What’s it like for a kid to win a beginner’s swimming badge?
When is the right time to teach your child how to swim? There may be different answers to this question, but for us, we starting frequenting public swimming pools when Lyons Cub was about two-and-a-half years old. He learned some principal techniques to avoid drowning, and by age four, he could dive already and stay afloat in the water for several seconds. However, he wished to be in a “real” swim club and learn more professional techniques suitable for his age than mommy could show him.
Thus, we joined a swim course for 5- to 6-year-olds, which took place for 15 lessons. Lyons Cub ended up being the only child who was awarded the beginner’s badge when the course terminated. (He got used to success since he’s not afraid of water at all and dares almost anything, but he also got to experience failure when his soccer team lost, so it’s a win-lose experience in his sportive life now).
In Germany, we have four official DLRG swim badges: Seepferdchen (seahorse) for beginners, bronze, silver, and gold. Lyons Cub was so proud when in March 2024, he won the seahorse badge!!! There is also some kind of unofficial, intermediate badge (“pirate“) between the seahorse and the bronze badge, which he wants to acquire next. This is what he had to do for the seahorse badge:
Theoretische Prüfungsleistungen
- Kenntnis von Baderegeln
Praktische Prüfungsleistungen
- Sprung vom Beckenrand mit anschließendem 25 m Schwimmen in einer Schwimmart in Bauch- oder Rückenlage (Grobform, während des Schwimmens in Bauchlage erkennbar ins Wasser ausatmen)
- Heraufholen eines Gegenstandes mit den Händen aus schultertiefem Wasser (Schultertiefe bezogen auf den Prüfling)
This means the exam had a theoretical part, consisting of the rules of how to behave in the water, as well as a practical part, consisting of one jump from the border of the pool with swimming for 25m either in breast stroke or back stroke, and diving with bringing an item up from the bottom of the pool in water at the swimmer’s shoulder height.
Of course, mommy was extremely proud, too! Especially since it took her until age 10 to get her own seahorse badge back in the 1980s 😉 At first, grandma ironed the seahorse badge on Lyons Cub’s swimsuit, but it fell off. Then, mommy sowed it on, and it’s here to stay — at least, until he grows out of his swimsuit.
Lyons Cub loves sports and also plays in a soccer club and tried out a judo class. Check out those posts to read about the importance of sports in a child’s life.
So proud of him for getting his swimming badge! The U.S. doesn’t have a national standard like that (at least I don’t know of one). Such an important life skill.
The placement of his badge on his swim trunks is hilarious. Looks like the dino is about to devour the seahorse. 😉
Haha! Wait until he adds a pirate 🙂