Kay Kay Finally Conquer the Aqua-Fear

Date:  Sep 7, 2015

Swimming is a life skill.

If you step your foot wrong at the first step.  You will get a Aqua-phobia kid.

But it is not the end of the world.

Given time, Aqua-phobia will conquer the water once again, and swim in the water.

Just like Kay Kay.

Yesterday, when I go down and take a look at his latest progress.  He is able to swim back strokes.  On his own.

I don’t expect him to become very very good.  But good enough to survive is one important target.

He is able to swim from the other end to this end.  About 45 meter length.  Very good!

His froggy style.  Need to learn and conquer the fear to change air.  Give him some time to work on it.

Then he did a free style back to the other end.

Still need to work on the free style change air part.  But remember to keep giving encouragement, make them feel good.

Lastly, uncle Soh teaches him how to dive in.  

I think swimming is one of the thing I made both kids do.  

Somehow, Kay Kay is fond of water when he was very young and then suddenly, he become very afraid of water.

But after 2 years, he finally conquered that fear and start getting better and better.

My hope for him is, if one day, he has to survive in the water, he is able to save himself. 

Finally He Swam Across The Pool

Date:  Jan 18, 2015

From a baby who likes water.

Dunno what happened.

He suddenly very extremely scared of water.

For more than 2 years he has been learning how to swim.

And finally...

Kay Kay can swim across the pool from 2 meter to the other side.  Hooray!

He has come so far so long to defeat this fear.

And I am very proud of him.  Kay Kay well done!

1.  Up till today, we still have no idea what cause the aqua-phobia at the first place.

2.  Once he developed the phobia, it is hard to get rid of.

3.  It needs very long time to conquer the fear.  

4.  One must be patient.  Very patient.

5.  Let the swimming coach do the job.

6.  We are not coach, so, we will not know the correct way to teach the kid.

7.  Eventually, in our son case, 2 plus years, he is recovered from this fear.

8.  Confident can be build.  It takes time only.  It takes a lot of time and patient.

9.  This is parts and puzzle of raising kids.

Swimming - Let The Kids Take Their Own Sweet Time

Date:  Aug 31, 2014

First of all, Happy Birthday Malaysia!

Kay Kay has start learning swimming about 1 year ago, where he promise to take uncle Soh’s swimming class just after his birthday.

If you remember reading it on my blog, Kay Kay threw away his milk bottle when he was three (after the birthday).  He no longer wearing diaper to sleep when he turned four.  And we love to associate “grow up” with birthday cake.  HaHaHa.  So, we also make him promise to start learning swimming when he turned four.

Swimming is a life skill that we as a parent wanted him to learn and master.  Because one day, this could save his life.

Regardless of how long it takes, how scared the kid is at the beginning, Kay Kay knew he has to learn how to swim eventually.

Let’s check out how is he doing.

1.  He is able to walk to the 1st ladder at the 2 meter pool side and swim from there.

2.  He is able to free style with correct swimming strokes.

3.  He is able to change breathe, though still not perfect, but at least he is not afraid of running out of air.

4.  He is able to swim a longer distance.

I am very proud of him having such improvement.

I admit that at the beginning, I was a bit too harsh on him.  Always wonder why Jay Jay can picked up swimming faster than him.

I made a mistake to compare both Jay & Kay.  Luckily, I quickly realise that mistake, and let it go.

I let the coach to do his teaching.  I no longer jump into the pool to teach him.

I realise that there can be ONLY ONE COACH to teach him at the beginning.

We as parent, although we know how to swim, but we are not swimming coach.

We cannot possibly teach the correct swimming skill to our kids.  

Let the professional do the job.

And understand that, it takes time to concur the fear of swimming.

No one is the same when learning swimming.

I know, some of the bright kids of his age has sort of “master” the swimming in shorter time.

But Kay Kay is not them, he will take longer time.  That is the different!

So, “Let it Go” is actually a good song and a reminder to remind parents that not all kids learn the same way learn at the same speed.

And he is also started to learn butterfly swim.  And I am so happy when I see that

1.  He no longer a crying baby at the pool.

2.  He is not afraid of water any more.

3.  He is enjoying himself in the class.

4.  He chit chat and play in the pool with his friends.

Here is the video of the first step of learning butterfly swimming (no hands).  Swim like a fish.

And he loves it!

Some one did a Ice Bucket at the other side of the pool.

So, I suggested to him to do a balance your swim board on your head challenge.

Later during the day.

Jay Jay came back.

Jay Jay: “Kay Kay, how is your swimming?  What did you do today?"

Kay Kay: blah blah blah (talking about the butterfly).

Kay Kay did cry at the end of the class, but not because of scare of swimming…  because

Kay Kay:  “…. Rafael put water in my goggles…"

Jay Jay: “Oh!  Ya, he is very naughty."

