Self taught or instructor?

outwest · 03-20-2011, 04:51 PM

I am wondering if we did okay teaching our own kids how to swim. Well they can now of course but is an instructor a better way to go. I am thinking about getting a certificate in it as well.

oldsarge · 03-20-2011, 04:57 PM

Teaching them to swim is great, but I'd seek out additional training in water safety or as a lifeguard to get a certificate that way. My niece did that when she was in her early teen years then worked at the local pool.

ChadTower · 03-21-2011, 08:15 AM

Why an instructor? Is there some reason they need expertise in swimming? For most people being able to do some basic swimming is fine. Formal instruction without an actual need is overthinking it.

Judy Ann · 03-21-2011, 08:23 AM

outwest, I did the swim team and life guard thing in my youth. I doubt if I would have had as much fun without this background. Upon reflection, I can float for forever until rescued, better than some of our NFL players in the last 2 years!

ChadTower · 03-21-2011, 09:03 AM

As someone who was a lifeguard/swim captain and then a powerlifter I can see that happening. I could float with zero effort when I was a teenager. When I was 25 and carrying 50lb more muscle it just wasn't going to happen. Low bodyfat + large muscle mass = no floaty. Especially if you carry a lot of mass in your legs.

oldsarge · 03-21-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChadTower

Especially if you carry a lot of mass in your legs.

You don't look like Tom Platz do you?

ChadTower · 03-22-2011, 07:58 AM

Ha! No, never did. Nor did I have legs like an NFL player. I did experience going from able to float without effort to having trouble doing it once I got to that type of body comp, though. It makes sense that they have trouble doing it.

BTW, you'll never see a powerlifter that looks like that. That's a bodybuilder. Not so obvious to those who aren't into it but the main difference being that guy looks strong but probably has trouble walking stairs due to his bodyfat levels.

outwest · 03-22-2011, 12:18 PM

Wow that is a nutty pic!

I remember when I lived at this gated community years ago we had to have some type of training given but it wasn't anything too serious. For me though now, as a parent I am thinking about family vacations and so on, maybe getting certified myself wouldn't hurt.

LittleLady · 03-22-2011, 01:49 PM

We taught our kids ourselves, but if they ever wanted to lifeguard or something of that nature I would want them to take some safety courses, which I'm sure are required anyway. I took lessons as a kid because my dad didn't know how to swim, and now my kids can swim as good as I can.

03-20-2011, 04:51 PM	#1
outwest Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 46	Self taught or instructor? I am wondering if we did okay teaching our own kids how to swim. Well they can now of course but is an instructor a better way to go. I am thinking about getting a certificate in it as well.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-20-2011, 04:57 PM	#2
oldsarge Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Richton Park, Illinios Posts: 426	Teaching them to swim is great, but I'd seek out additional training in water safety or as a lifeguard to get a certificate that way. My niece did that when she was in her early teen years then worked at the local pool.

03-21-2011, 08:15 AM	#3
ChadTower Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 347	Why an instructor? Is there some reason they need expertise in swimming? For most people being able to do some basic swimming is fine. Formal instruction without an actual need is overthinking it.

03-21-2011, 08:23 AM	#4
Judy Ann Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 106	outwest, I did the swim team and life guard thing in my youth. I doubt if I would have had as much fun without this background. Upon reflection, I can float for forever until rescued, better than some of our NFL players in the last 2 years!

03-21-2011, 09:03 AM	#5
ChadTower Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 347	As someone who was a lifeguard/swim captain and then a powerlifter I can see that happening. I could float with zero effort when I was a teenager. When I was 25 and carrying 50lb more muscle it just wasn't going to happen. Low bodyfat + large muscle mass = no floaty. Especially if you carry a lot of mass in your legs.

03-22-2011, 07:58 AM	#7
ChadTower Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 347	Ha! No, never did. Nor did I have legs like an NFL player. I did experience going from able to float without effort to having trouble doing it once I got to that type of body comp, though. It makes sense that they have trouble doing it. BTW, you'll never see a powerlifter that looks like that. That's a bodybuilder. Not so obvious to those who aren't into it but the main difference being that guy looks strong but probably has trouble walking stairs due to his bodyfat levels.

03-22-2011, 12:18 PM	#8
outwest Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 46	Wow that is a nutty pic! I remember when I lived at this gated community years ago we had to have some type of training given but it wasn't anything too serious. For me though now, as a parent I am thinking about family vacations and so on, maybe getting certified myself wouldn't hurt.

03-22-2011, 01:49 PM	#9
LittleLady Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 7	We taught our kids ourselves, but if they ever wanted to lifeguard or something of that nature I would want them to take some safety courses, which I'm sure are required anyway. I took lessons as a kid because my dad didn't know how to swim, and now my kids can swim as good as I can.