Looking at the big picture of swim parenting—or being involved in any sport—is to allow our kids to experience and learn life lessons with supervision in a structured environment. Our kids have so much to gain being involved in youth sports including developing character. Our actions can add or detract from our kids’ experiences.

I look at the pool as my children’s private area to explore their various roles in life, from athlete, student, teammate to growing into an individual with their own likes and desires. I learned to step back and let them fail, and learn from those tougher experiences. But, there are basic things we need to do as parents to help them succeed.