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     Teaching small children to swim is a work in progress fraught with challenges. And nobody understands these challenges better than Ed Pemberton, a swim instructor that has taught more than 30,000 students of all ages to swim. Pemberton conducts class at his school, AdventureSwim.com located in Knoxville.

   In a recent group class, Pemberton gave instruction to four children that ranged in age of 5-months to 35-months.

   On day one of the class, the children are carried into the water by their mothers who will be with the infants throughout the class. At first, as the children are slowly immersed in the warm water of the pool, some seem to be agitated by this new experience. Some are fretful, but Pemberton gives some encouraging words. “You’re okay, swimming is fun.”

   The youngest student is Sophia, a 5-month-old girl. Pemberton frequently tells parents the best time for a child to learn to swim is between ages 1-6 months. When children are in their mothers’ wombs they utilize a breath holding reflex. Children begin to lose this reflex after birth and by 6-months the reflex is essentially gone and forgotten.

   Parents are taught to hold their children from behind so the children are facing away from them. This prevents the kids from clinging to their parent.

   Pemberton has the parents to pour water over the heads of the children using a rain bucket. The Rainbucket is a device developed by Pemberton and is utilized in many swimming schools around the world. The Rainbucket is a small plastic bucket with numerous holes in the bottom that allows water to gently sprinkle across the faces of small children re-training the infant breath-holding reflex as they learn to swim. Being a new experience, three of the children whine as water pours across their faces.

  Daniel, who is almost 3, is somewhat more adventurous. During the first class Pemberton persuades Daniel to stand on a small platform in the water and step off into water that is just a little over his head.

  Daniel takes the plunge and stays under water for five seconds. He emerges and is greeted with praise from Pemberton. Pleased with what he has accomplished, Daniel smiles proudly.

  Next Pemberton teaches Grayson to float on his back. The child seems nervous as he lays back in the water with his mother holding his head for support. As a distraction she holds a mirror in front of his face. Grayson laughs and relaxes as his mother gently moves him across the water.

  Pemberton turns his attention to Malaney taking the child in his arms as he pours water over her face with the Rain Bucket. She cries as the water pours over her.

   Pemberton then gets the mothers to place their children on mini-playboards with their feet hanging horizontal off the end. The children are taught to kick their feet with this exercise. Two of the children cry the other two appear to be calm.

   Malaney and Sophia continue to cry as class progresses. Grayson is at times fretful, but Daniel is developing confidence at great strides.

   At the end of the first class, Pemberton notes that Daniel has done very well but the other three need work. Pemberton points out that teaching swimming is a work in progress.

   In day two Grayson and Malaney continue to show signs of improvement but both are reluctant to go under water. Pemberton continues working with them and giving kind words of encouragement. 

   Daniel continues to build confidence and is prepared for any challenge Pemberton may present the child with. He goes underwater and can hold his breath for up to seven seconds. He is not afraid to jump into the pool from the side. Pemberton points out that each child will learn at his own pace.

   Throughout classes three and four, the three students continue to develop their skills and their physical coordination.

   By the end of class five, the mothers are all amazed at the remarkable progress of the the children. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, the metamorphosis of the children’s skill level is awe-inspiring. 

   Although, Daniel continues to outpace his two classmates, their progress is impressive, nonetheless.

     None of the children cry when they enter the water and all have become acclimated to the water. They are not afraid to open their eyes underwater. They are comfortable swimming under water and all have dived off the diving boards. They have all developed swimming skills that allow them to swim from one side of the pool to the other.

   “They have all learned a lot and they have all done well,” Pemberton said. “But, like anything else they have to practice at home. They will get better with practice