Re: swimming? (especially in Austin, TX)

[Guest guest]

Oh Boy, 's 15 and we still haven't managed this. It's such a shame too

because she's obsessed with water. Unfortunately she seems always to react to

the chlorine, despite wetting her down first and epsom salts baths- she's a mess

for days. She took lessons once but we had to quit because she too would not

keep her mouth shut. She drank so much pool water she got really sick. Even tho

the " M " sound is supposed to be the easiest sound for children to learn,

still cannot produce an " M' sound....we work on this religiously trying to get

her to learn to keep her mouth closed and an added bonus would be to have her

say Mama after all this time. She calls me " baby " and she can say

" Shewwy " (Sherry). Anyway the minute she hits the bath or the pool her tongue is

out and she's laughing hysterically. Then we pay for it the next 2-3 days.

it really is a necessity tho, not only because it's one of the few things she

loves so much, but also because she " thinks " she can swim- either that or she

just doesn't care and makes a direct beeline for water whenever she sees it. It

is one of the few words she says perfectly and spontaneously also. She broke

thru a friend's screened in porch one time to try to get to a pool. And once we

were visiting relatives in a timeshare on the 4th floor overlooking a pool and

she zipped thru the door and right to the balcony flinging her littly gumby leg

up and over the railing.

For some reason this place had a hot tub right in the corner of the living room

so she then walked over to it and took all her clothes off and started getting

in.

If anyone else has tips on how to keep their child from swallowing water please

speak up!

Sherry

[Guest guest]

Hello, I am no help on teaching them to keep their mouths closed but I did want

to mention that my son is 10 and I tried to put him in a regular swimming class

last year at the YMCA and we saw that that was not going to work. The Y offered

to give him one on one while the other class was in the pool too. They had an

extra instructor there during that time. I called this year and just ask if

they were willing to do that agian and they were happy to do it. I live in

Tennessee so it may be different but is is worth asking.

I also have a terrible time getting him to leave the pool when it is time to go.

He weighs 75 lbs and it is hard for me to pull him out. I have used two things

for him. He responds very well to a timer so I have told him we have 5 minutes

left and show him the timer....I set it on the side of the pool and he will

usually respond. What has worked best though is letting him take 50 cents up to

the concessions and buy an ice cream or cookies and sit on a towel to eat it why

he is drying off. It does not work the same with food brought from home.

When I have the biggest issue with him is when the whistle blows for lightning

and everyone has to get out and it is not time to go. I always have to

physically take him out of the pool. Don't know what I will do when he gets 5

more ponds on him.

Marla

swimming? (especially in Austin, TX)

All,

I am wondering if anyone has good ideas/resources on how to teach our

kids to swim? (Starting, maybe, with teaching them to close their

mouths if their face gets under water?) Ellen loves to go to the

pool, but is getting so big, and gets so excited about it, that it is

a 2-person-minimum job, even though we have her wear a life vest. My

husband, , and I take her once every week or two. We have been

trying to focus on getting her to close her mouth and then will gently

pull her under (water about up to her nose, if that) for less than a

second before she starts laughing, tells herself good job, and then

wants to go jump in to us from the side. It's wonderful that she

has fun, but we have two problems. First, she will not focus long

enough to learn it, and second, she has so much fun that it is a MAJOR

production to leave. She's getting so big that it is hard even for

the two of us to pull her out when we have to go. We're working on

prepping her for leaving 5 minutes early and trying to give her

incentive to go back home (like pizza), but it doesn't always work.

Teaching her how to swim is a major deal for me - she has no concept

of the danger of water and would just jump in without us if we weren't

ever vigilant.

I've looked into the YMCA, but am not sure they offer classes that are

appropriate (I'll look again - it's been a month or two). Any

suggestions on books, ideas on methods, or other resources/

organizations that deal with this would be GREATLY appreciated.

