Swimming can be one of the most important and useful skills your child can develop. Of the many benefits, none are more crucial than improved safety around water. Research shows that for young children, participating in swimming lessons is associated with a 88% reduction in drowning risk.
Beyond being safe in and around water, swimming is an activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime, whether it’s recreationally, for health and fitness, or competitively. Plus, it’s just plain fun – especially for kids!
While private or group swim lessons are available with trained instructors, these aren’t the only options – or necessarily the best one for your child. There are many reasons why a parent may choose to do it themselves, including financial limitations, availability of classes, social challenges, or even personal preference. The bottom line – as long as your child learns to swim properly, it’s not important how it happened.
If you’re nervous about teaching your child how to swim, don’t worry – that feeling is completely normal. By familiarizing yourself with basic swim instruction principles, you can be more than qualified to teach your own child how to swim. Plus, you also have the benefit of knowing your child better than any coach could. Understanding his or her personality, fears, motivations, and behaviors can be invaluable as you go through the learning process.
This guide will give you the knowledge and tools to teach your child how to swim. We’ll cover some information on preparing for lessons and then highlight the nine foundational swim skills.
You don’t need too much equipment to start swim lessons with your child. This biggest requirement is a pool (either indoors or outdoors) that offers easy entry and a reasonable amount of privacy (without other kids splashing around, making waves). For children, the ideal water temperature is between 84 and 90 degrees. If the water is colder, you may need to shorten the duration of each lesson.
Other items you’ll need include:
We’ve all heard stories of adults throwing children into the deep end of the pool and forcing them to learn how to swim (or sink). This program is the opposite of the “survival method” that can be dangerous and counterproductive. Instead, you’ll be taking a gentle, progressive approach that fosters trust and confidence each step of the way.
A big part of this process is using a progressive training vest that starts your beginner swimmer off with the comforting support of floatation. When your child starts the program, he or she will be supported by 9-floatation inserts. These will keep your child above water so he or she can focus on developing strength and coordination without the fear of sinking. As you progress through the skills detailed below, you can gradually remove the inserts and provide less hands-on assistance until your child develops into a consistent, independent swimmer.
The goal of this program is to build basic swimming skills, not necessarily specific strokes. By following this guide, your child will learn enough to be confident in the water, play with friends, and pass a basic swimming test, which typically requires:
As a parent and swim coach, one of the most important things you can impart on your child is a positive attitude. Your child is a sponge and will respond to your emotions and loving support.
Here are some general tips for making your lessons as positive and productive as possible:
Why it’s important.
If your child is not comfortable around water, then even the best swim instruction in the world won’t make a difference. When your little one is excited to spend time with you in the pool, the lessons will be more effective and the experience more positive. Every child develops this comfort at a different rate. Your job is to support them in getting there.
Measuring progress.
As your child becomes more comfortable with the water, you’ll notice an increased willingness to enter the pool or try new activities. Hopefully, your child will talk positively about swimming and your sessions. When he or she is excited about swimming, you are ready to work on the next skills.
Why it’s important.
For a first-time swimmer, fear of water and drowning is a common (and natural) challenge. This fear can prevent the child from entering the water or be resistant to practicing skills. Building confidence is a process – there’s no magic pill that makes someone’s fear vanish in one session. Be patient, offer encouragement, and your child will eventually come around.
While fear cessation is essential for learning how to swim, it’s also important to teach your child to respect the water. There is always some risk, even for experienced swimmers. The goal is for your child to be a safer swimmer.
How to start.
First, you have to find your child’s current comfort level and use that as a starting point. For some children, that may be walking right into the water while others may need to sit by the side of the pool with only feet in the water.
Once you’re both in the pool, give your child a big hug and gently move through the water together. Make the experience fun by telling a story, making into a game, or singing. If your child gets upset, don’t force the exercise. Try to stay in the water together for one or two minutes, then take a break.
Measuring progress.
It will be clear when your child’s fear begins to subside. Be prepared for setbacks such as if your child swallows water or has another unpleasant experience. When this happens, it’s important that you as the coach remain positive and offer encouragement to rebuild the child’s confidence.
