Top tips for parents as children return to swimming lessons post lockdown from Swim England

Top tips for parents as children return to swimming lessons post-lockdown

Top tips for parents as their children return to swimming lessons post-lockdown

The Swim England Learn to Swim team have shared some top tips for parents as their children return to swimming lessons following the coronavirus lockdown.

The information was put together following research that found thousands of parents were willing to take their children back to swimming lessons, with many having returned as soon as pools reopened after the first national lockdown.

In addition to the following five top tips, the recognised national governing body has also produced guidance documents for both swimming lessons and school swimming.

  1. Teach your children how to put on both their swimming hats and goggles independently. You can practice this at home before you return to your swimming lessons.
  2. Ask your children how they feel about returning and explain to them that things may be different to what they are used to.Also spend some time speaking to your lesson provider to find out what changes have been put in place so you’re able to relay these to your children to ensure that they are prepared the best they can be for returning to their lessons.
  3. It is possible that some centres will only allow one person per child into the centre. It’s important to make sure your child is aware of this and is happy with who will be taking them back to their lesson.
  4. Be aware that the lessons might look different. It might be the environment, it might be the lessons, it might be the skills your children are working towards.Your child has been out of the water for a significant amount of time so don’t be alarmed if teachers spend a little bit more time recapping those fundamental skills they learnt at the beginning of their journey. That’s really important moving forward.
  5. Take a look at our parent guidance on our website and have a look at the outcomes from the stage that your child was swimming in when lockdown began. If you’re not sure you can check with your provider to find out what stage your child was in.Have a look at those outcomes and then see if your child can demonstrate some of those skills in the living room for example. See if they can do that before you return to lessons and make that transition back a little easier.