What to expect when you are starting with your little one at KLTS

Joy.…Playfulness….Respect….Kindness….Attachments

Hi everyone and welcome to Kapiti Learn To Swim or welcome back, we hope you are as excited for the following term as we are in having you.

We want your ‘learn to swim’ experience to be as positive and fun as possible. By beginning in a positive and fun mindset, it will ensure you and your little one will have the best long-term outcome as possible.

So, we thought we would share our many years of experience of tips and tricks to ensure you both transition as smoothly as possible.

First and foremost-

ARIVE ON TIME,

In fact, if you can come a little early, watch the previous class, get bubs changed on our purpose-built changing ledge equip with heaters for them if they get cold and be ready to enter the pool when the class starts.

This will ensure you are both relaxed and ready to fully engage and absorb the teachings of the class. If you need products or need to pay fee’s, please allow an extra 15mins at least prior to your class.

BUT, if you happen to be late due to circumstances out of your control (as let’s face it sometimes ‘life’ happens) that’s okay, BREATH, RELAX and get into the right head space for you and bubs to resume. Babies and pre-schoolers are amazing intuitive readers of our internal anxieties and emotions, you are their first teacher of this in life, by maintain a cool, calm exposure your bubs/child will feel this and make him/her feel safe and loved.

If your bubs or child is unwell, you can ‘make-up’ the lost lesson during the same term, just call us to arrange an alternative time.

WHAT TO WEAR

Here a Kapiti Learn To Swim we are great believers in keeping our earth as clean as possible for our next generation, to do our part by not allowing disposable ‘little swimmers’ nappies. Additionally, these nappies can leach gel which our sand filters cannot process, compromising our whole non-chlorinated pump room system. Disposable nappies also take 500 years to break down!

We sell washable and re-usable, one size fits all swim nappies, they come in a wide range of gorgeous colours and designs for $35. These are accepted at all local pools so over time save you oodles of money too. You are welcome to use ANY recyclable swim nappy, they don’t need to be purchased from us! We recommend wearing a one or two-piece pair of togs over top of their swim nappy.                                                                                                           

We would also like all Diaper Dolphin swimmers to wear a lycra swim cap, it gets them used to wearing one for later years and it keep their heads warm too. These are $16 from reception.

In the cooler months, your little one can wear merino or ‘polyprop’ thermals, long or short sleeve tops and if need be trousers too. We do as swim teachers to keep us warm, works wonders and allows their swimming to be year-round too.

ATTACHMENTS

This is what our programme and philosophy is based on, the absolute underlying essence of what we do why we do in our Diaper Dolphin Programme. Our methods are gentle, child-centred and age appropriate. Priding ourselves on a child paced programme the skills are only introduced when the bubs/child is open, ready and receptive. Our teaching team is highly skilled and trained in knowing when and how a new skill can be introduced. Force is never used to rush or push bubs or child to learn. Opting for tear free learning NO traumatising, NO forced back float and NO forced submersions.

Be in the moment with your child and enjoy the process of learning

This is key to getting the most out of your learn to swim experience with us. Being present with your bubs or child with out the many distractions of the external world is the biggest gift you can give, the gift of time. 30mins of uninterrupted one to one quality time, putting them in the driver’s seat and letting them lead the way.

Along with skilled swim teachers, you as parents are active co-teachers with us in the pool in a group class format - part of a culture and community of caring, patience, and positive encouragement.

​Requirements are that parents are in tune with their child. If your adult expectations (both mum and dad) exceed your child's readiness (ie: you are in a big hurry) - KLTSWIM is not the swim school for you!  ​Results come with time, practice and patience. This philosophy helps develop happy, safe, confident swimmers who love the water and love learning.

If your bubs or child feels anxious or unsure on their first few lessons and cries, that’s okay too. Totally age and stage appropriate, we would suggest staying in the water and persevering by staying calm and centered in yourself, taking them away from the structure of the group (as quite often this can be their first social group environment which can be quite confronting for some)

Going to the toy platform and experiencing the water toys, water wheels, squeaky and squeezy toys, be fun and silly e.g. if they are old enough get them to tip water on your head or shoulder, or tip it on your own head! Find a favorite animal to hold throughout the lesson

Use your ‘Art of positive distraction’ CONNECT and let them lead the way, you will know when they are ready to join the group again. Learning through play is the most powerful way for the neuro pathways to learn a new skill. Most importantly HAVE FUN!!! This part is compulsory!

There is much more to learn and week by week you will grow in experience & understanding with skills such as, how to hold bubs, the structure of the lesson and when/how to apply the skills to your bubs, as your swim teachers, we are here to help and guide you as positively and smoothly as we can,

Please ask if you have any questions, we look forward to you and your family becoming part of our Kapiti Learn To Swim family.

From the Kapiti Learn To Swim team