From holiday splashing back to swim classes

Helping Your Tamariki Transition Back into Lessons

After a fantastic sunny summer holiday, filled with beach days, celebrations, and

carefree splashing, returning to structured swim lessons can feel like a big shift for

children, and sometimes for parents too. A common question asked by parents is

“Have they forgotten everything? Will we be back at square one?”

The good news is this transition is normal, it’s expected, and it’s something we plan

for carefully and with purpose.

A Little Regression Is Normal (and Temporary)

During the holidays, children are still in the water, but the way they use it and interact

with it changes. Play replaces technique, but that’s a good thing. Unstructured water

play builds confidence, comfort, and provide endless joy, but it doesn’t reinforce

formal skills like breathing patterns, body position, long leg kicks, or stroke timing.

When lessons resume, children may seem hesitant or a little “rusty” in the first week

or two. This isn’t a loss of ability; it’s simply the brain switching gears again. Muscle

memory returns quickly, especially when skills were well established before the

break, and even more so for our holiday program swimmers.

How We Support Children in the First Weeks Back

The early weeks of the term are about reconnection and reassurance. Our

teachers focus on:

● Rebuilding comfort and trust in the water

● Revisiting familiar skills before introducing new ones

● Observing where each child is at, without pressure

● Reinforcing safe habits

This approach allows children to settle back into lessons at their own pace while still

making meaningful progress.

Why Skills Come Back Faster Than You Think-

Swimming is deeply physical. Once a child has learned a skill properly, it lives in their

body - their muscles and brain, even if it needs a little reminding. Often, after one or

two lessons, confidence snaps back into place and progress accelerates.

A Strong Start Sets the Tone for the Year

The beginning of the year is a powerful time to re-establish habits and routines, and

we’re not talking new year’s resolutions because we all know how those end.

Regular lessons early on help children regain momentum and build a solid

foundation that carries through the rest of the year.

If your child seems a little unsure at first, rest assured that it’s all part of the process.

With encouragement, consistency, and supportive teaching, they’ll be back to

swimming strong in no time.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead, may it be a safe, happy, and splash-filled year!