Swimming lessons

Joshua's least favourite part of the day is when he goes for his swimming lessons... He's been going just about every day while I'm on leave now. The point is to drown-proof him (as far as it is possible...) not to get him swimming.

I didn't know it when I contacted Lindsay, the teacher, but she is apparently the best teacher around (based on what the other parents say, some of whom come from far to have the lessons for their children). I mainly chose her because she is in the same street as us, so I literally walk one minute to get there.

She only does lessons one-on-one, and she's got Joshua to the point where she holds him away from her, and then lets go. He goes under the water, and then rolls over onto his back, with his face above water, so that he can breathe again. And he takes in very little water, from what Lindsay says, so he really is very good. She says that he controls his face, and his breathing so that he doesn't swallow the water.

He's floating on his own, with just the small physical contact of her hand on his head.

So this doesn't guarentee that a child won't drown, but it certainly gives him the best chance.