the water.

For best swimming results we recommend children have time in the water at least twice per week and swim year round.

4 - 3 - 2 
The most successful approach for anxious children is to have as much happy, non pressured time in the water as possible. Attending four times the first week and then three times the second week and then two times the next week before reducing to one lesson per week is a great strategy and comes close to fitting a term of lessons into a couple of weeks, usually with fantastic results!  

Please don’t compare me!
It’s unfair to compare the progress of your child with siblings and other children.

Children develop at their own pace and in uneven stages; it’s not unusual for children to reach different stages of maturation at similar chronological ages. As an example, a six year old might show the growth and development of a four or five year old, or an eight to nine year old.
This can make a huge difference initially, but rest assured with time and practice all children can learn to swim. 

Once again, a reminder to check out our dipadees $'s
Cheers for now and stay safe,

Barb and the team.