Big girl swimming

Most of you know that since arriving to Brunei Sofia has really enjoyed swimming. Despite of her arm injury that put us on dry land for nearly 3 months last year, her abilities have really rocketed.

 Last year we started swimming classes at the Brunei Swim Club in the "Introduction to independence" classes, which meant no parents in the pool. The class was really nice with only 3 participants, and the teacher was firm and knowledgeable. But somehow our water baby freaked out; Normally you can't get out of the pool but in the first class Sofia spent only 5 minutes in the pool, and the rest screaming by the pool. Luckily it got better and by class no 4 Phil didn't have to go in anymore.

Maybe firm was interpreted as scary by this toddler? Maybe the first formal lesson ever didn't please this free soul? But I'm glad she grew to tolerate it. As even since we've had moments where Sofia climbs out half way through a lesson and declares that it's finished. Lots of cajoling is then needed to get her back in... And normally you can't get her out of the pool! 

We changed to Auntie Andrea's swim club after Christmas as the timings were better. Although this means that the swim school responsibility has been handed to me. Today we had our first lesson in the Big girls' group. 

Sofia's swimming ability is there but her listening has been lacking. In previous classes she's gotten a bit bored and just done her own thing. Today she was inspired by the older girls who sat nicely by the pool and waited their turn. And on Sofia's turn she practiced free and froggy styles, dolphin dives and kicking. She managed to concentrate really nicely for first half of the lesson, and then her interest started twindeling. But I think she did brilliantly with the 4-year-olds! Even they struggled to sit still for the whole half an hour. Sofia can already swim a whole pool length, nice to see how her technique improves now!