Swimming!

Malia started swim lessons today. It was quite the adventure. I realize that some people think that swim classes for a 6 month old is useless. What are they going to teach your baby anyways. Well my take is this.

Realization: When I was 8 months pregnant I went to watch my little niece ( 10 months at the time ) at her swim lessons. I hadn't really thought about swim lessons for my baby until then. In the same pool there was a three year old boy who had just started swim lessons. He screamed and cried and screamed some more through out the entire lesson. Then I looked at my little niece who was smiling and having fun. What was the difference was my question.

Learning: So I thought about this over the next couple of days. This is when my realization hit me. He was never taught to get used to the water. They just threw him in at three and expected him to be ok with this new experience. Three year olds are not as open to change as a new baby might be. To my little 6 month old everything is new so she maybe a little reserved the first time in the water but it won't be months of screaming. A three year old has a schedule and rarely has any startling new experiences such as swim lessons. So I realized what they are teaching them at these baby swim lessons is to love the water. To want to go to swim lessons when they are three and beyond.

Malia loved the water didn't cry once. Who knows I might eat these words when Malia is three and she is screaming haha. For now I think baby swim lessons worth every penny.