My little sister is starting highschool pretty soon and she needs to take P.E. (physical education) but all the schools around us say that swimming is a requirement and so she dont know how to swim so she doesnt want to be the only one in the class who doesnt know how. Also she feels awkward wearing a bathing suit when most girls wear two-piece bathing suits. I told her she can learn and take a class starting in April but she says that she isnt sure if theyll accept her cuz shes much older. What should she do?
2007-01-20 16:45:34 · 9 answers · asked by AnonymousAdvisor 2 in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
You are a wonderful big brother to help your sister deal with some of the biggest fears women come up against--the double threat of having to do something physical that we're bad at in front of others, and wearing a bathing suit in public.
Even though it can be stressful and embarrassing for people who don't know how to swim to start to learn, ultimately it's a life skill, and it will make her feel safer, more able to enjoy water activities, and will give her more exercise options in the long run. So it's worth it, I promise.
When I was in high school, a ton of people didn't know how to swim well--like, barely dog paddle. So if she can get to a point where she's comfortable in the water, can do a float face down, and kick, she should be good enough to blend in pretty well.
If you have any friends who can swim, and would be able to spend a few afternoons with her at a public pool to get her started, that would probably diffuse a lot of her anxiety.
In terms of bathing suits, more power to her if she doesn't want to wear a two piece! I can guarantee she'll be more comfortable in the water in a suit where she doesn't have to worry about it coming off. And ninth graders just aren't meant for bikinis, anyway! If she wants to just tell all the others to suck it, I'd recommend getting a competition style one-piece--they're comfortable, attractive, and won't fall off, plus they're far enough from bikinis that it won't look like she's trying to do the bikini thing at all, if that makes sense.
You can get suits like that here, as well as at your local sports store:
http://www.swimoutlet.com/Competition_Swimwear_s/220.htm
Another, less athletic but more fashionable alternative, would be to get a tankini, which is a two piece, but the top is long like a tanktop to cover her middle section. These are really popular, and can be found anywhere. Old Navy and Target have a bunch for pretty affordable:
http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/ref=sc_iw_r_1_0/602-8451344-8225442?node=15959161
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=5405&pid=455757&scid=455757002
Above all, keep encouraging her. It's scary to do something you don't know how to do, but she's lucky enough to have you in her corner!
2007-01-21 11:00:11 · answer #1 · answered by espresso! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am 53 years old and I did not know how to swim a month ago, basically what i found out that you should have a good coach and be very relaxed if you want to learn swimming quickly, as soon as this taught gets out of your mind that you will drown you start learning more quickly
2007-01-21 04:17:28 · answer #2 · answered by akband 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What store did you go to? Cause that's kind of lamee. Maybe you should try Target, they have a better variety. I don't think they're really trying to send that message, bikinis are just a very popular style of bathing suit, and most people can look good in them, even if they're not superrr thin. [I'm not and I wear one, not the tiny string ones though] But most stores really should try to carry swimsuits that more people with different shapes can wear and feel comfortable in, cause some people just don't want to show that much skin. So yeah, good luck finding something though. =]]]
2016-05-24 03:49:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
she should ask if there is an age requirement for the april class. And she should wear what ever type of swim suit she is comfortable in.
2007-01-20 16:55:44 · answer #4 · answered by LatterDaySaint and loving it 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should go to a public pool with and swim every sunday starting from now. She will gain confidence and that way she won't be scared of swimming. When she gets better she could take classes her standard and her age.
GIVE HER SUPPORT!!
2007-01-20 16:56:46 · answer #5 · answered by Boffin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
learning to swim is not about age ..unless the class is for only children .just ask .. remember also once you learn you will always know how and it's one more way to stay in shape.. .. regarding the suit style "remember what they say if they can't take a joke " ... ...
2007-01-22 05:08:49 · answer #6 · answered by pbear i 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i didn't know how to swim when we had to take swimming, i told the teacher that i didn't know how and to my surprise lot of people in my class didn't know how to swim good either.. so he put us in the shallow end and that helped alot for me. but during the testing we had to do it inthe deep end.. but if you work really hard i nthe shallow end deep end isn;t so bad. but the main thing is don;t panic, that will only make things more worse..GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!!
2007-01-21 13:37:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try the YMCA. They have a pool there. Perhaps they offer swimming lessons as well.
2007-01-21 14:05:45 · answer #8 · answered by Samantha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
find your local gym and ask if they have a swim team and sign up
2007-01-20 17:11:39 · answer #9 · answered by Brandon B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