Our little Pike sure loved swim lessons at the YMCA! His favorite part was riding in the boat during water safety day. (He's at the very front in the yellow boat.)
Miss Shelby, his teacher, was very patient. Parents weren't allowed in the pool area, so I don't know all the conversations she and Noah had, but I do know whatever they talked about together made Noah smile real big and even giggle. She had a knack for making kids feel comfortable in the water when it can feel very intimidating without Mommy or Daddy around.
Noah's second favorite thing he learned was floating which he does in the bath tub now. He thinks it's so funny when he submerses everything, but his little face in the bath water and all he hears are the echoes in the tub. He shouts, "Mommy I can't hear anything!" and then giggles.
The very first class was the only time I was nervous about Noah falling in the water. He quickly learned to be still and listen to his teacher. Plus there were several life guards around watching the children like hawks. One little boy in Noah's class fell in the water. He just slipped right off the side while he was sitting; or rather wiggling. Miss Shelby very nonchalantly glided over in the water, reached down and pulled the boy out of the water. Two life guards also came right over to rescue the little guy. Noah's eyes got very big. I think he learned by witnessing we must be very still or we'll fall in too! The little boy was all smiles within seconds. Everything was handled swiftly and calmly. Though Noah didn't graduate to the next class, he did learn a whole lot! We'll be going back for another round of swim lessons soon! I think we have a little fish in the making.
