4Y10M 3Y1M 水泳レッスン Swimming lesson

リー先生によるスイミングレッスンをうちのコンドミニアムでやってもらうようになった。

お友達のコンドミニアムでやっていた時は、アラタにはレッスンには早過ぎるということで、先生と一緒に少しだけ水に潜ったりすることで、レッスンが受けられるようになるための準備をしていた。（そのため無料だったのは良心的で嬉しい。）

ここで始まってからは、アラタもレディ（準備できた）だという事で、たいら＆るかと一緒に毎週1回30分レッスンを受けている。4歳ぐらいにならないと体力がないし、指示も聞けないので、タカラはまだ始められないと言われたがその通り。体育の授業並に、きっちりと鍛えられる。

たいら＆るか姉弟は初レッスンから腕輪なしで受けれる程元々上手。アラタは、水に顔をつけるのもできなかったし、腕輪をして受けているが、たった5回のレッスンの間に、徐々に取って行き、今日は両腕なしで5回息継ぎができるようになっていた。

すごいなあ、リー先生！と関心。だってこの間までアラタ、怖い、できないと、拒否していたから。いやでいやで、トイレ行くと、出てきちゃったり、おお泣きしたり。先生も無理はさせないが、甘やかしもしない。経験が豊富なだけに、どこまでプッシュしても大丈夫かよーく承知なわけだ。

アラタにとっては試練だったが、「12月の誕生日まで続けてみて、それでもいやだったら止めてもいいよ」と言い聞かせた。もちろん、それまでには水にも慣れて大丈夫だと見込んでいる。

リー先生は、来週は10回、再来週は15回、その次は20回息継ぎができるようになって、ほら、もう泳げてるよとアラタを励ましてくれる。

たいらくんもとても優しい子で、アラタが上手にできると一緒に喜んでくれるし、観客のママ達もほめてあげるので、だんだんアラタも自信がついてきたようだ。

Arata is having his swimming lesson at our condominium now. When I took him to the swimming pool of his friend, Mr Lee, the swimming instructor, only tried to get him used to the water. Mr Lee spent a couple of minutes with Arata to immerse into the water together. (And Mr Lee didn't charge for the lesson as he thought Arata was not ready for the lessons yet.)

Mr Lee thought Arata was ready. Arata is taking a proper swimming lesson once a week with Ruka & Taira, for half an hour. Mr Lee only takes children older than 4 years old, as younger ones can not follow the instructions nor have enough stamina to follow his lessons. Yes, that's right. His lessons are quite tough like the proper PE classes.

Ruka and Taira are already quite advance than Arata. From the first lesson, they could go to the water without floats. But Arata was scared and couldn't even put his face in it much long. Arata still wears the floats on his both arms. But gradually, Mr Lee takes the floats off. And at today's lesson, Arata managed to swim up to 5 strokes without them!

I was so impressed by Mr Lee. It was only the 5th lesson they'd had and just until recently, Arata didn't like the lessons. He came out saying, "I want to go to the toilet!" or he came out crying, "I don't want to do it!" Mr Lee is really experienced. He never pushed him too much but never let him go.

It was such a hard time for Arata, but I told him to continue the lesson till his birthday in December, and if he still doesn't like it, he can quit. Of course, I'm quite sure he will be ok by then.

After the lesson today, Mr Lee encouraged Arata more saying, "Next week, we'll try 10 stroke, the week after 20, then 25, then you will be able to swim!"

Taira, Arata's one of the closest friends, is a very warm-hearted boy. He gives Arata a big smile and literally pats his back when Arata shows a bit of progress. The mothers watching the lessons also praise Arata a lot. With all these supports, Arata now feels more confident.