Water Baby

We have had an excellent experience with the Menlo Swim school. They start "teaching" kids as young as 3-6 months old. For the babies, it seems more just something fun to do with the baby but as the kids get older, it's clear they get a lot out of the experience. Everyone younger than 3 years is considered a "water baby" and is in classes with a parent designed to get them comfortable in the water. Mostly, it's a lot of playing and singing and at least on the weekend, is populated almost entirely by dads. We feel that they have been very successful in getting Matthew comfortable with the water. In the beginning, he didn't want to be separated from Stewart, go under the water or really do much of anything. Now he asks to go under water, is happy to be off by himself and best of all, plays happily in the water.

We would also particularly like to thank Anne Robinson for giving him his favorite bathing suit. I thought there was no way it would successfully compete with bathing suits depicting Lightning McQueen and Co. Clearly, I underestimated Matthew's capacity for good taste because he always chooses the bathing suit she gave him when it's time for swim class.

We are fortunate that the swim school can put a dome over the pool when it gets cold and runs classes through the winter. Matthew will graduate from Water Babies in a couple of weeks and will start at the first level shortly after his birthday. It will be a big change for him because parents don't go in the water during those classes. We think he is ready!

If you want to see other photos of Matthew jumping in, wearing silly goggles etc, please click on the link below (you'll need to click on the word "swimming" or on the photo).

Swimming