How to Teach a Child to Swim

Here are step by step instructions on how to teach a beginner to be safe in the water.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pool
• patience
• diving rings
• cups or buckets

1. First, make sure the pool you are using has at least a 3ft shallow end, and has a ledge that is within the child's reach.

2. Then you'll want the child to begin feeling comfortable in the water. Some children will have no fear, while others will have a hard time even putting their faces in the water. For these children, start by asking them to put their chins in the water. Then ask them to take a cup or bucket and pour the water over their head. Do all of this with them. Try to get them to get their faces wet.

3. Next, have them put both hands on the ledge and hold their feet behind them. Make sure their legs are straight, and alternate moving their legs up and down. do this until you can feel the child moving their legs on their own, and then gradually let go. have them continue kicking, and keep your hand on the surface of the water above their feet, telling them to kick your hand every time. They should not be making huge splashes. You can even tell them to "make the water boil".

4. next, get them comfortable laying on their backs in the water. Have them start with their bellies flat against the wall, and tell them to lay their heads back and put their ears in the water. put one finger on each shoulder and gently pull them away from the wall, and tell them to let the rest of their body float up. tell them to stretch out their arms like a starfish, and keep their hips up.

5. Now that they can float on their backs, tell them to kick their legs, and make a triangle with their arms stretched up and together behind their head. Now they are able to swim on their backs. Their knees should not be coming out of the water. Tell them to keep their legs straight as they kick.

6. If the child is comfortable putting their faces in the water, you can now start teaching the front crawl. If not, return to step 2, and continue getting the child used to the water. This may take a while.
   If they are ready, start teaching arm strokes. Tell them to stick their arms straight out in front of them. then have them Pull down and Touch their legs. Then keep their thumbs against their sides and Bend their elbows until their thumb is at their armpit. then reach forward and repeat with the next arm. Pull, Touch, Bend, and Reach.

7. Now have them combine their arm strokes and kicks on their front. Remind them that their elbows should come up out of the water when they bend, and swing out to reach.

8. Continue perfecting these techniques, and you will have a very strong swimmer!

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that your child will learn to swim at their own pace. Some children need more muscular and skeletal development before they are ready to swim laps or do the high dive.
• Never trick your child into putting their faces in the water. They need to be able to trust you in order to learn from you.
• Try not to hold your child very much in the pool. It is always much easier for a friend or instructor to teach instead of parents for this reason. Do not let the child hang on you.

[csmarie]

on 3/29/2009 Great advice and tips. 5*