Then the two kids went on talking about Rafael.

Kay Kay: “He spit into the pool today."

Daddy: “Ya, I saw it too.  I wanted to call security guard to come and catch him."

Blah blah blah.

It is a good thing to see the two brother talking to each other.

Putting them in a room, staying together from young is indeed a good choice.

FYI.  Both kids never sleep in the parent's room.  We think it is a good way to raise the kid this way.

And we start seeing the result of this.

J & K, the two loving brothers that never see them quarrel.  

 

Kay Kay Swimming Progress

Date:  April 20, 2014

It is another week of swimming lesson for Kay Kay.

This time, the reward is we will watch "Captain America - The Winter Soldier” if he does not cry, learn well in class, listen to uncle Soh, and perform great in class.

Of course, Kay has heard of this “The Winter Soldier” for so many times from his classmates and he wanted to watch the movie.

So, after the lesson, I played with him and teach him new tricks.  So, we learned that he is actually holding a long breathe to swim with his head underneath.  

Sometimes, it is funny to see his face holding the breathe.

So, today, we will focus in blowing the air out from his mouth.

And because his mood is very good today, so, he is able to do that.  Cool.

Many times.

Then, we teach him to blow the air out from the nose. 

So, keep doing it so that he is familiar and not feeling scare.

Then, we ask him to try slowly jump into the water.

And surprisingly, he says “Again, again!"

So, we let him run and jump.

We let him jump and swim.

We let him jump, and star float.

We let him jump, dive and blow bubbles and swim.

Tried all the combinations.

And I made a home movie for him.  It is very important to keep all these video very handy and can be watch any time if possible on the TV.

He always enjoys watching his own movie.  And he learned too.

Kay Kay Swimming Lesson Mar-29

Date:  Mar 29, 2014

It is always fun to watch your young one on how he picks up swimming.  He cannot change breathe yet, but are able to swim with both his two hands.

I always like to take the video of my son.

It is also very important to show his own video to him.  To let him see how he swam.

Continue to take the video repeatly.

He will enjoy watching himself.  This will give him a lot of info about how he swim.

That is how I teach, and encourage young Kay Kay how to swim. 

Before that, he is very afraid of water.

But now, I think he is ok already.

A tired and satisfied look.

Kay Swimming - Progress 15-03-2014

Date:  March 16, 2014

I wrote a lot of updates on my Jay Jay.  It is time to start focus a bit on Kay Kay.  As he starts asking why I don’t have this video, that video.  HaHaHa

This week is a continuation of last week lesson.  Kay still has not learned how to change breathe.  But looking at his progress, I am very sure that he can do it in 2-3 months time.

A new thing he learned today is to hang on to his swimming board, and swim up side down where his head face the sky.  Wow.  He was having lots of fun while having some fear too.  Don’t worry, Mommy is there to help out.

He is now very comfortable being in the water, and as long as he has his board, he feels safe.

So, at some point you can see that if he fell short of his breathe, he will swim towards his board, to get his swimming board first.

This is GOOD!  Good job Kay.  

Also, if he felt that he has not enough breathe, he knew when to TURN BACK.  

This is GOOD.  Good Job Kay!

And of course, before he swims, he knows how to get to the pool side faster.  If he felt short of the breathe, instead of swim straight, he will swim right and make a short cut to the pool side.  HaHaHa… Of course, most of the time, he has enough breathe.  As uncle Soh move further and further away, he got to learn how to take bigger breathe.

His left hand stroke nicely, but the right hand a bit slow.  I think he is a right brain kind of kid.

 But I think he is doing great!  No rush, and he just have to slowly get used to using both hands.

Good improvement from last week Kay Kay!

After the swim, Kay Kay keep on rubbing his eyes, and some how he keeps blinking the eyes.

Now, after watching this video I know why.

His goggles is half filled with the water.  Wahahahahaha.

Jay Jay does not have badminton lesson today.  So, he is able to make it to the pool to swim and encourage his little brother.

HaHaHa… uncle Soh made him race with Rafael.  Suddenly Rafael becomes very good.  hahahaha.

Mommy look!  I am sitting on my board.

Again, the kids have lots of fun at the pool today.

Kay Kay Swimming Lesson - Progress Report

Date:  Mar 7, 2014

Recovery from aqua phobia to not afraid of swimming is a long, scary process and must have lots of patience with the kid.  As long as you do not GIVE UP, there is always a chance that your kid will conquer water one day.

Few months ago, Kay Kay was having lots of problems with swimming.  I think because of the initial decision of not letting him wear a goggles to learn swimming has develop the aqua phobia.  He really scared of water most of the time a few months ago.  Sorry Kay Kay, it is Daddy’s mistake for scaring you.

