Spring break in the public schools provided 17 Exercise & Sports Science (EXS) majors an opportunity to put theory into practice by beginning to teach community kids how to swim.
BYU-Hawaii aquatics instructor Kyndra Smith said the students in her water safety class, EXS 265, "are learning to become swimming instructors. They've gone through a semester of training, so now we have a chance to try out the skills they"ve been learning on real students who want to learn how to swim."
She explained the particular exercise with toddlers on March 20 was a "water orientation" where the EXS majors helped the kids get comfortable with the water. "They're wanting them to blow bubbles, do some front and back floating, and front and back gliding, which is just moving along in the water. They also want to see what they can do to practice moving the students in the water, and help them to kick and move their arms in the way of swimming." She added that later in the week the EXS majors would work with 5 and 6-year-old kids.
Smith estimated the majority of the EXS majors will "use the skills they're applying" in their careers. "The other thing that I teach them in the class, even if they"re not going to use this in a job, is they"re going to be teaching children in youth organizations and personally, as well."
One of the students who took the class several years ago — Marisa Todd, a history major from Hauula — was helping Smith with the EXS students and community kids. "The class gives the BYU-Hawaii students experience and it teaches the little kids how to feel more secure in the water. That's what they need," said Todd, who also helps teach swimming during summer school.
Current student Margaret Gnadt, an EXS major from Chicago, Illinois, said she and her classmates have been practicing on each other, "but it's very different to teach young children who might actually have a fear of water. To have the experience to teach children in a live situation is very valuable."
"As a result of this class, I've actually been offered a job teaching swimming lessons," Gnadt added. "So this has not only helped me develop my skills, but is also helping me to go out into the world and to use them to help other children."
Judging by all the toddler smiles and happy splashing, after an EXS major patiently got one little girl to stop crying in the water, the experience seemed to be a huge success.
Video and Photos by Mike Foley
