When you start thinking about swim lessons for your child with special needs, it can bring up a lot of questions in your mind. Some can even make you worry especially when it comes to if they will be able to take proper care of your child. So, at last everything turns into finding the right fit and knowing which steps you need to take next. In this blog, you’ll find a practical side to getting started from making the first call to preparing for the first class. We’ll cover everything what parents should know before swim lessons in order to feel ready to take this new step.
What are the First Few Steps that You Can Take?
Once you have decided to look into swimming lessons for your child then the very first part is all about gathering information and reaching out to consult. You need to figure out what options are there and how you can begin the whole process. Here are some steps that you can follow to get started with swim lessons for your kid:
Understand Different Options
The first move to how to start swim lessons for special needs children is looking into programs which offer adaptive teaching styles. This means that you have to pick places which have instructors who are trained to work with different learning needs or ways of moving. So, you can start by looking at what kinds of classes are available in your area.
Make the Call or Visit
Once you have made a list of places which match the requirements, you can start reaching out to them or visit them whichever you prefer. You can ask questions about their different programs and their arrangements for children with special needs. This way you can get an overall feel and outlook of the place.
Talk to Your Child
Before you jump to enroll your kid, you need to make sure that your child reacts to this new environment the right way. Some children like a quick visit to the pool and look around before starting the lessons, so that they can see it and get used to the sounds and the smells. All of this can help to make them feel comfortable about starting this new chapter.
Relay the Information
To make things easier for everyone you can talk to the instructors about your child’s way of communication. Sharing this with them early on will help them prepare and communicate with your child in a way that they can connect and understand. This way, you can also make the first interaction a lot smoother.
(Also Read: Therapeutic Swimming Lessons for Special Needs Near You: Benefits and How to Find Them)
But, What are the Next Steps After Finding the Right Swim Program?
After you have made the initial contact and spoken to the places that offer special needs swim lessons, some of them do have an assessment process. This step is to help the center understand the needs of your child and figure out the best way for they can use to support your child in the water. Here’s an overview of the special needs swim lesson assessment process:
- Purpose: The special needs swim lesson assessment process is generally set up to help the instructors learn about your child’s comfort level around water and their unique needs. It’s not like a test but rather a way to gather information so that they can place your child in the right class or with the right instructor.
- During Assessment: This may or may not happen this way at every program but usually the child has to get into the water with an instructor just to be observed. The instructor might gently try different movements and see how your child is reacting to water and if at all they are comfortable.
- After Assessment: You can have a talk with the instructor after the assessment. They will share with you their observations and discuss what they believe will be the best path or way for your child to learn how to swim. This is a good time to ask them any other questions if you have any or discuss things.
Wrapping Up
Getting started with special needs swim lessons has a few extra steps from the first step to until their first day at the pool. However, as you understand the process and get to know what to expect, you can help make this new experience for your child quite a positive one. To learn more about adaptive swim programs and how we can support your child, reach us at (520) 638-8040.