But today, I am happy.  Together, the coach and the parents has put in a lot of patience and efforts to encourage this young one to swim.  

And let’s see his results!

Wow!  Only 2-3 weeks time, he not only conquer water, not afraid of swimming, and he can take deep breathe already.  Well done Kay Kay!

But if you notice, he only uses one hand to swim.  Hmmm… it’s that correct?

Well, wait for him to be more comfortable, coach Soh then taught him to swim with two hands.

But the most happy thing to see him not afraid of water.

Now, this time, after coaching, he is able to do two hands swimming.  Take a look! 

GOOD JOB Kay Kay!  Steady la!

Let’s take a look again from another angle.  Good Job Kay Kay!

Next will be how to change breathe … I guess it will take some time for that to happen.

But we are very happy already!  Good Job Kay Kay!

For coming back from aqua phobia stage.  Yeah!

Kay Kay At The 2 Meter Pool

Date:  Feb 17, 2014

If the kid start developing a phobia towards water, then, we should try to fix it.

I guess the mistake is on me, because I was the one who suggested to “remove” Kay Kay’s goggles and let him try to swim and learn swimming without it.

So, without the goggles, the kid feel unsafe in water as they cannot open their eyes.  

Actually can open, but they do not like it.

After a few times Kay Kay start to have some phobia in swimming.

So, we decided to let him wear a goggle.

And the effect is different.

He now can see under water, he knows what is in there, and so on.

Raising kids is like that, you need to try all sort of method.  When it does not work, you must quickly fall back to the usual way.

So, two weeks ago, uncle Soh (the swimming coach) brought the kids to the 2 meter pool area to play.

So, they learned how to star float, they learned how to jump into the water here at the 2 meter mark. 

Here are some of the amazing footages of Kay Kay reaching a major milestones in swimming.

 At the 2 meter pool, students are asked to come down by holding the ladder handle.  And then, do a star float at the deep water.

A bit afraid, but ends with laughter.

Next video shows Kay Kay playing at the 2 meter pool there.  And then, trying to calm himself down, and concur the fear.  After he got comfortable, he simply lets go his hand and star float.

For the first time, Kay Kay is showing Michelle (a new student) how to do a star float.  Wahahaha.  And he loves it!

Next, they will hold uncle Soh finger and uncle Soh will pull them jump into the pool.  See he can surely swim fast to survive.

Let’s do it again.

Jump!  And swim back to uncle Soh.

For the last video, he is taking too long to dive.  So, Michelle push him.

Like that kids are having fun!  And he is not worried any more.

Daddy is proud of you reaching this stage. More practise will make you not afraid of water.

Use of Pyjamas in Swimming

Date:  Jan 22, 2014

Swimming is a life skill I wanted my children to learn.  

Hey, what is that floating thingy beside Jay Jay’s head?  Isn’t that his Pyjamas???

Yes, it is his Pyjamas.  When it is wet, they can keep air in it.  Not only Pyjamas, jeans, pants all can.

So, imagine when you are on a plane, and you were in your pyjamas (huh?  How many of you change into Pyjamas on a plane??)

And when you need to drop yourself into the water… And you need something that floats… Well, this is one of it.  

Means, you can quickly take off your pants and blow air in it.

Let’s see another way how you can inflate the pyjamas float.

Basically, you run, and then, capture all the air inside, and jump into the pool.  

Cool.

And when you jump into the pool it automatically become like this!  

Kay Swimming - Playing with the Poolboy

Date:  Nov 16, 2013

Now is raining season.  So, Kay Kay had lesser chance to go down swimming.

Furthermore, he also keen on riding his two wheels bicycle nowadays, so, he has not been swimming for almost three weeks.

 Let’s see how he is doing.  OK.  Kicking is still there.  Still good! 

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/RvJLOEaluug

It is a good thing that koko Jay Jay is around today as he does not have badminton today.

 

So, they play “Poolboy delivery game today”.

So, I throw the poolboy into the pool and Kay Kay go and pick it up and “transport” it back.

Simple game, but makes him swim.

When Jay Jay is around, and he will do all kind of obstacles.  

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/3OB1P1zDoBE

 Kay Kay: “It’s nice to have KoKo around…"

Kay Swimming - 全神戒备

Date:  Oct 19, 2013

Yeah!  It's swimming lesson time!

This week, mommy got him a new swim wear.  This is a very thick swim wear.  Feels like those diving shirt.  And Kay Kay loves it so much.  Why?  1) it helps to float a little.  2) it keeps him warm.  I think when he a bit scare, he will feel cold.  And when the breeze comes, he will shake.

