The Tots' first swimming lesson!

I finally got around to signing the kids up for swim lessons!! I was excited but a little unsure how they would respond!  My dad asked if he could come watch and so he was able to take some pictures!  (And cheer them on from the sides when they were screaming)  These lessons are just the basics to get them comfortable with the water and so they can eventually learn to swim by themselves.

Lyla was up first!  She was so excited and happy.  We started in the shallow end and let the kids walk (or in Lyla's case bear crawl) so they were comfortable in the water.  Lyla loved being able to crawl in the water...she kept crawling out.  

 

Then they place the kids further back so they had to lift their chin as they crawled.  She did great!  This really taught them to not freak out if their face got wet.  It shows them that all they have to do is lift their head (or stand up) and they are fine!  

 

  

They also taught them how to reach for the wall, then hang onto the wall, and eventually crawl out.  I was amazed that Lyla could already hang on to the wall by herself.  Her she let go and got her face under water, she'd just pull herself back up.  Amazing how early they can learn this stuff!

We went to the deeper water next and let them lay on their backs and learn to kick!!  She was doing great UNTIL...the instructor showed us how to dunk them under water.  After she came up she was super mad.  She clung to me like a cat and she decided the lesson was over.  I was determined to end on a happy note so I kept trying to get her to enjoy other stuff.  Eventually she crawled some more in the shallow end and played with the fountains.

Cade's class did basically the same stuff but expected more from them.  Cade enjoyed it for the most part.  After they taught him how to reach for the wall and hold on to the side, the instructor put Cade near the wall and let him go.  Cade was under water for a little bit but finally found the wall and pulled himself up.  He was really scared after that (I guess, who wouldn't be).  But the important thing was that he could do it!  He was a great kicker and could even swim with his arms already.  I hope that his confidence increases over the next few weeks.  He didn't really calm down after going under the water until my dad took him outside and swam with him.

 

 

Hoping for a better outcome next week!!