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sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2444
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 11:13 am: | 
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We have tried without any success to teach my son to swim. Unfortunately, I swim like a rock, but can at least get from one side of the pool to the other. My son is not afraid of the water and prides himself on being able to hold his breath under water for about two seconds. We tried the Y lessons at CHS and the Y summer camps have had no luck so now I would like to find someone who can teach him one on one or in a small group setting. Any ideas? I'd love to get this behind us this summer.
Thanks, |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 587
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 12:04 pm: |
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sportsnut:
We never had luck with the local (SM)YMCA either...........They just do not do swimming lessons very well.
However, our son did learn to swim through the excellent swim program at the Livingston YMCA (not the summer camp......the regular swim program that is a step-by-step progression of skills).
I've heard the same thing about the Summit Y, but have no personal experience. |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 466
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 12:15 pm: |
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We have had some success at the Connection in Summit. |
jasper
Citizen
Username: Jasper
Post Number: 399
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 12:32 pm: |
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Hey Sports,
If you find something that would work for two kids at about the same level, maybe we could sign our guys up together. We're pretty much in the same boat, and at the moment, I'm hoping that little jasper just somehow gets it this summer at the Y, but perhaps it's wishful thinking. |
Bettina
Citizen
Username: Bettina
Post Number: 151
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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I don't have any details but someone I know mentioned swimming lessons at Seton Hall that she said were really good. |
jasper
Citizen
Username: Jasper
Post Number: 400
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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We briefly tried the lessons at Seton Hall, but didn't find it worked for us.
For starters, they don't run a particularly organized ship over there. I'm quite certain that we never actually paid for the few lessons we took, because every time we asked about it, they put us off, and then we just stopped going.
The reason we stopped was because they had our son in a group with just one other well-matched boy, which was working out pretty nicely, but then they added another boy to the group who was somewhat behind, and they spent more time with him at the expense of the first two, leaving them sitting on the edge of the pool getting cold.
I honestly feel that at the early stages of learning to swim, unless you have a children's training pool where the kids can easily stand in the water, it's imperative to have no more than two well-matched kids per instructor. Once the kids are comfortably moving through the water unaided, it is then reasonable to expand the size of the group. If that costs more money, then so be it.
I also think it's critical that the same instructor teach at each lesson, though as I recall, this wasn't an issue at Seton Hall in the few times we were there. The comfort and continuity factors are very important, especially for young children. This was one of my primary complaints about the lessons at the Maplewood pool. |
petite_mom
Citizen
Username: Petite_mom
Post Number: 51
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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My kids went to the Summit Y and took private lessons. My son was in the same boat as yours, he attended various group lessons, but this didn't work for him. After just the first 2 private lessons, he definitely progressed. |
ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 375
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:14 pm: |
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I've heard that the aquatics program at the JCC in West Orange is good, won't know till Sept. if that's so. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 1276
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:17 pm: |
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I have heard good things about the swim school at the Berkeley Aquatic Club in Berkeley Heights. I don't have direct experience with it, but I have friends who have been happy with the lessons. |
bak
Supporter
Username: Bak
Post Number: 812
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:24 pm: |
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The Connection for Women and Families in Summit has a vast selection for all abilities. My kids are enrolled there and, while there have been minor hiccups, the program is excellent.
They also offer private lessons, which are good supplements to the regularly scheduled classes. These are great confidence boosters for the kids.
Good luck! |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3921
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
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My kids and I also like the classes at The Connection and would definately recommend them.
Also, they give free lessons at the Maplewood Pool, which might be a good place to start. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2445
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 2:36 pm: |
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Hi Jasper - How's little Jasper doing? We haven't seen you guys in a while. Little sports hasn't advanced at all in his attempts at swimming - I'm resigning myself to the fact that he'll never be much of an athlete but I'd at least like him to get some of the basic skills down - like swimming. He hasn't learned to ride his bike yet either.
When it comes to swimming he'll tell you that he's doing fine but he just splashes around without going anywhere. It's almost like he panics and starts flailing around and inevitably sinks. It makes me nervous every time he's around water so it would be great if he could learn, plus it would make me much more comfortable. I've spoken with the Connection in summit but the class times didn't work for us. Now that t-ball is basically over and our home renovations are almost complete we'll have more time on the weekends so I can check up on that and let you know. I assume the kids will be swimming at the Livingston Y for camp so that may be a good place to look into as well since they'll be familiar with the pool.
I'll let you know.
Thanks to everyone else. |
jasper
Citizen
Username: Jasper
Post Number: 401
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 2:49 pm: |
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Hi sports,
Little Jasper is doing well, but not much further along with his swimming than little sports. We were at a friend's pool a couple of weeks ago. He sort of makes an attempt at swimming, covering about a foot or so of distance, but that's it, and then he needs to stand, so there's no going in the deep water. I'm also not sure he gets the whole blowing out of your nose to keep the water out theory, so he sometimes gets gagged with a nose full of water - always a pretty sight :-)
Anyway, let me know what you find, and perhaps we can hook up and do that together. Indeed, we haven't seen you guys in some time. |
red
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 5696
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 3:09 pm: |
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My son took group swim lessons at the Summit Y, and they did a wonderful job. If you can take lessons in the middle of the week it is not very crowded. They have two instructors helping the children, so the ratio is 3:1. |
kss
Citizen
Username: Kss
Post Number: 131
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 3:10 pm: |
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Our 4 year old has taken lessons at The Connection & the JCC in Whippany. Her last bout at Whippany didn't go over well as one of the teachers was kind of crabby & they put 2 classes together so it was 8 kids with 2 teachers. She refused to go after a couple of classes so we got her a set of 5 private lessons instead (used the credit for part). It's been well worth the money at this stage in her life/swimming abilities. She won't be getting private lessons forever but to push her over the hump (or into the pool), it's been perfect. |
ceceliac
Citizen
Username: Ceceliac
Post Number: 93
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 4:16 pm: |
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I highly recommend Kristie's School of Fish on Route 10 in East Hanover. Great teachers, small classes, and a small pool that is somehow much less intimidating to kids (at least it was to my daughter).
