Aquatics

adapted swims

Member Michael Wong, and daughter, Juliette, dive into physically distanced swimming lessons that bring parents in the pool

COVID-19 has not only impacted the way members take part in activities, it has dramatically changed the way these activities are delivered. The Aquatics team is an excellent example of this; working with Red Cross to rethink how to teach swim lessons to our young ones as close contact instruction was not an option.

After exhausting every possible alternative, Red Cross decided that, although unconventional, an adult guardian would be required to assist with in-pool instruction for all children not yet in Swim Kids 5 and under the age of 8 years old.

Preparations were swiftly made, and 160 family-assisted lessons have been taught to date. Aquatics: How did you feel about coming back to the Club during the global pandemic? Michael: COVID was initially quite a challenge but we are adjusting to the new normal. We eat at home more, communicate with friends and family online, and limit our activities around the city. On the other hand, we have been spending much more time together as a family and that has been an incredibly valuable experience that we feel blessed to have been given. We have been very fortunate to have the Club open again over the summer because we’ve been able to continue with activities that help maintain a sense of normalcy. Whether it is a bit of swimming, tennis, or hockey, we’ve been able to stay moderately active while still feeling safe, and that has been huge for us. What was your initial reaction to the physical distanced swimming lessons? There was initially some apprehension towards more social interaction after isolating for the majority of April and May. But we were reassured by the preparations put in place by the Club to ensure that there was a balance between enabling access to the Club’s facilities yet still limiting numbers and maintaining physical distancing measures. Even as the Club has gotten busier, members have been considerate and behaved appropriately, which has been encouraging. Now that universal masking has been put into place, I feel comfortable that the Club is doing all it reasonably can to protect members.

My initial reaction was skepticism, as I wondered how effective an instructor

Aquatics

could be teaching from the pool deck, especially with the younger children. In fact, on the first day, I recall wondering whether we had made a mistake in registering for these lessons. However, those concerns were quickly allayed as we all figured out how to adapt to the situation, which admittedly was new to everyone. Our instructor Marina was still able to connect with Juliette, and develop a solid rapport, and the result was a series of lessons that were among the most effective that she’s ever had. The success of these lessons was a testament to how hard all her instructors worked to adapt.

Do you mind disclosing your level of swimming and what you had to do to make the lessons work?

As an intermediate swimmer, I am reasonably comfortable in the water, but do not have the stamina to last very long in the deep end of the pool. Fortunately, I was able to use a variety of floatation devices, including kick boards and life jackets, to comfortably support Juliette when she swam the full length of the pool. What were the challenges of lessons offered in this format?

Probably the biggest challenge was finding the time to be in the pool every day of the week for four weeks straight. With work and other various commitments, we ended up having to cancel a few lessons, but fortunately things were relatively flexible. I could see how for parents with scheduling demands or other small children that require supervision, this might not be a feasible option for them.

What were the highlights of lessons offered in this format?

I really appreciated the opportunity to spend the time with Juliette and be involved in her lesson. She has twin brothers only a couple years older, and so we were always so swamped when she was younger, and we simply didn’t have the time to do parent-tot lessons with her. So, for me, this was a unique chance to experience something we missed out on years ago. It was also an opportunity to be engaged in her actual lesson, rather than simply getting feedback at the end. I feel that I’ve learned more about the subtle techniques she is working on, and that knowledge makes it much easier to continue to work with her when we are on our own.

Did Juliette like having lessons with you? What did she like about it? Juliette seemed to enjoy the time we were able to spend together, and often referred to it as “daddy-daughter time”. We made a morning of it and looked forward to spending that time together in the pool. I think she quite appreciated the novel experience of having me in the pool with her.

How do you feel about practicing with Juliette on your own now? I now feel much more at ease with being in the pool with Juliette, in terms of being able to target some of the techniques that had been covered in her lessons. I know some of the terms (i.e. “rainbow arms”) and that helps us communicate more effectively because I can provide feedback that is consistent with what she’s received in her lesson, and we can build on those lessons. On the flip side, she responds much better to an instructor asking her to do things, and she’s very good at saying “no” to her own father! The Aquatics staff appreciates the members who have attended lessons this summer and signed up for the fall. We hope to be in the water with you again soon!