Why Isn't my child improving?

Wow, my child has been in lessons for weeks now, and is still struggling with the same skills! What is going on?

Learning the skills inherent in swimming is definitely non-linear, meaning that “improvement” comes in fits and starts.

Flip the script on the scary stuff

It can be scary being in the water, an element that is not natural for us humans.

Children can sense fear on the part of the adults around them. As an instructor, I welcome and encourage parents to watch our lessons.

However, sometimes the skills that are scary for a child (and therefore, for a parent as well) are best introduced as a fun game, with parents watching from a distance if they are also nervous.

The more fun the lessons are for your child, the more we can disguise some of the scariness of being in the water.

I like to give lots of praise for even the smallest skill acquisition and show it off to parents at the end of the lesson.

Everyone involved in the lesson (child, parent(s) and instructor), must be willing to take a leap, be vulnerable, and maybe even a little scared, in order to make progress!

Muscle memory and practice

On average, it takes about three weeks of consistent practice to truly master any swimming skill.

While we instructors are always adding new skills to our lessons, we continue to practice and strengthen the ones the swimmer already has. This practice can look like repetition, but there is a purpose to it.

For instance, a big hurdle to learning to swim is being willing to get one’s head wet. Often, this skill takes longer than some others; for example, kicking on a noodle.

You may notice that once your child is comfortable getting his or her head wet, they will nab other skills, like retrieving items underwater, very quickly.

With consistent practice, getting one’s head wet feels more natural, and rhythmic breathing can be introduced.

It can be difficult to be patient through periods like this in the lessons process. Frequent communication between instructor and parent is essential.

What is a plateau?

The concept of plateauing is familiar to the seasoned competitive swimmer.

A “plateau” is a period of time in training where a swimmer is working hard but is not really showing objective, measurable improvement (in other words, faster times in their events). During “plateaus”, competitive swimmers must continue to practice and to make small, some might say minuscule, improvements to their skills.

This concept applies to swim lessons as well.

Sometimes the child can (try to) finagle the instructor into doing the activities or skills that he or she enjoys, or feels confident in. If your child is in a plateau, it is incumbent on his or her instructor to get creative and find a new skill to work on; any new skill, as long as it is appropriate. 476

Practice makes perfect

Ideally, your swimmer has access to a pool and is able to practice their skills between lessons.

Exploration of the water on a swimmer’s own terms - and at their own pace - can be less daunting than it is with an instructor. If swimming is a fun family activity, it becomes more desirable.

Older siblings who have mastered swimming skills can also be a big help in pushing a swimmer along.

No matter the swimmer’s level, equal parts of courage and fun are the best way to continue making progress.

About the author:

Katie Jenkins is a Sunsational Swim instructor in the Baltimore Metro area. Katie swam from age 6 to 24, and continues to do open water races. She has been teaching with Sunsational for a year, and has been a competitive swim coach for over thirty years. She loves being with kids and helping them master new skills!