Swimming Confidence

Before we went to Hervey Bay, both Eliza and Alexander were not very confident in the pool. At swimming lessons they were amazing but at Judy's pool or other people's pools, they both would only go in the water if I was holding them or for Eliza, if she had the pool noodle. The confidence just wasn't there. 

The week after we got back from Hervey Bay, Carol Cleasby openned up her pool for Mainly Music families. I went with the kids and was expecting it to be another time of the kids clinging to me. But instead I was very surprised! Alexander only had a short swim and for part of it borrowed a pool ring that he could safely sit in. But Eliza was the one who surprised me! She found that she could stand in the shallow end of Carol's pool so she was very happy swimming around there. I then asked her if she wanted to swim to me. Eliza decided that she would but told me where to stand. Each time she swam to me I would move back slightly until I was standing at the wall on the other side of the pool. Eliza was so excited when she realised that she could swim across the pool by herself!

After doing it a few times from the step, I asked her if she wanted to jump in and swim to the other side of the pool. She thought about it and then went for it and loved it!

After a few goes I pulled Eliza to the side and asked her if she was keen to have a go at something else. I told her that she might be a little scared to do it, but I thought she was able to do it. She said she was ok to try. I asked her if she wanted to jump into the pool at the deep end and then swim to me. It was the same distance as swimming across the pool. She thought about it and then decided that she could do it. I was so proud of her! She did it! And then did it again and again and again. There is her confidence!

Since then there has been no stopping her. At Judy's pool she jumps in and swims to the other side. She dives down to get her sinky toy. She loves the water. So happy!

Alexander has also turned a huge corner these last few months. At swimming lessons he has been able to swim by himself. He does rocket arms, he dives down to get the sinky toys, he even now can lift up his head to take a breath. It is amazing to see it all come together suddenly.

At Judy's pool he has grown in confidence with the pool noodle using it as a boat or as a horse. He is so proud of himself swimming to the deep end of the pool. I'm so proud of him too. And just yesterday he has jumped into the pool with his noodle and the swum. And then he did some swimming with the noodle blowing bubbles in the water and putting his eyes in the water. Really proud of these guys. Daniel has continued to grow in confidence too and is swimming with his arms straight and starting to take breaths on the side.

I am loving going to the pool now. I am able to enjoy swimming in the water by myself without a kid on me. I'm able to play with each of the kids now without holding Alexander or needing to be beside him. Yay for pool times.