Traditional swimming lessons commonly use the kickboard as their teaching tool and focus on doing lots of laps, while Aqualogic uses the “learning thru play” format where we utilize lots of colourful toys to make our swim lessons more engaging. We introduce safety swim skills in a creative and fun way.
After our students learn the essential skills, we introduce the strokes using the Total Immersion™ method, which focuses on stroke technique and efficiency. The strokes are taught using a logical step-by-step drill progression to help imprint good muscle memory and swim gracefully with less effort.
Just like in any acquired skill, swimming requires training and experience to do well. Learning the different swimming skills will depend on your child’s development and background.
Just like going to school where you start from playschool to preschool, then to elementary, high school and all the way up to college, we also follow different levels in teaching swimming. It usually takes 16-24 lessons to master particular swim skills in any level.
AquaBabes (Infant/Toddler program) is like a playschool/preschool in the pool where young children is first introduced to water activity and eventually develop basic swim skills.
AquaKids (3-12 years) is like our elementary level where the children have acquired safety swim skills and are introduced to rudimentary strokes.
AquaTech (Children and Adults) is like our highschool and college level where we fine tune the strokes for efficiency.
Most swim lessons range from 30 – 60 minutes per lesson. Children progress faster with more practice. The problems that many students and parents face are availability, affordability and scheduling. Is there a program close by? Is there room in our every day family schedule? Can we afford all the lessons? Everyone’s situation is different, but a continuing regiment of lessons throughout the year is best. Whether it is once-a-week during the school year and every day in the summer, or twice-a-week year ‘round, the results will be good with that much exposure.
Parents and students get frustrated when they are not as good at the beginning of “this summer” as they were at the end of “last summer”, yet they had no lessons or only a few exposures to swimming all during the school year.
Swimming is a skill that takes practice. You don’t learn over-night and you can’t retain the skills year-to-year without practice. Think of taking piano lessons for 2 weeks this summer and then again until 2 weeks next summer. Did you improve your skills? Without practice during the year you are probably staring over. Swimming, unless practiced, will have the same results.
We usually offer a minimum package of 8 lessons per enrollment, but most of our students renew month per month to further enhance their swim skills.
Crying or resistance is not a prerequisite to learning how to swim. However, some children react negatively when introduced to a new environment. Parents should stay calm and encourage the child to participate even if he/she is crying. There may be cases when the instructor may need to set the child aside to address the child’s fear or issue. Parents should give the instructor an opportunity to bond with the child as they have been trained to handle different situations in the pool. It maybe heartbreaking for the parent to see their child cry when first introduced to the swim program, but with proper handling, positive reinforcement, and a regular routine, children learn to eventually love the water despite their initial reaction to their first swim lesson.
It usually takes about 2-4 lessons to get the child to warm up to the class.
Many have found our method of teaching swimming very effective for children, especially those who are fearful or those who have had a traumatic experience in the water. We take the time to let children feel that the pool is a pleasant and safe place to be in. Children who have developed fear or a repulsive attitude towards the water will usually cry, but with the combination of structured play and discipline, they calm down and achieve comfort in the water.
After your child has successfully completed a swim program, the best advice is that they take at least one session of an organized swimming program per year. This could be swimming lessons, a summer league or year ‘round swim team, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo, or even scuba.
We all need periodic technique instruction any sport or activity. Do you play golf or tennis? How often do you need a “tune-up” with a pro? A lot of people find that they forgot how to swim after several years of not being in the water or having someone correct their stroke. Children forget year-to-year if they don’t have the structure and practice time. (Remember piano lessons?)
Olympic swimmers all have a coach watching and correcting them while they swim. These are the best swimmers in the world. The bottom line is that swimming is a life-long activity that needs to be practiced for a lifetime
Freestyle / Front Crawl: This is an alternating, over-arm stroke using the flutter kick. The face is in the water and breathing is done by turning the head to the side every 2 to 5 strokes. Freestyle is the most efficient stroke for speed and distance.
