A personal reflection from the poolside

Author: SwimEasy Parent

A MORNING IN THE LIFE OF CHILDREN LEARNING TO SWIM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FROM START TO FINISH.

There’s something quietly powerful about watching children in the water, not just learning to swim, but becoming more themselves with every kick, every breath, every small moment of independence. It’s something I didn’t expect to feel quite so strongly, especially as someone used to watching life through a writer’s lens.

Usually, it’s my husband who takes our children to their swimming lessons. But one morning, I found myself on the poolside instead, surrounded by the sounds of parents adjusting goggles, tying swim caps, and gently encouraging their little ones through the door. And then… action.

The poolside was a little noisy, but children engaged. Children stretched and prepared. There was no chaos, just a rhythm to everything. And that’s when I noticed something small but important: children were working at their own pace. No one seemed left behind, no one pushed too far. It wasn’t about comparing who could swim furthest or fastest. Instead, it was about who was growing. Quietly, confidently.

What struck me most was the structure, though nothing about it felt forced. Children waited their turn and moved in small rotations towards their teacher. Instructions were clear, and the words were simple enough for the youngest ones to grasp, not from a distance, but spoken directly and close by. Actions by the teachers seemed easy to follow and help in the water was minimal, just enough to support, but not enough to take the learning away from the child.

I noticed the difference with my own children. They weren’t relying on someone holding them up. They were doing it. And they knew it.

I spent time talking to a few parents, a proud grandfather and former competitive swimmer, reflected: “Most parents think swimming lessons are all the same. They’re not. You’ll see.” And he was right. It was in the details, the quiet confidence of the teachers, the careful watching, the patience. His own grandson was thriving, and he knew it wasn’t just chance. “It’s the teaching,” he said. “And the time they take to get it right.”

That morning, I happened to meet Gail, someone I’d only heard about until then. She’s the woman behind it all, and yet, there she was, simply chatting to parents, answering questions, and showing me, one of the little books called; My SwimEasy Passport to Successful Swimming. I was familiar with the book as my own children had one, I knew it had stickers for different skills, and she told me how it helps children see their own progress not through tests, but through recognition. She also showed me the teacher version (which I wasn’t so familiar with) the Passport to Successful Teaching; and explained how useful it’s become for instructors working with different children.

Gail isn’t someone who hides behind an office. She’s still here, decades after starting this journey at a small school pool in Edinburgh, listening, watching, adjusting. She told me a story I won’t forget:

“I was doing a teacher training day and working with a wee group of preschoolers in the water. I had one little girl holding my shoulders, and I kept asking her to ‘push with your heels.’ Nothing was happening. Then she looked at me and tugged my shoulder, saying, ‘Excuse me… what’s your heels?’” Gail smiled. “She was only just four. Of course, she didn’t know what part of her body I was referring too. “That’s when I knew we needed to show more, never assume change the words so the child will understand better.”

I left that morning with a new respect for something I thought I already understood. Swimming isn’t just about strokes and distances. It’s about confidence. It’s about trust. And sometimes, it’s about realising that your child, the one you thought needed help, is more capable than you imagined, if only they’re given the right space to grow.

And above all else, what struck me most wasn’t what the children were doing in the water, it was how well everything outside the water was working too. It just felt... right. Organised human and above all safe.

I’ll never think of swimming lessons the same way again.■

www.swimeasy.co.uk