My husband and I can swim. My kids have had swimming lessons. 2 years ago
I paid a private instructor to work my kids out for 2 weeks. I wanted to
make sure they really could swim well after years of lessons. They both
passed with flying colors.

My cousin was 9 when he drowned in the canal here in Northern California.
He didn't know how to swim. His parents let his fear of water delay his
learning how to swim. It was definitely a major survival situation. We
were told at the time that the slimy sides of the canal and the fact that
the ladders are usually too high above the water makes it difficult to get
out. We've often thought if he knew how to float or tread water he might
have made it.

Lynne

> "Andy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> OT: Can you swim?
>>
>> Nine year old girl playing with friends got pushed into the river last
>> night.
>> She didn't know how to swim. Presumed drowned and dead.
>>
>> Who of you can't swim?
>>
>> I was a fish since early in my youth.
>>
>> Andy
>> --
>> Learn or teach someione to swim.
>

King's Crown wrote:
> My husband and I can swim. My kids have had swimming lessons. 2 years ago
> I paid a private instructor to work my kids out for 2 weeks. I wanted to
> make sure they really could swim well after years of lessons. They both
> passed with flying colors.
>
> My cousin was 9 when he drowned in the canal here in Northern California.
> He didn't know how to swim. His parents let his fear of water delay his
> learning how to swim. It was definitely a major survival situation. We
> were told at the time that the slimy sides of the canal and the fact that
> the ladders are usually too high above the water makes it difficult to get
> out. We've often thought if he knew how to float or tread water he might
> have made it.

In my experience, kids who are terrified of water (TOW) invariably have
at least one parent who is also TOW. It can be overcome, but not in the
presence of the fearful parent. Parents who are afraid of water need to
go get a cup of coffee during their kid's swimming lesson. Nothing an
instructor can say to reassure a frightened child can counteract the
effect of an anxious parent in the stands bending the railing into an
S-curve.

On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:59 -0500, Kathleen
> fired up random neurons and synapses to
opine:

>In my experience, kids who are terrified of water (TOW) invariably have
>at least one parent who is also TOW. It can be overcome, but not in the
>presence of the fearful parent. Parents who are afraid of water need to
>go get a cup of coffee during their kid's swimming lesson. Nothing an
>instructor can say to reassure a frightened child can counteract the
>effect of an anxious parent in the stands bending the railing into an
>S-curve.

We moved to Miami FL when my kids were 2 and 4 and, having a pool in
the backyard, it only made sense to give them swimming lessons so they
were at least "pool safe." I had a WSI in those days, but knew enough
not to try to teach the kids myself, so went to another WSI-certified
teacher. The older of the two kids took to swimming as if born in a
pool. The younger one was *terrified* of water, which I blame on a
sailing accident the family had experienced just before we moved from
Houston. He was nearly catatonic for hours after we capsized.

The swim teacher tried for 2 months and the kid just let himself
*sink* rather than even *try* to swim. She was his first failure in 20
years. After that debacle, I tried teaching him myself, which resulted
in more trauma, but a kid who knew how to get himself out of a pool if
he fell in - and every time he espied me coming at him in a bathing
suit, he ran for the hills, as he knew another lesson was upcoming.

Of course, grown men have been known to take off running since time
out of mind when I show up in a bathing suit... [drum roll, please]

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "meatloaf" with "cox"

Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:

>
> Of course, grown men have been known to take off running since time
> out of mind when I show up in a bathing suit... [drum roll, please]

>
> --



Toward you, not away of course.

gloria p

Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
>
> On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:59 -0500, Kathleen
> fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:
>
> >In my experience, kids who are terrified of water (TOW) invariably have
> >at least one parent who is also TOW. It can be overcome, but not in the
> >presence of the fearful parent. Parents who are afraid of water need to
> >go get a cup of coffee during their kid's swimming lesson. Nothing an
> >instructor can say to reassure a frightened child can counteract the
> >effect of an anxious parent in the stands bending the railing into an
> >S-curve.
>
> We moved to Miami FL when my kids were 2 and 4 and, having a pool in
> the backyard, it only made sense to give them swimming lessons so they
> were at least "pool safe." I had a WSI in those days, but knew enough
> not to try to teach the kids myself, so went to another WSI-certified
> teacher. The older of the two kids took to swimming as if born in a
> pool. The younger one was *terrified* of water, which I blame on a
> sailing accident the family had experienced just before we moved from
> Houston. He was nearly catatonic for hours after we capsized.
>
> The swim teacher tried for 2 months and the kid just let himself
> *sink* rather than even *try* to swim. She was his first failure in 20
> years. After that debacle, I tried teaching him myself, which resulted
> in more trauma, but a kid who knew how to get himself out of a pool if
> he fell in - and every time he espied me coming at him in a bathing
> suit, he ran for the hills, as he knew another lesson was upcoming.
>
> Of course, grown men have been known to take off running since time
> out of mind when I show up in a bathing suit... [drum roll, please]
>
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

Sometimes, some innate fears are so overwhelming, it takes a LOT of
"professional" intervention to overcome, maybe?? And the fear of water
can be so very primal. Why is it many 'critters' can instictively swim,
but humans cannot?

