Lifeguards can face several challenges while on the job. Leading a swimming lesson may be one of the hardest yet most fun parts of working as a City of Ottawa lifeguard. Different age groups present different obstacles. The parented classes can be awkward, lower swim kids levels introduce a lot of new material, and in the higher swim kid levels you’re trying to teach teenagers. The best level to teach is the preschoolers, but they present a challenge nonetheless. To lead a successful preschooler class, you need to follow certain criteria.
Be creative. Having new ideas every week is essential to keep your students interested. The crazier you think you sound, the more successful your idea will probably be with the kids. Using things that they like, such as cartoons and fast food in your games and class content will encourage their participation. When the student uses their imagination during the class it helps them focus on you and what you’re trying to teach them. Creativity on your part can go a long way during your lesson.
Get them involved. Your students want your approval so by asking them simple questions, it keeps them interested. While doing a front float, for example, asking “what’s supposed to come out of your mouth” will get them to think, and figure out it was bubbles. This way, they will be more likely to remember for next time. Also while they are not practicing their skill, give them something else to do. Keeping them active is an easy way to avoid bad behaviour. For example when you are practicing front floats with a student, get your other students to do their bubbles. That way they are practicing something helpful and not causing trouble.
Praise. You become an idol to your students while you wear your lifeguard singlet. They look up to your skill level and want you to appreciate and encourage them. By praising them for good effort or for continuous safe behaviour, they will want to continue. Positivity will do a lot better in the long run than waiting for them to mess up and then yelling at them. They want to keep pleasing you, so rewarded good behaviour will become a habit for the kids.
Be authoritive. You want your kids to have fun but, your primary job is to keep them safe. They need to know what they are absolutely not allowed to do and those rules need to be enforced. You can be fun and creative and energetic but, when they aren’t listening, there needs to be a set punishment. You are the leader of the class and they need to respect your authority. Just think, if you don’t set boundaries and they drown, they will no longer be having fun. Therefore, fun is never an excuse to leave safety behind. Listening to you is part of their learning.
Have fun. Most importantly, you have to have fun. It may be your job to teach them but if you don’t have some fun with it, your students won’t have any fun either. Find some joy in your classes and the students will feed off of your energy. If they see you enjoying yourself, they will want to listen to you so they can start having as much fun as you.
They key to a good lesson with preschoolers is: “Fake it till you make it”. To all of the elements above, you just need to push yourself out of your comfort zone for a while and it will soon become natural. Just think of it this way, if you smile, the students smile. If the kids smile, the parents smile. If the parents are happy, your boss is smiling. Once your boss is happy, you have successfully led your class and accomplished your task as an instructor.
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