Swim class started off with a wail again last Saturday.
I'm starting to wonder if it's only because Ignatius is cold and fretful, or is it something else. Although class starts with plenty of wailing, Ignatius invariable ends up enjoying the class.
This week I realised something though. Although we send Ignatius for class, and he found it fun initially, we failed to do something. Reinforce the activities and fun at home for him. So maybe after a while, the novelty of the swim activities wears off and he's no longer engaged. Well, having made this huge realisation, we started doing swim class activities at home as well. And Ignatius loves it!
"Crocodile, crocodile, sitting on the wall
Crocodile, crocodile, had a great ... FALL!"
We do this little chant with him sitting on the edge of our bed (which is pretty high) and us sitting on the floor. Ignatius collapses on us in helpless giggles right on cue...and frequently before his cue. And sometimes when he's walking around, he grin at us and go "Kwokodal" and giggle and fall onto us.
Another aspect of swim class that Mommy is using is the Bunny song. During this action song, the toddlers have to lie down on the foam mat. Ignatius hates lying down to change his diapers. But when I sang this song to the diaper change sequence, he obediently lay there!
Now, how did we miss this reinforcement bit??
And my next realization is...Gosh! this is how it's gonna be for the decade AT LEAST. We have to spend time with him after school/classes and help him "actualize" it. Wow...a new dimension, a new responsibility.
So anyway, the next Saturday comes along soon enough. That's today. It rained and the water was freezing cold. We put on a full body neoprene suit for him.
And when it was time for class to start, Brooke came over while Ignatius was sitting on the edge of the pool waiting to "crocodile" into the pool with Daddy. She had a short interaction session with Ignatius. I'm not sure if she made herself less of a stranger, or we put on a warmer wetsuit for him, or we played our part by reinforcing the swim class activities, but Ignatius didn't wail this time! *phew* In fact, he thoroughly enjoyed the class despite the cold. Brooke even praised him on his progress at the end of the class. *beam*
So now...reinforcements please!
said...
hey.... u beat me to it!! hahaha.. i was gg to blog how M is starting to enjoy swim class. no more crying. jus ngeh ngeh ngeh.. and he loves the crocodile part too! hahaha.. he does it on the edge of our bed and sofa too. :o)
Ignatius said...
haha i'm glad M likes it! is so fun when they collapse on us. =)
said...
yup.. it's actually vv fun. i'm still trying to learn all the songs, esp the bunny song. :) i actually enjoyed being in the water with him.
