Getting to swimming lessons early in the morning or after a busy school day can often feel rushed for the whole family. However, a successful lesson starts before your child even gets into the water. Taking a brief moment to intentionally slow down before class can completely shift your child's mindset from frantic to focused.
Indoor pools are vibrant, high energy, and loud environments. Rushing straight from the car to the water can leave kids feeling overwhelmed and distracted. Instead, creating a peaceful pre swim routine helps them tune in and prepare for learning.
How to create a calm pre swim routine:
- Arrive 10 minutes early: Give your child a buffer to transition from their busy morning or day to their lesson.
- Acclimate to the environment: Find a spot on the grandstand or poolside at your BlueFit centre to sit together. Watch the water, observe the classes before yours, and let them adjust to the sensory input of the building.
- Gear up without the rush: Slowly getting changed and calmly helping them put on their BlueFit swimming cap and goggles allows them to physically and mentally prepare without feeling pressured.
A calm, grounded brain provides the perfect environment for learning. During a BlueFit swimming lesson, kids are asked to master complex, multi step instructions from their instructors like coordinating their arms and legs while remembering to breathe.
It also requires them to practice impulse control, listen actively, and wait patiently on the wall for their turn. By arriving early and eliminating the pre lesson rush, you give your child the focus and confidence they need to maximise their time in the water and truly progress in their swimming journey.
By setting them up for success on the pool deck, you are giving them the absolute best chance to thrive, build confidence, and truly absorb every skill they are being taught.
Maria at Sans Souci Aquatic Centre
We recently witnessed a wonderful example of resilience at Sans Souci Aquatic Centre. One of our students, Maria, returned to lessons after a six month break with a newfound fear of swimming on her back.
With patience and consistent encouragement, Maria worked closely with her instructors to rebuild her confidence. They used simple, practical strategies like spotting the colour of the lane rope to know when the platform was near and counting the pipes along the wall for orientation. Through this gradual process, Maria overcame her fear and is now confidently swimming on her back as a Stingray level student!
Teacher Insight: Mastering New Skills
We asked one of our Swim Teachers how they help students stay calm and focused when trying a difficult new skill in the water:
“I always get down to the student’s eye level and speak in a calm, relaxed voice to help create a positive atmosphere. I like to demonstrate the skill first, then give them a chance to practice it on the platform so it feels more familiar before trying it in the water. Throughout the process, I focus on offering plenty of positive encouragement to build their confidence.”
By setting them up for success on the pool deck, you are giving your child the absolute best chance to thrive, build confidence, and truly absorb every skill they are being taught.