Repetition Every parent has been asked to sing that song or read that same book again and again. Children crave to make connections with actions and learning. Repeating rituals and patterns will help them to make these connections. Your swim lessons will use repetition and follow a very similar flow every single time. Each time a connection is made, the memory of that action is made stronger. Repetition is helping your child learn. Don’t be surprised if you start seeing you toddler imitate your instructor and give a lessons to their toys in the bath tub. This is all part of the learning process. Undirected Play Researchers agree that providing ample time for supervised, undirected play is important to caring for children. Allowing for “free play” will allow the child to discover, investigate, and experiment in new ways and will allow the child to “be in charge” of his own actions. The child may initiate actions that allow for discovery and further learning. For example, when playing on the stairs, a child may try putting his eyes under by himself, or he may try to come off the step uninvited. Putting his eyes under could show the child that he can see and grab all those fun toys on the step! Coming off the wall uninvited, (when he does not have the skills to do so), and needing redirection could demonstrate to the child his abilities and limitations. Focus Children need to be taught to focus their attention. This does not always come naturally. Reducing distractions can be helpful in addition to having a well organized class that has appropriate time allotment on activities. When your child loses focus simply redirect them and praise them for doing the right thing. Songs Music brings many different learning elements together. You are developing physical coordination, timing, discipline, confidence, memory, language and imagination. Children who participate in learning through music learn better. Including songs in swim lessons is an easy way to reinforce skills, muscle memory, and fun!