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aneighbor
Citizen
Username: Aneighbor
Post Number: 111
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 9:56 pm: |
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Can't say enough good things about NJ swim. Go to their website www.njswim.com They are great! We've been going with my now 4 year old for the past two years and she is basically swimming on her own now. It's just her and two other children; her friends from school. They've had the same teacher from the start. This week we have "safety week" where they have the kids swim in their clothes to learn what to do just in case they fall in the water. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1604
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 9:10 pm: |
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Also a fan of Kristies...(see archives for more) |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3498
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 9:36 pm: |
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My son learned to swim under water last year at the Maplewood pool, hope it comes back this year. The lifeguards that were there last year seemed to do a great job, unfortunately the one that taught my son won't be back this year, but I hope there are some equally competent lifeguards this year, the instructions are free with a membership if I'm not mistaken. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4753
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 8:30 am: |
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Deb Ceccaci runs the lessons at the Maplewood Pool and is great. She used to do lessons in her backyard pool for years, but took her expertise to the town (Monster, is she the one not coming back? I hope that is not the case) |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 589
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
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Not to be oppositional to the poster who liked very small or private lessons, but my son actually benefitted from the mild feeling of peer pressure to keep up with the group.
For kids that are really panicked, I can see that this might be too much, but if the fear is more like mild apprehension, the knowledge that the rest of the class is doing it can give them a real push in the right direction. I also felt he had more fun with other kids.
OTOH, my kid is motivated by competition, and others are not. |
tupperjo
Citizen
Username: Tupperjo
Post Number: 177
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 9:37 am: |
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I too recommend using the Maplewood Pool for swimming lessons. Yes, as I understand it, Deb is coming back again this year. All 3 of my children learned to swim from the lifeguards at the Maplewood Pool and I have always found the lifeguards to be patient and kind with small children. They have revamped the lessons (which are free to members) to run 2 full weeks instead of 2 days a week for 4 weeks. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2447
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 10:38 am: |
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I had called Deb about a year an a half ago to ask about private lessons, which at the time she was no longer giving. How do you go about signing up for lessons at the pool and more importantly when are they given?
Thanks, |
Petal
Citizen
Username: Petal
Post Number: 11
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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ditto on sportsnut's question. we have a 3 year old who really needs lessons.
also when do we get our badges? this is our first summer here. we mailed our pool membership fee back in march. when does the pool open?
thanks! |
Greeneyes
Citizen
Username: Greeneyes
Post Number: 808
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 11:28 am: |
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My 17 month old has gross motor delays. His therapists suggested swim lessons. Has any other parent of a child with developmental delays participated in a structured swim program? Is it worth it, or would just hanging out at South Orange pool accomplish the same thing for a 17 month old. |
tupperjo
Citizen
Username: Tupperjo
Post Number: 179
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 3:12 pm: |
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The pool opens on Saturday, June 17th. There should be a newsletter mailed out within the week announcing any activities at the pool as well as when you can pick up badges. You can always pick up your badges the first day you go to the pool, but you may encounter a LONG line. Once again we will be having Movie Night at the Pool as well as celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Pool.
Can't wait till the pool opens! |
StellaLuna
Citizen
Username: Stellaluna
Post Number: 46
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 9:06 pm: |
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Answer to Greeneyes - my son has serous developmental issues and did indeed participate in swim lessons. Please feel free to PL me if you want more info. |
Greeneyes
Citizen
Username: Greeneyes
Post Number: 809
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 12:04 am: |
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Thank you StellaLuna. Will do. |
StellaLuna
Citizen
Username: Stellaluna
Post Number: 47
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 8:31 pm: |
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My son enrolled in a swim class when he was nine months old. It was run by the stimulation program in which he was enrolled and sometimes he was the only one there. When he was a toddler we began parent-child classes at the Y and at the South Orange pool as well. Although he was delayed he did eventually master each step, although it took longer for him to advance to the next level than for the other children. He enjoyed the lessons and I do believe that it was beneficial for him. It helped strengthen his trunk and gave him better tone all around. (He also did other things -- ice skating, horseback riding, etc., as he got older) Hope this helps, Greeneyes. |
Greeneyes
Citizen
Username: Greeneyes
Post Number: 810
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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Thanks Stella. Your comments do help.
What is the stimulation program? Is it part of Early Intervention? |
Carol Anne
Citizen
Username: Carol_anne
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 8:16 pm: |
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May be too far for many of you, but my sons are taking lessons at the NYSC on Northfield Ave in Livingston and doing great! Ricky is awesome with my very timid 5 year old and has him doing things I couldn't believe!. Only annoyance is that the pool "isn't grounded" so whenever there is a thunderstorm or serious threat of one, class is cancelled. Scheduling makeups has been a bit of a challenge, but worth it. I also like it because the pool is warm. My younger son often came out of the connection pool with chattering teeth and blue lips.
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