Today, we shall be very careful watching him.  Because yesterday, when we are here at the pool.  He suddenly let go his hand and tries to swim back to the pool side by himself.  That gives us a big fright!  So, yesterday, we have been lecturing and telling him that if daddy & mommy not around or not seeing you, or uncle Soh not looking at you, cannot leg go hand and swim on his own.  Not until he learn how to flood on his own.  ahhahahahaha

Didn't know why suddenly he become so gung-ho.  hahaha

The class begins.

So, last week he was crying, very reluctant to go into water.

After few days of secret training by daddy.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/t9DEmIVKY6g

He now has no problem doing it.  The more he does the more he is more comfortable.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/d3xCA_dPIck

Of course, on the board, he can swim very fast.  The next thing I wish to do is to get him a new board without holes.  Now, he keep clipping his hand on that two holes.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/Cy2GU5Ilsf4

OK.  Every week, uncle Soh will introduce new things.  This week, is to swim with the board, and put your head down in the water as much as possible without breathing.

That scares him.  But he still do it.  hahaha

So, next week, my homework is to train him that.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/ym6XcTT4pGE

He is happy with himself this week.  He has finally conquer the fear.  

Every time after he swim and dive.  I asked. "Anything happen to you?"

Kay will shake his head and say no.

I like this clip.  Uncle Soh stands quite far.  And he kick and swim.  This is the 5th lesson.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/O9aBbBWtK1I

Kay Kay, you did very well and mommy will buy a big toy for you.

Good job Kay Kay!

Growing Pains - Swimming

Date:  Oct 12, 2013

This week is another eventful swimming lesson.

Don't be fool by this photo.  Looks happy indeed.  HaHaHa

The first 20 minutes of the class is quite OK.  It is all routine.  Deep breathe and dip yourself into the water.

He dive for 12 seconds.  Good Job Kay Kay!

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/jpkpAl3AGaY

Then, do a bit of swimming.  Very good.

Do more dipping is OK too.  And then, holding on to uncle Soh hand still OK.

And he still can laugh too.  It is fun!

Wait now, uncle Soh then will let go his hand.  And ask Kay to jump into the water on his own.  That is where all the drama comes in.

He started to feel unhappy, and afraid.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/iP-dR9CdEDQ

He still wants uncle Soh to hold his hand.  But soon or later, he has to do it on his own.

He started to cry too.  But boy piano, he has to learned this first step.  He has to learn how to control his fear.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/h_QCE_aQj-s

Then, more crying.  hahahaha

Bo Pian, we have to force him to swim more.  The more that he practice, the more he will get used to it.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/Nokfx46FDZU

Then, we asked him to do it on his own again.  And failed.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/7zhpNVb4XNs

At the end of this lesson, he finally can do it.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/UsCd40AIdnc

Sorry Kay Kay, Daddy has to be very strict on this.  We have to let you cross that first barrier on your own.  If we don't do that, you will never learn.  Once you learn how to do it, you will forget about what have happen today.  This is about growing pains.  This is the pain Daddy and you have to gone thru to defeat that fear.  Swimming, again is a very important life skills that you have to learn.  Your Daddy did not learn swimming until when I am 28 years old.  And I also have afraid of water for all my life.  But then, when I concur the fear, the fear never came back to me.  

So, be brave my son.

Kay Swimming - 4th Swimming Lessons

Date:  Oct 5, 2013

We practise swimming for the whole last week.  So there is no reason I am still afraid of water.  HaHaHa.

As a matter of fact, he still got that fear.  So, during the first 20 minutes, he gone back to the whining mode again.  HaHaHa

But after 20 minutes, when he starts to settle down, he starts his happy learning mode again.

First thing, practise the deep breathe.

As more practise has been done,  the more longer time he can dip his face under the water.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/aqOcyewfA-k

New trick learned this week.  Is to make his leg touch the swimming pool floor.  Hmmm… He is 105cm, so that means it will cover his entire face.  

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/bGiWk6H07IY

Next trick he learned is to keep the legs up when dipping his face into the water.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/YSBY2Nx04KE

Uncle Soh hold his hand and make him dive.

Then, he practise himself.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/zEqP52IxYXE

Then, he dip his face in even longer time.

OK.  He did not do so long, but you make him looks like he has done a long time ya!

Don't have a stop watch, so it does not matter.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/pylTDZKDHRY

Mr. Soh asked me: "Are you ready to be a teacher?"

I say: "Err.  What do you mean?"

Mr. Soh: "We need to give them time, we need to be patient.  So, teacher has to be patient."

Oh, I did asked Kay to do a certain thing.  So, some how I show impatient face.  That is totally wrong.

So, lesson learned.  Let the professional do it.  HaHaHa.

Anyway, he is having lots of fun!

He looks very happy after the swim.

He is kicking.

At the end of the lesson, Uncle Soh bring him to small pool to let him do the diving again.  And this time, finally, both his legs seems to come up.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/19fFOI-6S9w

Good job Kay Kay!