Cast your mind back to the first time you splashed around in a pool, trying to stay afloat.
Many years have probably passed since that fateful day when you started lessons, before you were old enough to tie your shoelaces (most likely). Chances are you don’t remember how you felt at the time, unless you have super-human memory.
It’s safe to assume you were a little scared, regardless of the age that you first took to the water, like a fish in the sea (literally)!
Fast forward to the present, and it’s now time for your child to learn how to swim.
It’s vital that all children (and adults) learn this life-saving skill, since we live in a country that lives and breathes swimming. Drownings highlight why it’s vital to learn from a qualified instructor. This is particularly important for children under five, who face the greatest risk of drowning.
Because of this importance, we actually get asked this question a lot….
What should you look for in a swim instructor?
Here’s exactly what you should look for when selecting a swim instructor for yourself or your children:
Quality training and accreditation
This is the time to be selective since you’re trusting a stranger with your child’s life (or your own life, if the lessons are for you).
You want to make sure the instructor knows what they’re doing, and only the best will do.
In Australia, an AUSTSWIM instructor must train for over 20 hours to learn the theoretical and practical elements of water safety, before teaching in a supervised environment and being assessed. This qualifies instructors to teach essential skills (not including lessons for children under four). All of our instructors get their accreditation through AUSTSWIM.
AUSTSWIM instructors can undertake further training to teach infants (over six months old) and a broader range of people – including those from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities or chronic conditions. It’s never too late for adults to learn how to swim, and our instructors teach adults of all ages too!
Class logistics
Before starting lessons, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the right swimming instructor for your child or yourself. Ask about the experience of the swimming instructor.
- Do they generally teach children or adults?
- Can you participate in your child’s class by observing?
- When it comes to the size of classes, is there a reasonable instructor and student ratio?
It’s important that classes aren’t too big, so students can enjoy the focus they deserve.
Instructors should be friendly and good with people
Learning to swim can be a daunting experience, so it’s important that your instructor creates a positive and calm environment, while also laying down clear rules to keep people safe.
Not everyone will have the same strengths in the pool, so an instructor must also pay attention to each student and respond to their needs. They should be confident and willing to demonstrate skills, before allowing students to have a go.
Being able to swim is one of the greatest joys in life! Our swimming instructors go out of their way to guarantee the safety of their students while making sure everyone has a good time.
Contact Aquabliss if you’d like more information about our swimming instructors and lessons.