Today was the last lesson of Sebastian’s Turtle Tots Toddler Level 3 class and he turns two tomorrow which means that he has been swimming with them for 21 months now.
I always like to document Sebby’s progress and it always impresses me how far he has come along and this class is no exception, however, I think our holiday to Turkey and daily swimming has brought him on even faster.
We have been working towards independent swimming since he started Toddler classes, however things have really stepped up a notch over the last few weeks. I am no longer holding a woggle tightly around him as he swims, now I stand in front of him and gently guide him with one hand, although today I was barely doing that as he kicked and chased a ball around the pool.
Sebby can now get into the water from being sat on the side whilst holding a woggle although sometimes he still needs a bit of encouragement. Any initial wobble soon fades as he giggles his way across the pool trying to reach me.
Turtle Tots has also introduced the teddy float to swim with which also encourages Sebby to swim without holding on to Mummy. This week we had a first though – Sebby has never jumped in from standing before, preferring me to lift him in, however today he leapt in without a care in the world.
Swimming with Sebby has not always been plain sailing. He has had a few wobbles along the way and this term he went from being happy laying on his back, to fighting it and trying to turn himself onto his tummy. This is completely normal and today we got our reward for persevering – he was once again happy to swim on his back.
At each Turtle Tots lesson we always do some underwater work and this term we have been practicing coming up from underwater and holding onto the bars at the side. Today however, Sebby swam through a hoop like a pro!
At the end of the lesson we have games such as Jelly on a Plate and Row your Boat on top of a large float, but now we have introduced standing up and balancing on it. Sebby wasn’t keen the first week but he is really getting the hang of it now and enjoys jumping in at the end of the song.
Toddler Swimming Level 4 will begin next week and we are looking forward to seeing what his first lesson as a 2 year old will bring.
I remember having a similar problem with swimming on his back with H. He loved it and then we missed a week or 2 because he was ill & he wouldn’t do it for quite a while. Now I think it’s his best stroke.
Oh well done! It sounds like you have been making real strides when it comes to swimming 🙂 x
We are having some wobbles with Elliot swimming on his back, he’ll do it when Caroline isn’t watching and then refuse point blank when he is meant to do it – argh! I’m sure its just a little blip though, he’s like a fish when he’s on his front! xx
No way! HOW is your little Sebbie TWO??! I hope he has a lovely birthday, he clearly loves his swimming!!!
It’s really worth while getting little ones swimming early on, so that it’s completely natural to them. He clearly really enjoys it!
Well done, its a good idea to get kids confident in water as early as possible.
Aw bless him. I love the idea of encouraging kids to have fun in the water from such an early age x x
Well done! I need to start finding time to take Adam to swimming classes, he absolutely loves water but at the moment we can’t go to the pool as often as I’d like to take him
It’s wonderful that he has progressed so well. My son loves going in the swimming pool but I don’t!
It is so good to see him in the water and he looks as though he is having a great time x
What great pictures, and I’m sure he will go from strength to strength (even though there might be some blips along the way – but that’s kids!)
Aww bless him he’s doing so well be ready for lessons without you soon!
Well done sebby
This is where I wish I could swim
Ah he looks so happy in the water, very sweet. Love the photos.