Assume you are understood .... post 17

To assume that whoever and however we teach swimming skills is understood in the way that we teach, give instructions, explain the skills to attempt, their purpose, will create a breakdown in a relationship if and when we are not understood. Fear, insecurity, embarrassed to admit the truth, shyness, the desire to please inhibits freedom of thought, movement, senses

Blog Posts  7, 11, 12,13,15 more comprehensively shares with us the simple insight needed for teaching though re-reading all the posts are of value to remind us of the little skills we can go back to time and again. Each new experience to teach requires the same skills though constantly teaching different personalities, watching different development and progress

Until we know the ability of whomever we are teaching, using the guidance shared with you found in previous blog posts, safety is prime. Best is to 'ask' to 'show me what you can do'. Demonstration should start in shallow then progress to deeper water to realise the limit of ability. Whomever we are assessing should be 'within arms length' if support is needed

With a child never assume that the parents opinion of ability is accurate. It could be that a child generally uses swimming aids which are not used during an assessment or their ability is great in very shallow water. The variables are too many so let us rather presume that a safe assessment that is easily managed is necessary  ....