Backstroke / Back Crawl: The same alternating arm motion and kick as freestyle is used, but it is done on the back.
Breaststroke: This is a both a competitive and a survival stroke. It is done on the front with the arms working together in a circular sculling motion, raising the head forward to breath. The kick is also done in a circular motion simulating a frog’s kick.
Butterfly: This is a competitive stroke where the arms recover simultaneously over the water and pull simultaneously under the water. The propulsion comes from the undulation across the hips, best described as a “body wave” or what we call “body-dolphin”.
All students need times when they can learn through exploration. Swimming is a sport or recreational activity that will last a lifetime. Your child, whether he/she is a beginner or more advanced, needs to go to the pool and have time just to play. This is also a time when children will begin to practice and develop important skills and techniques while they are having fun. Many children only go to the pool for class and so never get any practice time or enjoyment from being there. Positive reinforcement from the parents will encourage your children to develop love for the water. Children whose parents show enjoyment for the water tend to learn faster that those who have parents who don’t.
Playing in the pool also build the child’s strength, stamina and general skills. Going to the pool and playing with your child under safe, supervised conditions is one of the best ways to help your child be successful in swimming lesson.
Swim Suit
A snugly-fit bathing suit or swim trunks to ensure free movement and less drag for the little swimmer.
Rash Guards / Sun suits
To reinforce sun protection, we encourage all our students to wear a rash guard or a sun suit over their bathing suit. These suits are usually made of spandex, lycra or polyester, and the material has an inherent SPF (Sun Protection Factor).
If you or your child gets cold easily in the water, we recommend to wear a NEOPRENE wet suit over your swimsuit to keep warm during swimming lessons.
Stingray™ Sun Protection swim suits are available for sale. Check out our Product Catalog for more info.
For custom-made rash guards and wetsuits, please contact Lisa Guevara at 0919-8021809.
Goggles
Our young swimmers can focus and learn better when they can see clearly underwater. Getting them the right pair of goggles is very important. You should have your child try on the goggles before you purchase them to ensure that it is comfortable, fit well, and is easy to adjust. Tinted lenses are recommended if you swim outdoors to protect the eyes from the glaring rays of the sun.
Zoggs™ and Aquasphere™ goggles are available for sale. Check out our Product Catalog for more info.
Big Towel / Bath Robe
You want to make sure that you dry off your child when you take them out of the pool and wrap your child with a towel or a robe to keep them warm after their swim lesson.
Aqualogic Microfiber towels are super absorbent, very light, and easy to carry around. Free personalized embroidery available for Aqualogic Students. Check out our Product Catalog for more info.
Waterproof Sunscreen (at least 30 SPF)
If you will be swimming in an outdoor pool, we have to protect our child from the harmful rays of the sun by using a sunscreen specifically formulated for babies/children. Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before the swim lesson to let the skin absorb it, and to also avoid any excess lotion running down the child's eyes. Trust us on the sunscreen!
Non-Slip Slippers or Shoe
We highly-recommend that the students and parents wear non-slip shoes or slippers around the pool deck to avoid any accidents since the area is always wet.
Crocs™ shoes are non-slip, very comfortable, light-weight, and waterproof and available at Crocs Concept Stores in Manila: Bonifacio High Street, Ayala Trinoma, SM Mall Of Asia, Ayala Greenbelt 5, Robinsons Ermita, Promenade Greenhills, Alabang Town Center, SM Marikina, Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall, Gateway mall Cubao, Shangri-la Edsa Plaza Mall,Ayala Glorietta3 and Cash & Carry. Also available at: Rustans, SM Department Stores and Planet Sports.
Training Fins
Wearing fins promotes the proper kicking movement in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Investing in a pair for your child is highly recommended.
Aquasphere™ Zip fins available for sale. Check out our Product Catalog for more info.
