Things to bring for swim class

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Summer is once again here. And whether we like frolicking in the heat or not, we have to make at least our kiddo's summer fun-filled! Are you planning to enroll your kids to swimming lessons? Here is a checklist that you should bring with you:

1. swimsuit or swimming trunks

2. sunblock

3. fluffy towels

4. goggles

5. swim board

6. swim ring (beginners)

7. fins (advanced)

8. swim diapers (babies)

Don't forget to look for a reliable swim coach before heding on to the pool.

Summer is here

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It's just the first week of March but the summer heat is very much present already. Time to bring out the shorts and sleeveless tops. Time for me to look for fun summer activities for RJ. Swimming should be first on the list. He really ought to swim again. He always have continuous sneezing in the morning because of allergic rhinitis. He never had that problem when he was still a member of his school's swim team.

And speaking of swimming, I should also learn how to swim.

RJ's sports activities

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RJ has already tried different sports. And there’s more on his list (of sports activities that he wants to enroll in).

When he was 2 years old, I enrolled him in swim class at Rizal Memorial Stadium with my 6 month old niece. My mom will surely get mad at me and my sister, if ever she read this, since she doesn’t know that we enrolled my niece also. 

At 3 years old, his dad bought golf clubs for him. RJ, once in a while, accompany his dad in the driving range.

this is for sale, who wants to buy?

At 5 years old, we enrolled RJ in his school’s soccer club. But he’s so talkative, he finds time to talk with the other kids and doesn’t concentrate on the game. His dad jokingly told him, “Son, this is not golf so you don’t have to do ‘business talks’ with the other kids while playing.”

At 5 years old also, he tried out for his school’s swim team - he got in! He was also part of basketball club every Wednesday.

At 8 years old, he got “bored” with swimming. They train everyday and joins swim competition every weekend. So I allowed him to focus on basketball instead.

This year at 10 years old, he’s into soccer again.

And he wants to enroll in baseball next year.

That’s my son’s sports adventures, what sports does your child like?

my son's summer activities

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My son's school was one of the earliest to end school year 2010-2011. I made a list of summer activities for him but just as the saying goes -the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. These are his daily activities:

I bought a table easel, poster paint and lots of bond papers for him. He has a boxful of watercolors, colored pencils and crayons. I have been buying second hand art books for kids, so he has lots of those also in his bookshelf. I enrolled him in an art class, at Museo Pambata, last summer vacation but I wasn't satisfied. Although RJ did enjoy making arts and crafts, the lessons were appropriate for preschoolers and he 's already 8 years old at that time.

I've noticed that he sneezes nonstop  in the morning and easily gets cough and colds since he stopped swimming June 2010. He started swimming when he was just 2, trains with a swim team daily and has been joining swimming competitions. I didn't want him to hate swimming so I allowed him to have a swim-break for a year. Since the start of summer break he's been swimming daily again.

Basketball during weekends.

Running at night.

And we watched Kaos. If you haven't yet, do watch it. My son had so much fun watching the acrobats and magical illusions. I'm 101% sure your kids will love it too.

We will have a one month vacation in the province next month. Hopefully I can find a good tennis coach and will also enrol him in guitar and piano lessons.

 

summer break activities

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My son's summer break has officially started this week. Here's a list of what we're planning to do during the three-month vacation. He's always bored so I have to make sure he has something to do everyday.

1.   Hongkong Disneyland trip

2.   Holy Week vacation in Bicol

3.   karaoke every night (I recently bought a Magic Sing to distract him from playing video games)

4.   swim training everyday (morning)

5.   basketball in the afternoon

6.   enrol in soccer class

7.   taekwondo or karate class

8.   tennis class

9.   guitar lessons

10. painting and drawing lessons (I will also enrol so we're going to be classmates!)

11. weekend in Palawan

12. another weekend in Bohol

13. another weekend in Boracay

Hopefully we'll be able to check everything on the list before the start of classes in June.

library or sports center

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My son is a certified bookworm. He has a vast collection of books and magazines. I can't say no whenever he wants to buy a new book because I myself love books.

Recently he doesn't go to the library anymore whenever he still has some free time after recess and lunch. He spends the remaining time in the sports center playing tag, basketball or soccer with his friends.

