swimming


Recently our family was relocated from the mountains of upstate NY to the Gulf Coast shores of Alabama. It was the first time that my children were exposed to the ocean and all of its vast glory.
Our first trip to the beach to go swimming in the ocean was not more than two or three days after we made the move South. The kids love swimming, even though they hadn't fully developed the ability yet. My eldest son was becoming better at swimming, but he had just learned the skill of doggy paddling, which he called "doggy puddling". The rest of my children were trying to learn to keep their legs out behind them and move their arms in the useful way so that they could enjoy swimming.
Their favorite part of swimming in the ocean for the first time was playing in the waves. Of course, the massive power of water rushing at and over you had its effects on the younger two, who decided that the beach was more fun than the water. It only took a few times of going to the ocean before they, too, learned to enjoy the experience of swimming in it.
I think finding a beach with milder water movement helped in the situation. Once we discovered a beach that had a bay side and an ocean side, the younger two became more prone to playing in the water and practicing their swimming techniques. The older two boys both could now demonstrate their doggy paddle swimming technique, as well as their underwater swimming abilities.
We have enjoyed swimming in the ocean for a little over a year now. It has certainly been a treat.