Hi! My name is Ms. Lindsey and I work at our Sugar Land location. Not being able to physically see my students or our customers during this time has been tough for me.
I started to think about how difficult these uncertain times must be on children and, more specifically, on my students.
Do they know what the Coronavirus is? Do they understand what’s going on? What are they doing? Do they miss swim lessons?
In an effort to find some answers, I created a short questionnaire, sent it to a few of our families, and asked them to send their children’s answers back to me.
I am excited to share their responses with you. They were candid, innocent, cute, funny and, most importantly, honest…
Can you explain to me what is going on in the world?
- Max (8): If we go out to the city, we will get infected with Coronavirus. We will get sick and could go to the hospital. Some people can get sick and die so we want to be careful and safe. We can't play with friends and we can't go places because we don't want to spread infection.
- Chase (8): There is a virus going on that can kill people. A lot of people can't go to work because of it and I can't go to school and see my friends.
- Jayne (7): The Coronavirus is hurting and killing people, we are being safe by getting plenty of food and staying busy.
- Landon (7): The virus is going around, we can't touch our face, and we have to stay at home.
- Jamie (7): The virus is a bad germ like a humongous monster stopping us from having fun and going to school, that includes no baseball or swim class.
- Roman (5): We can get the germs from the Coronavirus. Need to stay home. Everyone should wear a ninja mask to be safe.
- Kinsley (5): Because of the Coronavirus and there's germs spreading and we don't want to get sick and go to the hospital.
- Zoe (4): Uh Coronavirus, a thing that makes people sick. We have to stay home cause we will get sick.
- Harper (4): There's lot of germs and I cannot go to playgrounds, see my teacher Ms. Jackson or go to swim class.
What do you miss most about swim class?
- Max (8): Mr. Eduardo
- Chase (8): Umm…swimming.
- Landon (7): Diving.
- Jamie (7): I miss my Coach Sandi and diving and seeing Coach Lindsey!
- Henry (6): My teacher, Mr. Michael, because he's nice. And I miss my friend and it's really fun at swim.
- Kinsley (5): I miss swimming with Ms. Lindsey. I wish she could catch me on the polar bear slide and getting a sucker and a surprise in the blue treasure box.
- Roman (5): I want to be a surfer. Mama says if I keep taking swim lessons, I can try surfing one day.
- Zoe (4): Having fun and swimming. Going under water and getting rings with Kinsley. I miss Ms. Lindsey teaching me how to swim.
- Harper (4): I miss Coach Sandi & Lindsey️, learning swimming, but I am practicing at home! But I miss being at HSC.
What are some things you are doing to stay busy?
- Max (8): I am doing school work, going outside and playing and watching the phone sometimes.
- Chase (8): Playing video games, jumping on the trampoline, playing catch and basketball with my Dad, and school stuff.
- Landon (7): School work, build Legos, watch movies, and play outside.
- Jamie (7): Still learning; we sit around the kitchen table together. I talk with my classmates through Zoom meetings and I talk to my best friend through FaceTime. I ride my new bike and swim in our pool.
- Roman (5): Play with my baby sister. Ride my bike around the lake.
- Kinsley (5): We like staying at home and doing crafts. Going for walks outside with our family after dinner. Helping my sister potty train and learning how to carry my baby brother. When the Coronavirus is over I can't wait to swim with Ms. Lindsey.
- Harper (4): Still learning; I sit with Jamie at the kitchen table, do work and smile. I've read two books by myself and got a sticker! I swim a lot and like to do obstacle courses in our backyard.
- Charles (4): Doing work, playing, babysitting my sister (Ha! No, he's not!), cleaning up everyone's room, reading books to persons and building stuff.
- Zoe (4): Coloring, dig in the dirt outside, riding bikes, dancing to Elsa music.
What do you miss most about school?
- Max (8): I really miss going to recess, being with my friends and math class.
- Chase (8): Outclass and seeing my friends
- Landon (7): Recess
- Jamie (7): I miss seeing my friends and my teacher, Mrs. Nava. I miss playing with my best friend at recess. I also miss lunchtime with my friends.
- Jayne (7): Learning and math, mostly I miss Mrs. Derr.
- Henry (6): Working at stations, Mrs. Garcia, playing outside.
- Roman (5): Seeing friends and other kids.
- Harper (4): I miss my teacher, Ms. Jackson and line time (it’s when we are quiet and start the day doing the calendar).
What are some things you think you can do at home to practice swim skills?
- Max (8): Blow bubbles in the bathtub, blow up our inflatable pool and have my mom teach us how to swim.
- Chase (8): Blowing bubbles in the bath, even try to swim in the bathtub or blow up pool.
- Jamie (7): We swim every day in our pool!
- Landon (7): Sits up and push-ups maybe?
- Kinsley (5): Swimming in the bathtub unless there's soap in there, then I don't like to practice it. Blowing water in my water cup with a straw. I don't like getting cold showers because I can't practice swimming.
- Roman (5): I teach my baby sister big arms and kick kick kick in the bathtub. She is silly. She puts the ring on her head and says achoo.
- Zoe (4): Play in our kiddie pool. Go a little bit under water. Making my baby dolls blow bubbles underwater.
- Harper (4): Swim more! I wish I could get to the bottom of the pool. I can in our hot tub!
- Daphne (3): 123 bubbles at home, teach Barbie in the bathtub, wear my princess bathing suit!
I absolutely loved getting all of their responses and understanding a little bit more about how this difficult situation looks through their eyes.
They all had some great ideas for ways to practice swim skills at home, but here are a few other ways you can stay engaged with swimming while at home:
We miss everyone so much, and hope you all are staying safe and well. We are so eager to see everyone back in the pool soon!
Written by Lindsey King Instructor & Office Shift Supervisor, Houston Swim Club Sugar Land
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