By Margorie Preston

1. Synchronize your watches.
Arriving late and disrupting lessons can make children self-conscious, and it can eat up class time. Students may even miss the demonstration of a new skill. It is better to come late than not at all, but respect the time of all the other people involved in lessons. Leave a few extra minutes at home to gather belongings like towels and suits, make clothing changes, get to the pool, make sure children use the restroom and be on deck when class begins. Don't expect a teacher to cover skills a second time for latecomers..

2. No fear of commitment!
Try not to miss any lessons. Your child will learn better if he/she is able to meet everyone else on the first day, see new skills being introduced, and have the full class time to absorb. Children are more likely to remember the skills presented if they realize they will be expected to show improvement on the previous day's class and that they will be tested at the end to show the teacher their best skills.

3. Be a team player.
Following along on a skill sheet or having a quick discussion with the instructor following the first lesson can help you guide your child. Ask how you can help your child progress outside of class. Teachers can sometimes provide you with games to play or exercises to help your child grasp a concept without feeling pressured to perform a skill perfectly during class.

4. You can do it!
At first, kids may be fearful about meeting new people and trying new things, but confidence will come with time. You can use an additional incentive such as a treat, toy or a privilege earned for good behavior. This shows your child that you and the teacher are on the same team, and that both of you are noticing good behavior in class.

5. No "small" victories.
Give positive reinforcement after class such as, "Good blowing bubbles - you got your nose and mouth in the water that time" or "Wow, you made it all the way across the pool without help from the teacher." These statements show your child you are paying attention to the progress she is making in swimming class.

6. Take your time.
Don't focus on numbers - ages and levels. Kids start swimming at different ages, and each child has different abilities. The goal is to have consistent progress at their current level, and often children need to take a class more than once before moving on to the next. Perhaps your child passes level two easily and has difficulty with the skills in level three. He may have difficulty warming up to the first class and have to repeat it, only to progress quickly through other levels. There is no typical time frame - it will take as long as it takes.

7. How do I get to Carnegie Hall?
The answer, of course, is practice, practice, practice. Try to bring your child back to the pool between lessons to work on skills learned in class, especially for weekly lessons. With all the distractions in a child's day, practice between classes really solidifies skills and helps place them in permanent memory. Be sure to provide adequate periods of rest - it helps retain the skill as well as reduce fatigue.

8. Keep it pleasant and private.
Unless you are in a parent-and-child class, wait to speak to your child's teacher until after class is over and do so without your child present. Call the facility if you need to. State your questions or concerns calmly and pleasantly. Do not allow yourself to become emotional. If you feel your concerns are not being addressed, it's time to talk to a supervisor, again in a calm and pleasant manner. If your issues are not resolved, put them in writing to the facility manager. The facility may be hearing your concerns for the first time. If all this doesn't result in any changes, it may be time to find a different teacher, a different facility, or switch to private lessons.

9. Let the teacher have a turn.
When you want to make a comment during class, write it down and tell your child after class. Remember to give positive reinforcement for the things your child did well. Your child is trying to focus on the teacher and watch the other students, so it can be distracting to all involved for parents to also be giving instructions. It is also safer for lifeguards to be watching the little ones without an obstructed view! Some facilities keep parents a few feet away from lessons, and others request the parents observe from an observation deck until class is over.

10. Parents - get in the swim!
Lessons aren't just for kids. There are classes for adults, too. You can learn to be more confident around the water and your kids will appreciate the difference. You might even find a class held at the same time as your child's. Maybe you'll take up fitness swimming, or learn to teach lessons yourself!