By Amy Crelly

Make the most of your child's summer swim program by getting ready in advance. It all starts at home with the right preparation and at the pool with good instruction.

Choosing a good instructor
A good teacher makes any kind of learning easier and more fun. This is especially true when it comes to swimming and water safety, a topic that makes many kids anxious. “Swim lessons aren’t rocket science,” laughs Barry Shrewsbury, North Fork swim instructor and author of the children's book, Luca Learns to Swim, “but,” he adds, “not all instructors are the same.” He urges parents to start by seeking out recommendations from friends and relatives. He also notes: "A good instructor knows how to break down complex skills [like swimming] into simpler mini-lessons in a way that helps kids progress naturally, step-by-step."

When it comes to finally picking a program, you'll want to "be proactive and ask questions,” says Shrewsbury. Besides asking about instructor certifications and experience, other topics to cover include: teaching philosophy, make-up policy for missed lessons, and what kind of program would best suit your child's needs.

If at all possible, ask to meet the person who will be your child's instructor so you can interview him (or her). Here is a short list of some questions you might ask:

What is your experience?
What's your approach to working with a resistant child?
Will my child be with you for every lesson?
What’s the pool temperature? (Note: Warmer water means a more relaxed little body... and mind.)
How do you keep parents informed of their child's progress?

Remember: the more fear or anxiety your child has when it comes to water, the smaller his class size should be. Group lessons are great for water babies, but if your child is among the truly terrified, consider private lessons. They can help prevent meltdowns and the one-on-one attention allows many kids to progress faster than they might in a large group class.

Preparing kids at home
Even if you're not able to arrange an interview, Shrewsbury recommends finding out the instructor’s name in advance, so that you can refer to the instructor by name in the days before that first lesson. This way, meeting the instructor will feel more like recognizing a new friend and less like confronting a stranger.

If children are nervous about swim lessons, create opportunities for them to talk about their feelings and worries and get accustomed to having some water time on certain days of the week. You can play games in the bathtub or in a blow-up kiddie pool. You can also read or tell stories to each other about learning to swim.

One last tip
If, despite your best efforst, your child is still “that kid” at the pool (clinging to you for dear life, sobbing and screaming like you’re trying to drown him), consider taking yourself out of the equation when it comes time for lessons.

Return, as promised, for the last five or ten minutes of lessons. You might make arrangements for the instructor to say, “Let’s show Mom what you did today!” (that is, if he has time and is game). Then praise that kid like there’s no tomorrow—even if it’s just the tiniest of baby steps he’s showing off. Remember to act like this is a sudden revelation of super-powers (and like you haven’t been hiding behind the fence and watching him blow bubbles for the last ten minutes). And the Oscar goes to… Mom!