Procedures- Policies

Swim School

Policies/Procedures/Rules

Spring/Summer/Fall 2008

Procedures, Protocols and Philosophy

1. Patient parenting is the key to success. Be positive and in the moment. Run runs

2. When your instructor is speaking, please refrain from talking so that you and your classmates can hear and therefore benefit from the instruction.

3. Thank you for not entering the pool before class begins. You will be called to class, by your instructor, who will assist your safe entry. When class is over, students and parents will need to exit the pool under the direction of the instructor.

4. Only class participants are allowed in the water. This is not open swim. No siblings, relatives or friends are allowed to play in the pool as this can be disruptive to the class, as well as not being covered by our insurance. Siblings on the deck must be quiet and well behaved and stay within the teaching pool deck area. Use or play on any of the diving boards is not permitted.

5. A “swim diaper” must be worn underneath the swimsuit for non-toilet trained infants and toddlers. Diapers are not permitted in the pool.

6. As our swim school is based on a positive atmosphere, if your child is having a bad moment or screams on the deck or in the water, please try to calm them or move them to a quieter location. Never force your child to perform skills in class. Please do not go ahead of the teacher or their recommendations. i.e. with submersions, length of swims etc. You are here to encourage. This is not a competition against others or with your self. Enjoy and be in the moment.

7. Never switch or substitute with an untrained dad or mom, grandparent or nanny at swim class. Always have a new adult attend class first with you in the water, several times so that they can be trained in class procedure and become aware of the child’s current capabilities. They need to understand our “child-centered” philosophy and study this entire web site, Babyswimming~ The Gentle Journey at www.babyswimming.com and study our book Learn to Swim. An untrained substitute can be detrimental to your child and disruptive to the class.

8. We reserve the right to remove those participants who "opt out" by failing to abide by our Lifestyle Swim School gentle philosophy, who are disrespectful to staff or other parents, who are not exhibiting behavior conducive to a wholesome family atmosphere, who use inappropriate language or who are not abiding by the aforementioned rules above.

9. Make-up classes are available during your current session only and may not be carried over to the next session.

For FAU directions and details on parking permits etc.

see Directions and Parking page

Rain Policy

In case of rain or questionable weather, call our office at 393-6386 and press box #3 one-half hour before your class to find out whether or not class is being held. You will either hear a recorded message or will speak to someone in our office. (If no information is available, use your best judgment.) We will make every effort to hold class, however since Florida’s weather is unpredictable, our decisions are based not only on the current weather conditions but also on the Local Weather Channel forecast and radar report. The week-end make up class will serve as a rain make-up. If there is an excessive amount of rained out days, rain days will be held and will be announced. If it does rain after class starts we consider 15 minutes to constitute a held class.

Cool Days

We can easily adapt to cool days by running classes a bit shorter by skipping songs and games (we consider 15 minutes to constitute a held class). For the few fronts that do blow through, we may need to post-pone class for a day or two. Call 393-6386 and hit box #3 for weather/class status information.

Class Minimums

In order to create a minimum of 6 students per class, we may be combining some classes. We aim to enroll 12 students per class.

FOR SWIM SCHOOL ORIENTATION

Study this entire web site and our book, Learn to Swim, which is the textbook for your classes.

• Rob created “Baby Swimming – The Gentle Journey” Lifestyle’s educational web page devoted to the child-centered, non traumatic method of infant/toddler swim instruction. This site receives over 7000 visitors per month and has been visited from over 159 countries. The site’s philosophical focus is highlighted by gorgeous color photographs; some generously donated by our students, some from Rob and Kathy’s collection and some taken by our head teacher, Jodi Davis.

Legal Holidays

For both Track I and II there will be no classes on Memorial Day-Monday May 26, Independence Day - Friday, July 4, or Labor Day - Monday, September 1.

School Vacation Closing

Swim school will be closed and no classes offered from August 18-24. Classes will resume Monday August 25.

Conforming to Infant/Toddler Learning Cycle

In order to give full developmentally appropriate advantage to those students new to swimming (Water Adjustment and Basic Skills), we recommend that you initially attend the optimal learning format 4x per week for 4 weeks. * We will offer a courtesy class on Saturdays for those families involved in other children’s activity programs during the week. This is truly the best and fairest way to introduce you and your child to the wonderful and exciting transition from land to water. Continuity and repetition greatly enhances your child’s ability to adapt to this new situation and unique liquid environment. Our 27 years of experience teaching thousands of babies has taught us that "a little bit on a lot of days" (minimum 4x per week in the beginning stages) is far more effective and fluid than once or twice per week because it conforms to the natural infant/toddler learning cycle. This can eliminate potential frustration on the part of both parent and child and creates an ideal opportunity for "baby friendly" learning.

Most students will be adjusted to the water, comfortably submerge on the breath holding cue and swim a few feet after one month. Those children (or parents) apprehensive, timid or demonstrating discomfort with water poured on their face, may take two months or more to adapt at their own pace. Those children who have been traumatized by previous aggressive lessons need time, patience, exposure and trust to re-establish a a calm acceptance of water and teachers. This "unlearning" of fear and mistrust is highly individual and will take a considerable amount of time.

Once children can safely and happily swim a few feet, attending class 4x per week is not as critical. We have observed from this point forward, that while 4x per week is optimal, family scheduling can make this difficult. In this case a minimum of swimming at least two times per week is suggested.