I can't help but tell him, "You're missing out on the new books in the library."

geronimo stilton books; one of RJ's favorite

He assured me that I shouldn't worry that he's losing interest in books. He reads in the house, even in the bathroom! So I should just let him spend more time in the sports center, after school, because he also needs to exercise. Playing soccer, table tennis and running around in the sports center will make up for whatever exercise he's missing from swim training. Hopefully, he can again join the training of the school varsity next year.

looking for swim club

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I am looking for a new swim club for my son. Preferably, a team that trains during the weekend.

RJ is part of his school's swim varsity since his preschool years. But the school pool has been under renovation and RJ hasn't attended swim training for a few months already. He's been having cough and colds, every month, since August. Not swimming is the cause of his low immune system.

I've learned today that the pool is done and ready for the swimmer's daily training in the school's newly renovated swimming area.

My problem now is the school services' unwillingness to pick us up after swim training. There are two possible solution to this problem. One: transfer to a new school bus and look for a tutor near the school if RJ still wants to join the swim team. Two: Not join swim team in school and look for a new team that trains during weekends only.

I thus have to weigh the pros and cons of each of the possible solutions...ASAP.

another competition, why??

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As a member of his school's swim team, my son already has responsibilities. He needs to attend swim training everyday for 2 hours. The other day though, he doesn't want to train. But I told him he needs to. First of all, because of swimming everyday, his asthma attacks were nil this year. I want to believe that swimming made his body stronger thus leading to no attacks this year. I told him he has to train for his health.

Last weekend, he had another competition and he did pretty well. What do I tell him everytime he doesn't want to swim or join competitions? I encourage him and tell him that what's important is for him to have fun. Doen't matter if he brings home a medal, ribbon or nothing.

nothing can stop us from winning

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My son's team is getting ready for another swimming competition. Regular training is usually for less than 2 hours but they train for more than 2 hours whenever they are getting ready for a competition. Not even a storm can stop them from training.

free swim training

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The swim varsity try-outs at my sons' school was two months ago. Non-varsity as well as varsity members from the previous school year were required to join the yearly try-outs. Only 40 slots are open every year to 4 - 18 year old boys.

Today, I got a letter from the School Director. My son was able to get a slot in the schools' swim team. Yipee!

I am so glad! I am so proud of my son. We don't have to pay P13,000/year ($270) + P500/competition ($10.50) for him to join the schools' swim club. Members of the school varsity are entitled to FREE everything (from training to competition fees). Members of the schools' swim club needs to pay for everything. Not to mention that if one wants to get the monthly payment option, it's triple the price!

That will save us P 25,000 -P 40,000 ($520 - $800) club membership fee for this year. What can I buy with that amount? Should I buy more shares in the stock market or just splurge it on shoes and clothes?

I'll just imagine a new fur coat (with that amount? maybe a non-designer-fur coat).

"Yeah right", you say, "humid weather in Manila remember?"

I did say "I'll just imagine" right?

get your kids into sports

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My son is a member of a swim club in school. Everyday, for 1-2 hours, he needs to attend swim training. Training is usually done in the school's 25 meter pool. Yes, it's not an olympic size pool but the training that my son has to do everyday consists of swimming 400 meters of the four strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke, freestyle) and that's only the warm up. Swimming everyday (except on wednesdays, he has basketball practice) even on weekends helped his body become stronger.

He is asthmatic and I have noticed the decline in the number of attacks he had since being active in sports. Sometimes on weekends, we run for an hour in the track oval of ULTRA.

bedtime story no more??

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Eversince my son was a baby, I always read a bedtime story for him. He likes reading, he loves books so much. He himself say that he is a bookworm.

He was given a slot in his schools swimming team 2 years ago, when he was still in prep level. At that time, he was still in the morning class. 11am until 330pm was our time to read a book, play word games, puzzles, he play with his toys, he also draw and paint. We go back to his school for training at 4pm and we stay there until 7 pm.

Last year, bedtime story sessions doesn't happen everyday. Classes end at 220 pm, only 1.5 hours to do all his homework, study for a scheduled quiz for the next day (if there's any)... then we had to rush to his swim training.

I do allow him to go to the library everyday. I am very proud that he can read and understand books without a single picture illustration anymore at 6 years old. Before bedtime, he reads a book by himself while waiting for me to finish household chores. Sometimes, he requests that I read a bedtime story for him. Most of the time though we don't finish the whole book because he has to sleep already.

Today though was different. I was able to read a book to him without cutting off the rest of the story. He went to sleep happy.

I hope I can read another bedtime story for him tomorrow...and the next day...and the day after that...