| What should I look for in a good swim school? |
| A good swim school will have lots of happy customers prepared to tell you about their experiences. As a provider of early childhood and educational services, the school will have a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Staff will strive to meet your family’s needs, answer your questions and address any concerns. Pool water will be clear, well-sanitised and tested regularly throughout each day. A good swim school will always use equipment wisely and ensure children are vigilantly supervised when under their care. Children in a good swim school will be confident and happy to participate. |
| Does the pool operate the same term times as schools? |
| Our lessons are year-round, with the exception of a two week break over Christmas and New Year. In addition to our regular lessons, every school holiday we conduct a Swimvac program, where for a reduced fee, your child can receive intensive tuition each weekday. Swimvac provides a boost for those swimmers who are on the cusp of moving to the next level. |
| Are all Carlile Swimming teachers qualified? |
| The AUSTSWIM Certificate is the entry level certification requirement for teaching swimming in Australia. All our trainees automatically become AUSTSWIM Certified Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety, once they have completed their Carlile training. Our training systems have been recognised internationally and are based on highly developed manuals for each program area, hands-on practical training and thorough evaluation. New teachers must be assessed as competent in all aspects of a class before they are given classes of their own. |
| Will these lessons really make a difference? |
| Enjoying a healthy activity together is a great reason to attend swimming lessons with your baby. However, water safety concerns may also drive your participation and swimming lessons are an important part of a plan to reduce your child’s risk. The skills your child learns are never a substitute for constant and direct supervision by adults, but they can play a role in making them safer. Being comfortable in, around and under the water is the first priority, as this may prevent the initial panic that strikes in an accident. As your child’s skills progress and experience broadens, their ability to deal with emergencies will improve as well. The basic comfort and safety skills learnt also aid in developing the swimming strokes. With the groundwork laid, not only can your child attempt stroke work earlier, they will perform more efficiently and naturally as a result of starting at an earlier age. Early lessons do influence your child’s safety and overall achievement. |
| At what age should my child start lessons? |
| Babies can start from as young as 3 months old. However, it is never too late to learn and we have children of all ages joining the program. We will ensure that your child is placed in a class with children of similar age and/or working towards similar goals. |
| How can I best help my child? |
| Be supportive and reassuring to your child before class, but avoid “over-preparing”, as a child can become anxious if an event is discussed repeatedly. Arrive early enough to get ready for lessons at a relaxed pace. Remain within view, but observe the class from the appropriate viewing area. Watch the class closely and make eye contact with your child. Praise specific efforts that your child has made. Be ready with a warm towel and a big hug. |
| What do I need to bring and what should my baby wear? |
| We supply all of the equipment we use in classes. All you need to bring is a swimming costume, goggles, a large towel for each of you, a snack or bottle and any baby care items you’d normally take along.Your baby should wear a swimming nappy of some type. There are various disposable versions available and there are reusable ones as well. These look just like swimming togs, but have a non-permeable membrane, with tight fitting legs and waist. Aqua Nappies can be purchased from most supermarkets. Alternatively, we recommend a pair of pants with snug fitting legs, in case of any little accidents! |
| Should I watch my child’s lesson? |
| Many children do well with their parents present during lessons. They love to show you what they can do! By praising even their smallest achievements, they will gain in confidence. Other family members and friends are also welcome to watch lessons. However, in the interests of safety, ensure that you and any visitors do not leave children unaccompanied at any time. |
| Why is the water so warm? |
| Babies, young children and beginners need very warm water and a comfortable air temperature to relax and gain confidence. |
| How often should we attend swimming lessons? |
| The majority of our swimmers attend only once a week. However, like all skills that require practice, the more your child practices, the faster these skills will develop. By swimming twice a week, your child will learn at more than twice the pace. |
| What is the best time for my baby’s lesson? |
| For young babies, we recommend that you schedule the lesson at least one hour after a main feed and not at nap time. |
| How long will it take for my child to learn to swim? |
| Think about swimming lessons as a long-term process, rather than an event. To ensure continuous skill development, lessons need to be a regular part of your child’s weekly routine. As children learn, they progress at their own pace and master the skills appropriate for their age. A realistic goal is for your child to be capable of comfortably swimming 200 metres of continuous freestyle, with good technique. |