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice!!

Sky wrote:

> Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:59 -0500, Kathleen
>>fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:
>>
>>
>>>In my experience, kids who are terrified of water (TOW) invariably have
>>>at least one parent who is also TOW. It can be overcome, but not in the
>>>presence of the fearful parent. Parents who are afraid of water need to
>>>go get a cup of coffee during their kid's swimming lesson. Nothing an
>>>instructor can say to reassure a frightened child can counteract the
>>>effect of an anxious parent in the stands bending the railing into an
>>>S-curve.
>>
>>We moved to Miami FL when my kids were 2 and 4 and, having a pool in
>>the backyard, it only made sense to give them swimming lessons so they
>>were at least "pool safe." I had a WSI in those days, but knew enough
>>not to try to teach the kids myself, so went to another WSI-certified
>>teacher. The older of the two kids took to swimming as if born in a
>>pool. The younger one was *terrified* of water, which I blame on a
>>sailing accident the family had experienced just before we moved from
>>Houston. He was nearly catatonic for hours after we capsized.
>>
>>The swim teacher tried for 2 months and the kid just let himself
>>*sink* rather than even *try* to swim. She was his first failure in 20
>>years. After that debacle, I tried teaching him myself, which resulted
>>in more trauma, but a kid who knew how to get himself out of a pool if
>>he fell in - and every time he espied me coming at him in a bathing
>>suit, he ran for the hills, as he knew another lesson was upcoming.
>>
>>Of course, grown men have been known to take off running since time
>>out of mind when I show up in a bathing suit... [drum roll, please]
>>
>>Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>
>
> Sometimes, some innate fears are so overwhelming, it takes a LOT of
> "professional" intervention to overcome, maybe?? And the fear of water
> can be so very primal. Why is it many 'critters' can instictively swim,
> but humans cannot?

Because in four-legged animals the motions and body posture required for
swimming are the same as those for walking, only slightly exaggerated.

There's a lot more involved for us bi-pedal types.

"Kathleen" > wrote in message
...
> Sky wrote:
>
>> Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:59 -0500, Kathleen
>>>fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:
>>>
>>>
>>>>In my experience, kids who are terrified of water (TOW) invariably have
>>>>at least one parent who is also TOW. It can be overcome, but not in the
>>>>presence of the fearful parent. Parents who are afraid of water need to
>>>>go get a cup of coffee during their kid's swimming lesson. Nothing an
>>>>instructor can say to reassure a frightened child can counteract the
>>>>effect of an anxious parent in the stands bending the railing into an
>>>>S-curve.
>>>
>>>We moved to Miami FL when my kids were 2 and 4 and, having a pool in
>>>the backyard, it only made sense to give them swimming lessons so they
>>>were at least "pool safe." I had a WSI in those days, but knew enough
>>>not to try to teach the kids myself, so went to another WSI-certified
>>>teacher. The older of the two kids took to swimming as if born in a
>>>pool. The younger one was *terrified* of water, which I blame on a
>>>sailing accident the family had experienced just before we moved from
>>>Houston. He was nearly catatonic for hours after we capsized.
>>>
>>>The swim teacher tried for 2 months and the kid just let himself
>>>*sink* rather than even *try* to swim. She was his first failure in 20
>>>years. After that debacle, I tried teaching him myself, which resulted
>>>in more trauma, but a kid who knew how to get himself out of a pool if
>>>he fell in - and every time he espied me coming at him in a bathing
>>>suit, he ran for the hills, as he knew another lesson was upcoming.
>>>
>>>Of course, grown men have been known to take off running since time
>>>out of mind when I show up in a bathing suit... [drum roll, please]
>>>
>>>Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>>
>>
>> Sometimes, some innate fears are so overwhelming, it takes a LOT of
>> "professional" intervention to overcome, maybe?? And the fear of water
>> can be so very primal. Why is it many 'critters' can instictively swim,
>> but humans cannot?
>
> Because in four-legged animals the motions and body posture required for
> swimming are the same as those for walking, only slightly exaggerated.
>
> There's a lot more involved for us bi-pedal types.
>
The word is *biped*. And your number of legs theory is purely made up, by
you.

