Drowning is a very real concern, especially in the summer months when people flock to the beach or pool. Drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death in the world according to the World Health Organization. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2017 in the United States, 163 children under 15 drowned; 70% of those were children under 5!
You may have kids that take to the water like ducks; you may have kids who are absolutely terrified of the water. My two oldest are very scared in water where they can’t touch the ground. We’ve been trying to get them more comfortable in the water but since we don’t have a pool or a summer membership, it’s tough to get exposure. As a former lifeguard and swim team member, I’ve taught my fair share of swim lessons. Whether you have little ducks or scaredy cats, learn how to teach your child how to swim by using these tips!
Start in the Bath
My oldest wouldn’t even lay down in the bath tub for easier hair washing. He is a bit of a control freak. With my baby, I’m going to start getting him to lay down and keep doing it so he gets used to it. By putting them on their back in the bath, you can get them more comfortable in that position, which is a good resting position that we’ll get to later.
Also, practice having them put their face in the water. Have them flip over onto their bellies and get them to blow bubbles with their mouth and then their nose under the water. Make a game out of it and make it fun!
Once they are comfortable doing these things, it’s time to move to the pool to teach them the basics of learning how to swim.
Kick, Kick, Kick!
Once you get your child to trust you to hold them in the water, get them to practice kicking their feet. You can even start on the steps of the pool if you’d like. Have them sit on the top step and kick their feet. Tell them to splash as hard as they can! Tell them to try to get you all wet! Learning how to swim should be fun.
Once they master the kick with you holding them and moving around the pool, move on to a kick board. Most YMCAs or swimming pools designed for lap swimming will have these on hand. Move along with them in the water while they kick to give support and catch if they fall off.
Don’t forget to practice blowing bubbles! You must build on each skill when your child is learning how to swim.
Rest Position
This is an important lesson; it’s probably the most important. Teach your child that if they are swimming and get too tired, roll onto their backs and rest. Teach them how to move their arms to stay afloat, side to side below the water. Don’t worry about back stroke arms at this point! This is a rest position.
If they want to, after a rest they can flip back over and swim to a ladder or the stairs. Or you can show them how to kick their feet while on their back and make it over to the exit points. The rest position is very important in survival swimming.
Doggie Paddle
The easiest stroke for kids to learn is the doggie paddle. We can worry about freestyle and backstroke when they’re on the swim team! Teach them to “swim like a doggie,” by cupping your hands and making the doggie paddle movement in front of them. Show them how to kick their feet at the same time to give them forward movement.
Give them support while they practice the movements. Keep one hand under their belly so you can keep them afloat. Don’t ruin their trust by taking your hand away too soon! It’s kind of like teaching them to ride a bike; don’t let go!
When you think they are ready to try it on their own, start at the steps and have them swim only a short distance to you. Keep doing that until they are comfortable. Then start increasing the distance, little by little. Eventually, even they will have to admit that they can do it!
Using floaties or puddle jumpers, like the one featured below, are great devices for when you’re not actively teaching them to swim. Don’t use them during lessons; it will slow your progress down. Once your lesson is over, you can put them in these devices to splash around. They may not want them, in which case, don’t force it. The sooner they learn how to swim without these crutches, the better!
If you follow these tips, you can get your child comfortable enough in the water to prevent drowning. Once they have mastered the skills that you can teach them, it’s time for some real swim lessons to make them as strong a swimmer as they can be. This is, of course, unless you have Michael Phelps for a father, like little Boomer Phelps!
References
Consumer Product Safety Report “Latest Pool Safety Stats: 163 Children Fatally Drowned in Pools and Spas This Summer” 2017
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