| Is it a good idea to continue classes during winter? |
| Continuity of lessons plays a crucial part in building the layers of water safety protection for young children, as skills need reinforcement to stay current. Indoor pools with consistently warm temperatures, make the water experience a comfortable one all year. Have a dry towel and warm clothes ready for your child at the end of lessons. For more information about swimming in winter, please ask at Reception. |
| Who should I talk to regarding my child’s progress? |
| The best person to talk to about your child’s progress is the Supervisor. Our supervisors are always available to liaise between parents and teachers and answer any of your concerns. Please feel free to let them know of any special needs your child may have. Supervisors are easily recognisable by their royal blue shirts. |
| My child is now 30 months old, but doesn’t seem ready to separate from me. What can I do and what options do I have? |
| Although at 30 months children are eligible to try the Tadpole class, it isn’t necessary that they move right away. They will continue to progress in the Waterbabies class with you while they build their confidence and maturity. When you feel they are ready to try the Tadpole class, you can get in the water with them for the first few lessons, which will make the transition easier. |
| What are the pros and cons of using flotation aids? |
| Although we use some aids, such as hand floats and kickboards in some of our classes, we advise using other flotation aids, such as arm bands and bubbles, with caution. It is easy to develop a false sense of security when using them and this can be dangerous. They also tend to keep a child’s head and body in a semi-vertical position, which we feel develops bad habits. If you do use flotation aids, make sure that you still watch your children at all times. |
| What do I do if my child is sick? |
| If you suspect that your child has some type of infection or contagious illness, they should not attend lessons until your doctor has confirmed that this precaution is no longer necessary. |
| What do you need to know about my child? |
| There are many things that can affect your child’s experience at Carlile Swimming and our effort is to address as many of them as possible. One way you can help in this regard is to keep us informed about your child. Please let us know of any medical conditions you are aware of when you first start lessons. It may not always be obvious how these things can affect your child’s progress, but it would be best to let us know. Later on, if any new issues develop, keep us informed. It is also important to let us know of any emotional or behavioural issues. There may be adjustments we can make to improve the situation, but at the very least, our teachers will be more understanding. |
| Is my child likely to pick up illnesses or infections from the pool? |
| Our facilities and water are maintained to the highest standards and our water is one of the cleanest environments that your child can be in. Children do get sick from time to time, but swimming is generally considered a healthy activity. It not only improves lung capacity, a significant advantage for asthmatics, but it also improves the cardio-vascular system. |
| What if my baby drinks the water? |
| Most children will taste the water and even swallow it on occasion. As chlorine levels are kept only just above those in drinking water, a small amount is harmless. However, children should not be encouraged to drink and parents should continually observe to ensure that their children are not ingesting large amounts. Please inform the supervisor if nappies are abnormally full after lessons, or your child has episodes of throwing up water. |
| What do I do if we move? |
| Please let us know where you are moving to, as there may be a Carlile Swimming centre nearby, or opening there soon! Alternatively, you can visit the Swim Australia website (www.swimaustralia.org.au) for a directory of registered swim schools. |
| Does my child always need to be supervised here at the pool? |
Constant and direct supervision is very important around all bodies of water, including swimming pools. Use the following guidelines:
- Maintain a direct line of sight.
- Keep children within an arm’s reach, especially children under 8 years.
- Maintain a “chain of supervision” where the responsibility is passed directly from one person to another. Don’t allow children to wander.
- If you can’t supervise yourself, assign a specific person who is not involved in other duties (just having other people in the area is not sufficient).
- Regardless of age or ability level, children must be supervised.
- Even if lifeguards are present, watch your children individually.
- Realise any body of water presents a potential hazard (pools, ponds, dams, rivers, beaches, bath tubs, buckets, toilets)
- Keep the children you are responsible for with you at all times and alert staff to any child you see unattended.
In situations where you will be in the pool with your baby and you have another child on deck requiring supervision, consider these options:
- Ask another parent to watch your child.
- Leave your child with a relative or friend before coming to the pool.
- Bring an adult with you who can watch your child.
- Consider an alternative lesson time that might allow one of the above.
- Use a local crèche while you are in lessons.
- Swim school staff have many duties and cannot provide the attention to adequately supervise all children. Please keep this information in mind and remember that supervision is a key part of reducing the risk children face around the water.
|
