After the terrifying experience of seeing my son face down in a pool this summer, I enrolled him in a more intensive swim class. They first teach kids to roll onto their backs and float when they fall into a body of water, and then move on to teaching swim strokes. While Jonathan was only in that pool for a few seconds after walking into it by accident this summer, before I turned around and jumped in behind him, the experience scared the living day lights out of him and his parents. It was so reassuring today to watch him pass his third and final "float test." His teacher threw him into the middle of the pool wearing a long sleeve shirt, sweat pants, socks and tennis shoes. No one can touch or speak to him, and he's to roll into his back and float for 5 minutes, then get out of the pool when he gets to the edge. I'm amazed at how calm he was with the water lapping up at his face and getting in his mouth. He did it! Now he moves in to the next class to learn to swim across the pool.
On the downside, his award includes a cow bell much like the one they ring when the kids reach the end of their test. Imagine having a three year old in your house with a new cow bell. Now turn the volume up a notch. Ring the bell just a little more. Ok, there... Now you have it.
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