How to Teach a Child to Swim.... and Enjoy It

Swimming is fun and great exercise. More importantly, knowing how to swim saves lives. Follow these basic guidelines to get your child swimming.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a child
• a pool
• lots of patience
• goggles (optional)
• sunscreen

1. Take a deep breath. This is going to be a process. Going from a non-swimmer to water-safe may take the entire summer... or longer. The more often you work at it the faster he'll learn.

2. 
   this can be the hardest part

   Get in the pool. Go ahead, get all the way in and under. Demonstrate to your child that going under is no big deal.

3. 
   ready for the plunge

   Get your child in the pool. The steps are the best place. There she can be in as deep as she's comfortable with.

4. 
   not for a while yet

   Take the child by the arm pits and pull them around the pool by walking backwards. This gets them used to the idea of movement in the water and allows you talk to him quietly.

5. 
   not exactly

   Have your child kick while you pull him through the water. The kicking motion is the most important skill in learning to swim.

6. 
   all in good time

   When he's ready to get his face closer to the water, stand at his side holding him horizontal. One arm at his chest the other at his hips. Carry him through the pool like this, imitating a swimming position. Remember to have them kick.

7. Once your child is extremely comfortable in the water and trusts you, have them jump off the steps or even off the side of the pool. This will get them moving in the water without your support. Be sure to catch them.

8. Introduce a kickboard as an intermediate step. A kickboard is a great for a new swimmer to learn balance and develop the proper strength.

9. Stretch out the distance he needs to cover to reach you from the steps with the kickboard. At first he's just jumping to you. After a while he should need to kick and work to reach you.

10. 
    just like this

    After hours and hours in the pool, your child will have developed stronger swimming muscles (abs, back, legs). This will allow them to learn faster and really take off in the pool.

11. In the end, learning to swim should be fun, relaxing and a great experience. This is an opportunity to spend some serious one-on-one time with your child. Don't worry about the actual swimming for a while.

12. 
    it's all good

    Celebrate your efforts. Ice Cream makes everything fun. Make sure she wants to try again soon.

Tips & Warnings

• Peer pressure. Kids like to do what their friends do. Go to the pool with a friend that's a more advanced swimmer. Most kids will want to catch up.
• Flotation devices (vests, kick boards, arm floaties) give your child the sense of swimming and the comfort of not sinking. Maintain constant supervision even with flotation devices.
• Drowning can occur in seconds. Watch your child around the pool at all times.

[lighthouse1958]

on 8/27/2009 I liked this article. I never learned as a young child to swim. I wanted to take some classes at the ymca but never did. I think everyone should know this. 5* and rec.

[cliasays]

on 8/21/2009 Great advice! Thanks!