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Common questions and answers

- How should I think when choosing a group?

 

Most levels only have one requirement, but it can still be difficult to know which level is the best fit. In many cases, it is better to choose a group that is a little too easy than a group that is a little too difficult. It can negatively affect self-confidence to end up in a group that is actually too difficult. It can also negatively affect swimming technique if a student has not completed certain goals before they move up to the next level. To avoid students falling behind or getting stuck at one level in the swimming school, there are no water skills requirements to progress to the next level. It is also possible to move on to the next step without completing the swimming goals in chest position - so back position also works well.

 

- I have two children who are at different levels - can they go to sibling/friend swimming together?

 

Yes. Siblings who are at different levels can be booked into sibling/buddy swimming. If the siblings are not at the same level, you get the most out of the lessons if these combinations share the time: Frog and Seal; Frog and Buoy; Frog and Shark; Frog and Candidate; Seal and Buoy; Seal and Shark; Seal and Candidate; Buoy and Shark; Buoy and Candidate; Shark and Candidate. A Doping and Groda together work less well because both students need a lot of attention from teachers for the private lessons to be effective.

 

- How long does it take to learn how to swim?

 

It takes a different amount of time for all children to learn how to swim. Students with difficulty concentrating often need more time. Also children who have motor difficulties to make the right movements, students who are afraid of water or who previously learned the wrong technique need more time than average. Most students at Simläran learn to swim 200 m after 40 group swimming lessons, i.e. 4 semesters. Some learn to swim 200 m already after 3 semesters, while others need 5 semesters or private lessons (instead of group or in combination with group). Children learn to swim faster when they get to practice their skills and explore new ones. By practicing dry swimming at home and staying and swimming after swimming school, you can speed up the process on your own and reduce the need for swimming lessons in swimming school.

 

- Why do the courses have a 4-year and 5-year limit?

 

Children's physical and cognitive development is the basis for the age limits Simläran has on its courses. Students who are 5 years and older are stronger and have an easier time than younger students to angle their legs and feet correctly and to coordinate legs with arms. Those who have turned 5 also find it easier to receive instructions, do exercises in a group and do exercises for a long time. For these reasons, Swimming Learning divides children between 4-5 years into two different groups: Baddaren fr. 4 years and Dopingen fr. 5 years.

- What do the children learn at swimming school?

 

At Simlärans swimming school, children learn swimming technique, water orientation and safety. The swimming school in the pool focuses mainly on swimming technique and water orientation, while the summer swimming school also offers more elements of safety training. The swimming technique is about making the right combination of movements with legs, feet and arms. We practice water orientation by dipping, jumping, floating, sliding and rotating in the water. At the summer swimming school, we practice safety on land in bad weather through exercises in CPR, stable lateral position, alarm routines and use of ice spikes. We also go on a plastic boat with clothes and a life jacket and practice "falling into" the water and saving yourself and others. Some lifesaving moments are also repeated at the swimming school in the pool, such as swimming with a lifebuoy, towing and throwing with a lifebuoy/handline. ​

 

- How can I help my child with swimming and the water habit?

 

In the swimming school's first lesson, the swimming teacher goes through the frog-popsicle-stick movements on land and you can repeat this exercise at home. If you chose swimming school in a pool, you can buy a ticket to the swimming hall and go there and swim an extra time a week or stay and swim for a while after the swimming school. Through play, children learn to dare to explore more and by seeing their parent e.g. dipping the face increases their confidence in their own ability.

 

- When will my child finish swimming school?

 

The goal of Simlärans swimming school is for the students to be able to swim 200 m, of which 150 m in the stomach position and 50 m in the back position. Most students meet this goal in the Bouy, but some may need to take an extra course, the Shark, to practice extra breaststroke or backstroke. ​To maintain their swimming skills, they need regular maintenance. Simläran offer a variety of different courses in crawl, lifesaving and long-distance swimming that can be booked after swimming skills have been achieved. ​If you instead stop swimming training after the student has managed to swim 200 m, it is important that you go swimming on your own, preferably as often as possible but at least once a year. The swimming badge, 'Simborgarmärket', which means 200 m of any swimming style, changes color every year and can be fun to collect for the various anniversary badges 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 25 years, 40 years and 50 years.​ ​

- Why do you practice swimming legs so much?

 

​When we swim, our legs are our engine and our arms are our rudder. We practice a lot of legwork to teach coordination, proper technique and build strength. With proper technique, it is more difficult to make the common technique errors that can prolong the process of learning to swim.

 

- What swimming styles do you teach?​

 

Even at beginner level, the Simläran teaches both breaststroke and backstroke. The students who are judged to have an easier time with backstroke than breaststroke are encouraged to develop this way of swimming more than the rest of the group because it favors the development and self-confidence of these students to meet the goals and get marks at the same level as the rest of the group. In this way, these students will have an easier time becoming better swimmers even in the stomach position later on. In Sweden, we also have cold water where breaststroke with the head above the water becomes a necessary way of swimming in emergency situations. In the Swedish school, it is also knowledge of breaststroke and backstroke that is the basis for grades in Sports from grade 6 onwards. The swimming curriculum therefore does not teach crawling as the first or second method of swimming in swimming groups. However, there is a wide range of crawl courses with back crawl and stomach position for students who have managed to swim 200 m breaststroke and can swim backstroke. Students who have not yet passed this goal can learn to crawl by taking private lessons. On the advanced crawl courses, students also get the chance to learn butterfly swimming.

 

- What does Simläran lesson plan look like?

