More swimming lessons
Emeraude inches closer to the end, where her instructor waits treading water below, on her first attempt at jumping off the board.
Just a follow up on Emeraude’s swimming lessons at the Manitouwadge Oasis Pool. These photos are from last week (before we headed out on our vacation). She actually asked to go on the diving board herself! I couldn’t beleive it, what a brave girl!! I was so proud of her, the board is so big compared to her that I had to put her up on it, inpite of her great climbing skills she couldn’t get up the ladder because the rungs were too far apart. The board is quite itimidating and once on it she was a little nervous, walked to the end to look down at her instructor, Jose, and then turned around and came back so I got up on the board (really frightening as multiple sclerosis has affected my balance + I was in 3″ heels and the board was bouncing a little 😐 eek!) I walked to the end with her, praying under my breath that God might spare me from splashing in myself lol and then held her hands to lower her off the board a little. She was awesome! It was even cooler for her that Grandmaman had stopped by to observe her lesson on her way to work and got to watch her big jump!
She’s putting her face in alot more, becoming more comfortable with floating and trusting her instructors when they ask her to practice these skills. Just one day left, tomorrow is her last of this session of lessons though I do hope to have her take a session or two this fall (after our crazy September which is looming over the horizon).
The swimming lessons at the Oasis Pool are from the Royal Life Saving society of Canada program which happens to be celebrating it’s 100th year as Canada’s “lifeguard experts”. Lloyd did not end up taking any lessons this summer as he is ready (has been for 2 years) to take his Bronze Medallion which was not offered this summer due to lack of interest (really dissapointing as they seemed to really make an effort to offer it. The society’s younger level courses are dependant on your region, for Ontarien’s visit www.lifesavingsociety.com, Emeraude was in their Preschool Program (take a look below for details on these).
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- Emeraude inches closer to the end, where her instructor waits treading water below, on her first attempt at jumping off the board.
The following information is from the Life Saving Society of Ontario’s webpage:
The Preschool Program gives children a head start on learning to swim. Preschool levels develop an appreciation and healthy respect for the water before these kids get in too deep.
In five Preschool levels we work to ensure 3 to 5-year olds become comfortable in the water and have fun acquiring and developing a foundation of water skills. We incorporate Water Smart® education in each level.
We’ve organized the content of each level like this:
- Entries and exits
- Surface support
- Underwater skills
- Survival skills
- Movement skills
- Water Smart® education
Preschool A: We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much). These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We’ll help them jump into shallow water. They’ll try floats and glides on their front and back, and wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll learn to get their face wet and blow bubbles underwater.
Preschool B: These preschoolers learn to jump into shallow water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll submerge and exhale underwater. With a buoyant aid, they’ll work on moving through the water kicking on their front and back.
Preschool C: These youngsters will try jumping into chest-deep water, and into deep water wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll recover objects from the bottom. They’ll work on moving efficiently through the water on their front and back, and while wearing a PFD. **I think this is the level Emeraude must be in, judging from what her instructors were encouraging her to do. Very different focus than the old Tadpole/duck/minnows levels, these really seem to be more about competence in the water rather than specific skills.
Preschool D: Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They’ll learn to support themselves at the surface, open their eyes underwater and recover objects from the bottom in deeper water. They’ll master short (3-5m) swims on their front and back.
Preschool E: These youngsters get more adventuresome with sideways entries wearing a PFD; front and back floats with rollovers; and holding their breath underwater for up to 5 seconds. They’ll work on longer (5–10m) front and back crawl swims and get a giggle out of whip kick.
Download the Curriculum at-a-glance PDF by clicking here.