Why it’s important.
While it sometimes gets a bad rap, the doggy paddle is a good foundational swimming stroke that allows children to gain confidence in the water and build coordination for other strokes. It’s the simplest technique to pick up and is often the one used by children to play in the pool with friends and family.
How to start.
Here’s a good exercise that allows your child to build the movement patterns and coordination for the reach, scoop, and pull of the doggy paddle.
Measuring progress.
When your child masters the doggy paddle, the technique should look like this:
Why it’s important.
The ability to breath relaxed and controlled is essential for swimming longer distances. Breath control also indicates a reasonable level of comfort in the water. For your child, basic breath control begins with a willingness to submerge the face and hold his or her breath for a short moment.
How to start.
One game that is typically successful at encouraging a child to place his or her face in the water is “Catch the Fish.” Here’s how you play.
Measuring progress.
Eventually, your child will be comfortable submerging his or her face. It may take one lesson or several for this to happen. Once he or she has done it, you can work up to longer durations.
Why it’s important.
The back float is an important skill of safer swimming because it can be used to take a rest from swimming and breath. Some children are comfortable back floating right away while others may be more fearful.
How to start.
A good way to introduce back floating to your child is with this check-to-cheek hold.
How to measure progress.
It may take several lessons for a child with fear of the back float to loosen up and start feeling more comfortable with the exercise. Here is the form you’re looking to accomplish for a proper back float:
Why it’s important.
Front kicking is usually the main way that young swimmers propel themselves forward in the water. A strong and properly performed front kick is one of the best safer swimming skills that your child can learn.
How to start.
The initial goal is to get your child comfortable in a horizontal position and start developing muscle memory and coordination in his or her legs. Here’s how to do the cheek-to-cheek hold for front kicking.
Measuring progress.
While practicing the front kick, feel for tension in your child’s leg muscles or watch for flexed ankles that make an L shape. These indicate some level of fear. As your child becomes more comfortable, you should notice:
Why it’s important.
Learning how to tread water effectively (keeping the head above water) and efficiently (using a little energy as possible) can be a life-saving skill. It’s also a technique your child will likely use frequently if playing in a pool with other kids.
How to start.
Introduce the following techniques in this order. Model the actions and make the practice playful. Your child can wear the flotation vest until he or she (and you) feel comfortable removing inserts.
How to measure progress.
Gradually remove the floats until your child is treading water vest-free. Then increase the duration of treading water unassisted. If you child can tread water for one or two minutes, that is an excellent start!
Why they’re important.
As we mentioned before, swimming is never a 100% safe activity – even for accomplished athletes. While children should always be supervised in the water, it’s also important that they have the skills to avoid or escape a dangerous situation.
How to start.
Survival swimming incorporates many of the skills we already covered, including breath control, doggy paddle, front kick, and treading water. Keep working on these skills and talk with your child about the importance of water safety. That includes knowing how to properly get in and out of the pool, taking breaks when they get tired, and what to do if their goggles come off or fill with water.
Measuring progress.
Hopefully your child will never need to put these survival swim skills into action. Once he or she is swimming solo in the water, watch closely, give praise for good decisions in the water, and make supportive corrections to any dangerous behaviors.
Why they’re important.
There are many situations where your child will need to pass a basic swimming test, whether it’s for a swim team, gym class, or summer camp.
How to start.
This guide covers the basic skills required for new swimmers. By following a progressive approach, your child will have the fundamentals and confidence needed to pass most basic swim tests.
How to measure progress.
As your child improves, he or she will can remove the floats from the vest and require less hands-on support. Once that is achieved, you can work toward reaching milestones of each skill. Feel free to download and use this Progress Chart. The ultimate measure of success is for your child to pass his or her swim test.
Teaching your child how to swim can be a fun, rewarding experience. However, if you prefer enrolling your child in formal swimming lessons with a trained staff, that’s great, too!
Learn about our FUNdamentals swim classes at our Atlanta, GA location.