 

At Simläran you can book swimming lessons in regular groups or small groups with 5 or 10 lessons. Your child always receives the same swimming teacher who carefully monitors the development of each individual student. There is always a swimming instructor in the water throughout the semester or intensive course.

- Will the lesson be canceled in case of bad weather?

 

No, from a safety perspective it is positive that the weather is not always calm and sunny at the swimming school. In this way, the students are given the opportunity to get used to swimming in rain, wind and waves and are therefore better prepared should they ever accidentally fall in. However, should the temperature be 16 degrees and lower or if the waves are so high that it is considered inappropriate to swim at all or for a longer time, the swimming time in the lesson will be shortened and more time will be devoted to dry swimming on land. In the same way, we make sure to maximize the time in the water on calm and sunny days. We never swim during thunderstorms. But the lesson will not be cancelled, but will be replaced by an indoor lesson in HIF's club house. There, students learn about safety in and around water. Depending on age and swimming level, we have briefings and exercises in CPR, stable lateral position, alarm routines, bath-boat-ice-solvet and use of ice spikes.

 

- Can I cancel a booked course or lesson?

 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to cancel summer swimming school and private lessons or friend/sibling swimming. Swimming school in the pool can be canceled within 14 days of booking against an administrative fee.

 

- Is it possible to change groups if I have chosen the wrong level?

 

Yes, it is possible to change groups within the same course start period, subject to availability. If the right level is fully booked, it may in some cases be possible to change groups if someone in the right level also needs to change.

 

- Do I get money back if my child gets sick during or misses a booked lesson?

 

If a student gets sick during a small group lesson in the pool, there is a catch-up lesson at the end of the semester that the student is booked into. Students who are ill at the summer swimming school are not offered a collection opportunity. Students who become ill or miss a booked private lesson are not offered a rebooking or cancellation, but if space is available, they will be offered a lesson later in the semester if another student cancels at short notice. These offers and collection times are a service Swimming Lessons offers, but according to the booking conditions, there is no guarantee of reimbursement in case of cancellation.

How many swimming badges will my child take?

 

Swimming badges are used as a carrot in teaching and increase motivation among many students. The number of marks students earns at the swimming school depends on the level they are at, how easy they are for different parts and how much they dared to challenge themselves with practices that are difficult for them. Sometimes a student earns a lot of swimming badges because they passed two levels within the same course. Students who attend the 4 swimming school levels usually take approximately 3-7 marks per term. The breakdown per course usually looks something like this:

The dipping: about 1-3 pcs

The frog: approx. 3-8 pcs

Seal: approx. 5-10 pcs

Buoy: approx. 4-8 pcs

 

After swimming school, students can continue swimming in crawl courses and/or tag taking. The distribution of these courses usually looks something like this:

The shark: about 6-10 pcs

The candidate: approx. 1-3 pcs

Magitern: approx. 1-2 pcs

Crawl course: approx. 3-4 units

- How much does a swim badge cost?

1 swimming badge costs SEK 45.

 

- When I booked it said pay on site - what does it apply to?​

 

Payment must be made to Swish 123 437 42 86 or account number 9060 28 487 17 within 30 or 90 days of booking.

 

​- Is it possible to postpone the payment? ​

 

Yes, it is possible to postpone the payment of a booked swimming course without any extra fee.

- Should I, as a parent, be in the water?

 

The courses offered are not designed based on the parent being in the water. However, it may sometimes be necessary, not least at the summer swimming school, for a parent to be present at the beginning or parts of the lesson in order for the child to be introduced to the teaching style. Flotation pads are used based on the level of the group and there is always a swimming instructor in the water during the lessons.

 

- Can I take pictures of my child at swimming school?​

 

A child's first swim is something that many people want to save on photo or video. But mobile phones and screens are prohibited inside the swimming pools and in the changing rooms/shower areas. At Hedens by on Hönö, at Styrsö swimming pool and at Hällsviksbadet, you can take photos if you can ensure that only your own child (alternatively child and teacher) is in the picture. ​

 

- Why should I as a parent (in most cases) only be in the swimming hall for the first and last lesson?

 

It is positive for the child to have their parent or other accompanying first lesson as a form of schooling. When they are then left with swimming instructors, they are given the opportunity to explore on their own. Once at the end, they can proudly show off what they learned and take the opportunity to be extra brave. In some cases, you as a parent may have to remain inside the swimming hall during the term. Feel free to talk to the swimming instructor if necessary. Sometimes there is the need and sometimes it is enough and is best for the student's development that the parent stays for a couple of lessons at the beginning of the term.

 

- Can my child bring swimming goggles to the lesson?

 

Swimming lessons are primarily aimed at teaching children to swim across the water. But swimming goggles can in some cases be a helpful tool when a child dislikes jumping, floating or dipping their face. Some also find it easier to learn to swim in the back position with the help of swimming goggles. Swimming goggles can therefore be used in class, but it is done in combination with exercises that practice not using of the equipment.

 

- Why can't I be inside the swimming hall with clothes made of cotton material?

 

There are several reasons behind the dress code rules at the swimming pools that Simläran rents from. The right clothing is important for the water quality and safety in the baths. When you are inside the swimming hall and watching the lesson, you must change into swimwear or training clothes in functional materials. Then you are e.g. easier to rescue from the water if you accidentally or accidentally fall in.

 

- What should we bring to the lessons?

 

Bring to the bathhouse: swimwear, towel, shampoo and soap, padlock (applies to some swimming pools). Bring to the bay: swimwear, towel, sunscreen, warm change and hot drink in case of bad weather. For the crawl course, the student can also bring swimming goggles and a swimming cap.

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