Best,

(Mom to Ellen, DS/autism)

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My daughter is 7 and is also obsessed with water. We haven't really taken

her to a real pool and like you I'm not sure I could do it on my own, because

it would be very hard to get her to leave. But, I have noticed that Hannah has

taught herself to hold her breath under water in the bathtub. Perhaps you

could do it there and perhaps she would be more focused since it wouldn't be so

overstimulating as a real pool. Now if I could just keep her head out of the

mudpuddles!

a

[Guest guest]

-

Our son is seven and he too loves the water. He has been at

a point for tow years where he does not want you holding on to him.

We discovered Pool Pals. You can go on their web site and look at

their flotation suits. we have used them for three years now and

are very pleased with them. We also purchase theri swim diapers

since is 60 pounds and the ones in the store are too little.

Pool Pals also make special needs flotation suits for larger

children or adults. The suit allows him to move freely unlike a

life vest that tends to tip him.

Our local Parks and recreation has a special needs program and they

teach swim lessons to children and adults with disabilites.

Hope this helpful.

mary zahn

-- In , " h_meiring " <h_meiring@y...> wrote:

> All,

>

> I am wondering if anyone has good ideas/resources on how to teach

our

> kids to swim? (Starting, maybe, with teaching them to close their

> mouths if their face gets under water?) Ellen loves to go to the

> pool, but is getting so big, and gets so excited about it, that it

is

> a 2-person-minimum job, even though we have her wear a life vest.

My

> husband, , and I take her once every week or two. We have

been

> trying to focus on getting her to close her mouth and then will

gently

> pull her under (water about up to her nose, if that) for less than

a

> second before she starts laughing, tells herself good job, and then

> wants to go jump in to us from the side. It's wonderful that

she

> has fun, but we have two problems. First, she will not focus long

> enough to learn it, and second, she has so much fun that it is a

MAJOR

> production to leave. She's getting so big that it is hard even for

> the two of us to pull her out when we have to go. We're working on

> prepping her for leaving 5 minutes early and trying to give her

> incentive to go back home (like pizza), but it doesn't always

work.

> Teaching her how to swim is a major deal for me - she has no

concept

> of the danger of water and would just jump in without us if we

weren't

> ever vigilant.

>

> I've looked into the YMCA, but am not sure they offer classes that

are

> appropriate (I'll look again - it's been a month or two). Any

> suggestions on books, ideas on methods, or other resources/

> organizations that deal with this would be GREATLY appreciated.

>

> Best,

> (Mom to Ellen, DS/autism)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My daughter is 8 and has been holding her breath since she was five.

She has been acclimated to the water since she was 1 year old. Every

summer, everyday and when she was older once a week all year round.

That said, Rochelle is a terrific swimmer and I can not take one bit

of credit. She taught herself and does not follow directions. She

can do handstands, sommersalts and swim underwater like a fish. She

does get a bath everynight. No soap, just water.

She does not have any since of danger and being a swimmer does not

lessen the danger. I think she is cautious by nature but would jump

off a ferry, do a superman dive into a puddle, or try to swim with

the seals at the zoo. Water is her favorite thing above all things.

She is just becoming aware that the whistle is for going and coming

out of the pool. She will wait to go in but rarely will come out.

She will swim the other way on purpose. I usually have to get wet. I

have on occassion asked a neighbor/acquaintance to help. He knows

Rochelle. Everyone knows Rochelle at the pool. The lifeguards go

easy on her when she use to hang on the ropes.

In contrast, my son who is 10 will not put his head under the water.

He has had every advantage to swim as Rochelle. He even had one

summer of lessons. He has sensory issues too. Just hates to get his

eyes wet.

I liked the ideas presented by other parents. I think most kids who

swim at an early age have their own pool or access to community

pool. It's just repetition. But each of our children are different.

I hope Ellen will continue to enjoy the pool and I would not

hesitate to ask Lifeguards to help you get her out. The water park

wave pools down in Virginia are shallow and not so dangerous but

more expensive unless you buy a pass for the summer.

I would also try buying some dive toys. Things she would be

interested in diving for so she might hold her breath. It's got to

be fun to learn. Good luck.

Diane

> All,

>

> I am wondering if anyone has good ideas/resources on how to teach

our

> kids to swim?