Humans can swim instinctively at birth (what do you think they do inside
their mother). But typically they are prohibited from swimming until enough
time elapses so that they develop a fear of water because by then it has
become a foreign entity. A newborn can swim instinctively but it needs to
be assisted until it learns how to breathe (even whale mommies need to
assist with breathing in the beginning, first thing they do is bring their
newborn to the surface for their first breaths). There are swimming classes
where parents enrol with their child within a few days of birth, where the
parents are instrumental in the entire learning process.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...rn_babies.html

On Aug 22, 3:22*pm, "brooklyn1" > wrote:
> "Kathleen" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > Sky wrote:
>
> >> Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
>
> >>>On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:59 -0500, Kathleen
> >>>fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:
>
> >>>>In my experience, kids who are terrified of water (TOW) invariably have
> >>>>at least one parent who is also TOW. *It can be overcome, but not in the
> >>>>presence of the fearful parent. *Parents who are afraid of water need to
> >>>>go get a cup of coffee during their kid's swimming lesson. *Nothing an
> >>>>instructor can say to reassure a frightened child can counteract the
> >>>>effect of an anxious parent in the stands bending the railing into an
> >>>>S-curve.
>
> >>>We moved to Miami FL when my kids were 2 and 4 and, having a pool in
> >>>the backyard, it only made sense to give them swimming lessons so they
> >>>were at least "pool safe." I had a WSI in those days, but knew enough
> >>>not to try to teach the kids myself, so went to another WSI-certified
> >>>teacher. The older of the two kids took to swimming as if born in a
> >>>pool. The younger one was *terrified* of water, which I blame on a
> >>>sailing accident the family had experienced just before we moved from
> >>>Houston. He was nearly catatonic for hours after we capsized.
>
> >>>The swim teacher tried for 2 months and the kid just let himself
> >>>*sink* rather than even *try* to swim. She was his first failure in 20
> >>>years. After that debacle, I tried teaching him myself, which resulted
> >>>in more trauma, but a kid who knew how to get himself out of a pool if
> >>>he fell in - and every time he espied me coming at him in a bathing
> >>>suit, he ran for the hills, as he knew another lesson was upcoming.
>
> >>>Of course, grown men have been known to take off running since time
> >>>out of mind when I show up in a bathing suit... [drum roll, please]
>
> >>>Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>
> >> Sometimes, some innate fears are so overwhelming, it takes a LOT of
> >> "professional" intervention to overcome, maybe?? *And the fear of water
> >> can be so very primal. *Why is it many 'critters' can instictively swim,
> >> but humans cannot?
>
> > Because in four-legged animals the motions and body posture required for
> > swimming are the same as those for walking, only slightly exaggerated.
>
> > There's a lot more involved for us bi-pedal types.
>
> The word is *biped*. *And your number of legs theory is purely made up, by
> you.
>
> Humans can swim instinctively at birth (what do you think they do inside
> their mother)....

Oh please!! That's not swimming! That's floating! And in rather
cramped quarters at that. Fetuses get all their oxygen via the
umbilicus, and their lungs are full of amniotic fluid as they develop,
so a fetus' first breath comes immediately after birth!

John Kuthe...

On 2009-08-24, John Kuthe > wrote:
> On Aug 22, 3:22*pm, "brooklyn1" > wrote:

>> Humans can swim instinctively at birth (what do you think they do inside
>> their mother)....
>
> Oh please!! That's not swimming!

He's quite right, you know. Put a week old baby in a pool and it will
hold its breath and swim like a seal. It's instinctive. The longer
the time from birth, the more of this instinct the infant will lose.

nb

notbob wrote:
>
> On 2009-08-24, John Kuthe > wrote:
> > On Aug 22, 3:22 pm, "brooklyn1" > wrote:
>
> >> Humans can swim instinctively at birth (what do you think they do inside
> >> their mother)....
> >
> > Oh please!! That's not swimming!
>
> He's quite right, you know. Put a week old baby in a pool and it will
> hold its breath and swim like a seal. It's instinctive. The longer
> the time from birth, the more of this instinct the infant will lose.
>
> nb

I'd completely forgotten about an infant's ability to instinctively
swim. However, that 'reflex' doesn't last for very long, although I
don't recall just exactly how long. I know, GIMF

Besides, folks (should!!!) know to never, ever leave infants and
toddlers alone around any body of water regardless if it's a small mop
pail to a pool, lake, river or ocean!

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice!!