Getting to swimming lessons early in the morning or after a busy school day can often feel rushed for the whole family. However, a successful lesson starts before your child even gets into the water. Taking a brief moment to intentionally slow down before class can completely shift your child's mindset from frantic to focused.
Indoor pools are vibrant, high energy, and loud environments. Rushing straight from the car to the water can leave kids feeling overwhelmed and distracted. Instead, creating a peaceful pre-swim routine helps them tune in and prepare for learning.
How to create a calm pre swim routine:
- Arrive 10 minutes early: Give your child a buffer to transition from their busy morning or day to their lesson.
- Acclimate to the environment: Find a spot on the grandstand or poolside at your BlueFit centre to sit together. Watch the water, observe the classes before yours, and let them adjust to the sensory input of the building.
- Gear up without the rush: Slowly getting changed and calmly helping them put on their BlueFit swimming cap and goggles allows them to physically and mentally prepare without feeling pressured.
A calm, grounded brain provides the perfect environment for learning. During a BlueFit swimming lesson, kids are asked to master complex, multi step instructions from their instructors like coordinating their arms and legs while remembering to breathe.
It also requires them to practice impulse control, listen actively, and wait patiently on the wall for their turn. By arriving early and eliminating the pre lesson rush, you give your child the focus and confidence they need to maximise their time in the water and truly progress in their swimming journey.
By setting them up for success on the pool deck, you are giving them the absolute best chance to thrive, build confidence, and truly absorb every skill they are being taught.
Meet Lucy from Hurstville Aquatic
We recently caught up with one of our long standing Learn to Swim Instructors and Pool Deck Coordinators, Lucy from Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre, to discuss how she helps students stay calm while mastering difficult new skills.
“Staying calm in the water comes down to creating a safe, supportive environment and breaking things into manageable steps," Lucy explains. "I focus on building trust first. When they’re attempting a difficult skill, I keep instructions simple and give them just one thing to think about at a time. Too much information can overwhelm them."
Lucy also emphasises the importance of a physical reset. "Breathing is a big one. I often guide students to slow their breathing between attempts, which helps reduce tension. If a student starts to feel anxious, I’ll scale the skill back or turn it into a game so they can regain confidence. The goal is to keep the experience positive, so they associate learning with success rather than stress.”