I can't believe it! Where has the time gone. I can't believe my little babes are already two years old! Time has certainly been flying by. One of the fun things the girls got for their birthdays (thank you Grandma and Grandpa) are swimming lessons. It has been a blast so far. The pool is indoors and heated so it doesn't matter what the weather is like and they have so much fun. Of course, having twins, this is not something I recommend a mom of multiples to do alone at this age. My husband comes and we switch each class who has which girl, so we both get time with each of them.
They have a class for babies, the toddler one my girls are in, and one after (they have to be three) and it teaches them to actually swim. The class for babies is to get them used to being in the water and to have fun. The toddler one is about teaching them the skills they will need to use later to learn to swim. We do fun activities, singing songs, blowing bubbles, etc. BUT it also teaches them to reach forward, kick their legs, work their arms and get used to going under water. The two biggest skills for them right now, in my opinion, is learning to float (they hate this) and getting in and out of the pool.
To teach them how to float, we have them put the backs of their heads on our shoulders and look up, with their feet out, in a floating position. It appears kids are either okay with it, or like mine, they resist. Each class seems to get a little better.
The other big skill is having them climb out of the pool, ask if they can get in. and their favorite, jumping back in. So far, I get "mommy pool" as they try to jump and I catch them. I make sure they get a big splash as I bring them into the water and they think its just the greatest. This is their favorite and they get so excited over it. Every class they have gotten a little more daring.
I've had people ask why I was teaching them so young to swim. That they were so little. I feel it is never too early to learn to swim. In fact, if things had worked out differently last year, I would have started them then. Not only do they have a blast and look forward to their time in the pool, but they are learning a very important life skill. Every summer growing up in Arizona, I would see babies drowning in pools. Now in the Midwest I see the same issues with ponds and lakes. People think, the doors are locked, I have a fence, everything is fine. Yet the toddlers manage to get out regardless, and in that split second things can happen. So yes, I intend to teach my kids to be able to float, climb out, and one day soon, swim. Give them the skills they need to at least make an attempt to wait for help. If you haven't seen the videos of babies dropping into a pool and knowing how to flip over and float until safety arrives you should check it out. While no one ever wants their kid in that sort of situation, it doesn't hurt to teach them.
The hardest part is getting them changed. Sure you can put them in their swim suits, but as mine aren't completely potty trained yet, they still need swim diapers. Swim diapers hold poo but not pee, so I don't put those on them until we get there. If we can catch the family rest room it works out great because Adam and I can take the girls in together to get them ready. The times I have to take both slippery girls back to the locker room and try and get them changed myself can be challenging. I like to get them out of their swim suits right away and dry, but I have to keep my swim suit from dripping water onto their dry clothes. Trying to keep them both by me while we all get changed, keep their dry clothes dry, keep them from slipping, all in a new environment can be interesting, but it gets easier. In the locker room they want to explore around the corners, say hi to everyone and check everything out; which is fine, except the door to the pool is just a push open, and I constantly have to make sure they don't sneak towards it. Hence why I tend to make my life easier and just wait out the family room. I am sure as they get older and can start getting dressed themselves it will get easier. But right now I prefer not to have my half dressed babies trying to run around the locker room.
Even with the challenges of getting them changed after class, I would completely recommend teaching your kids to swim. It's never too early and they will have a blast!
