Swim Lessons with Maryanne

Last week we were very fortunate to be able to go to the Canyon meadows club house pool where one of our wonderful friends Maryanne (from our singles ward) offered to give Branson swim lessons! She has been on or teaching swim team since she was 4 or 5 years old, and is just amazing in the pool. She had so many fun games for Branson to learn to feel comfortable in the water, and Branson has really been feeling much more confident in the water since! He likes to practice with me in the tub each day and can’t wait for his next lesson.

Maryanne trying to coax Branson into the water

Lets play a game she says. Its called elevator. She would then tap his head three times and say, “ding, ding, ding” and he would lower himself to go underwater. Although he wouldn’t put his head under water at his lesson, he has since mastered this skill in the bath tub and can’t wait to show Maryanne at this weeks lesson!

Maryanne also taught him how to monkey walk on the side of the pool
(A technique to help kids get to the stairs or a safe place where they can touch)

She also taught him how to put his ear in the water by telling him to pretend there were fishies in the water and to listen to them talk.

And then she taught him how to talk to the fishies too
by putting his face in the water and blowing bubbles.

Branson’s favorite activity though was making his legs straight like pencils and kicking and splashing everyone! She also had him float on his back and on his tummy using a swim board. It was so amazing to see all the cool games and things she played to help him feel comfortable in the water.

At the end Maryanne gave both the kids ring pops, which turned Harry’s teeth, lips, and tongue blue! He was REALLY upset by this when he first saw himself in the mirror!
It totally cracked me up!

Thank you SO SO SO much Maryanne for taking your time to teach Branson to Swim!
You so totally rock girl! 🙂