What’s up everyone? Today is Friday and it means I have to write some flashbacks. I can’t think of a nice topic to share, so today I would like to share to you one fun activity my kids done last summer 2019. So without any more interruptions let’s start.

Summer 2019

In summer of 2019, we opted not to go home in the province for vacation. By the way summer time in the Philippines took place during the months of April to May. Usually students academic school ended during the last week of March to 1st week of April. Followed by the two month long vacation. The reason we didn’t went to the province because I enrolled my kids for a swimming lesson that summer. So the budget for vacation all went up for the swimming lesson. I actually wanted them to learn how to swim so that they can enjoy swimming more. Swimming is also one of a survival skills each of us should learn. In this way I will feel more confident leaving them behind, whenever we have some excursions in the future.

Enrolled

On the first week of April that year, I already found a school where they offered a swimming lesson for the rest of the summer. I mentioned it to my neighbor Grace and she immediately wanted to enrolled her two boys too. They were actually my kids playmates and friends at the same time. The swimming school was just near our place, it was actually affiliated in one of the schools nearby, just a 5 to 10 minutes jeep ride away from home. Bert Lozada swim school was a known swim school for everyone who wanted to learn how to swim and they also offered a lot of categories to choose from. When Grace and I finally decided on which date and time we will let our children start their swimming lesson, we prepared all the requirements needed. Basically the requirements were just a picture, 2x2 and 1x1 in sizes specifically which will be used in their identification card, and of course the payment for the swimming lesson. We were also told to bring googles, swim cap and a kick board/ float board during the first day of lesson.

The lesson begin

The kids were just excited as the mommies when we told them that they will soon start their swimming lesson. There will be a total of 11 days, 1 hour per session that was included in the package for the price of 3500php and an additional 500php for the registration fee. We choose the morning session so that the heat of the sun was not on it’s peak. On our first day, since Grace has a car and she knows how to drive, my kids and I joined them, up until the swimming lesson ended.

Before they began with the basic swimming lesson, all kids on the same batch were divided according to their ages. They were also assigned to different coaches. And then afterwards they began to stretched those arms and legs as a warm up before they could start and get into the pool. All guardians were not allowed to get inside the pool area, so Grace and I were just sitting on the waiting area, while having some chit chats. We were also watching the kids and took some pictures for remembrance and well for fb purposes too. And just like that, the first day was done.

The same procedures was done on the second day up until 10th day. The kids were taught how to not get scared of the water, basic floating and some basic swimming strokes like freestyle. Well actually, before the swimming lesson started, we guardians were oriented that they cannot guarantee that kids will be able to learn how to swim after the lesson ended. Some easily learned while others didn’t. That was ok with me actually since I was planning to continue the lesson in the following year same with Grace.

On the 11th day, also the last day of lesson, they gathered all the students of the same batch. They did some fun activities and parents were allowed inside the pool area. Since it’s the last day, it was like a graduation and the parents/guardians were just so excited as the kids. They had mini swimming competition and all cheered for their own team. It was a fun activity and we were looking forward for the next swimming lessons in the future.

The day after their swimming lesson, my kids were so excited to try if they learned the new skill. There was a small swimming pool in our village, so we got there early in the morning. During that time of the day only few went for swimming. Kids in the village usually went late or sometimes in the afternoon for swimming. My first born did learned some basic stroke and basic floating while my youngest was still nervous getting into the deep water, so yeah he stays on the kiddie pool while doing some dog paddles.

Conclusion

My firstborn actually learned how to swim after that. He kinda shows off his swimming skills by going into the deep water and I can see that he was enjoying it. And I can say he is a good swimmer than me. Should I enroll next time? My youngest was a little nervous going into the deep water, but he was persistent in trying to cross the deep water by doing some strokes. I know with some more practice he can also do it well. Just remember, even though our kids knows how to swim don’t let them swim alone. It’s the number one rule before swimming. Accidents can happen anytime, so never let our eyes off them.

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Thank you everyone for reading up until here. I hope you enjoyed on what I share today. If you want to say anything about my topic today, please feel free to comment down below. I’ll be waiting for it too. And last but not the least please chech these beautiful souls profile too. They’re all amazing.

Lead image from Unsplash

The rest of the images used were mine.