How to teach your child to swim

Teaching a child to swim is a great way to spend time with them and to build trust. If you go about it the wrong way, however, it can also be the start of a long-lasting fear of water and could actually hurt the trust you have between you and your child. So how do you go about teaching your child to swim while ensuring the child feels safe? Here are some steps to try, as well as a few things that aren't recommended.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Floating arm bands
• <br>Floating ring
• <br>Diving sticks

Establishing an interest in the water

1. Before you can teach a child to swim, it is important to introduce them to the water in a casual, fun way. Most children are introduced at a pretty young age to larger-than-bathtub bodies of water, whether that be a lake, pool or other source. The first several times the child goes in the water, try incorporating some fun toys, such water-squirters. Some parents approve of with squirt guns but if your child isn't allowed to play with gun toys, look for some animal-shaped toys that squirt water.

2. Giving them a taste of independence. One of the best ways to give a child the freedom they crave while keeping them safe in the water is an age-appropriate flotation device. Beginners often find they are most comfortable with floating rings. These are available with or without a seat for the child. If your child isn't old enough to understand the importance of holding on to the ring, the seat is a great way to keep them from slipping through the middle. Once the child is used to having to kick their legs and move their arms in order to move around the water, they may be ready to move on to arm rings. Explain to the child that they will need to pay attention and work a little harder to keep their heads above water before they try the arm rings for the first time.

3. Learning to let go. When your child becomes confident in their semi-independent swimming skills, look for signs of interest in learning to swim unassisted. Some visual clues may include the child trying to take the arm rings off, or even trying to jump off the sides or stairs of a pool without their "floaties" on. Once you've decided you and your child are ready to take the next step, talk with your child about what will happen. Let them know that the first few times they try, they will go underwater. Make sure they understand that no matter what happens, you will be right there to pull them back up. The biggest obstacle for the child to overcome is the fear of no one stopping them from drowning. Be sure to hold true to your word, and pull them up as soon as you see any signs of them struggling.

4. Gaining enthusiasm. Once the child has tried swimming without floats, they make become frustrated, bored or afraid to keep trying. Try introducing some diving toys to keep them interested and excited. Start by placing the toys in an area where the child can touch bottom. This will get them used to having their face underwater, while providing the confidence that they can easily stand up when they need to get air. After they've become more comfortable with this, you can move the toys into a deeper area.

Tips & Warnings

• Forcing a child to try swimming when they aren't ready, or not pulling them out of the water at the first sign of struggle, may lower their trust and be partly responsible for a fear of water.
• <br>For the best chances of success, try allowing the child to set their own pace for learning to swim.
• Never allow a child to swim without adult supervision.