Teaching Kids to Swim

Is it a built in? My daughter was trying to swim by herself at about a year...I would just hold her belly and tell her to kick and move her arms. she kept trying to swim away from me. She would get mad that I was holding her she is very independent. Just stay next to them and let them learn to hold on to the edge and kick there feet. I would let her just try every once in a while I mean stay right there but they need to get the feeling of doing it without help. Just start off by holding under their bellies and letting them kick and move their arms and then get about 2 ft away from the edge and let them try to swim to the side. Like I said I don't know what type of pool this will probably only work on a built in not a doughboy lol have no idea if that's how its spelled.

I would let the "Y" teach them all. My one son started lessons when he was 9 mths. old, he simply loved it. At that early age I was in the water with him. It also, was fun for the 2 of us

I let my youngest son who was 3 at the time (now is 4) go to the Y with his daycare to take lessons. I had no idea how fast he would pick it up and in no time he was swimming by his self with no help. My oldest just learned own his own but it took him till he was about 5 or 6,,,he is independent and didn't want us to help him and got upset if we tried.

flutter boards or the noodles you can get at any Walmart they can hold on to and kick are good teaching tools for the older kids and there are lots of ways they can play with them. The baby you will need to just sit on the steps and play in the water with. Make sure they all know not to be out in the pool area unless Mom or Dad is out there with them. There is a swim school in the area that would even teach the toddler if you are willing to go there with them.

I have a three year old too and I went to the class with him at the Y. I practise with him the fundamentals the Y taught us. I let him get in with swimmies (or life jacket) and a doughnut tube/float. Make sure they know what to do if they get the water in their mouth. The lessons at the Y were great!

If you know how to swim, just teach her as you were taught. When <B>YOU</B> feel comfortable in their abilities then you know they'll be safe because you'd NEVER not let them be safe. You know? I began teaching mine last summer.

not really- I love the y and my daughter has been going since 1. They teach them how to get to the edge and get out- great if you have a pool in the backyard to help w/ accidents. I would send all three. Do one session and then take the strategies they teach and use them at home. Maybe get an older teen/college age and pay her to come over and teach all three once a week for less what you would pay for the three classes.

In my experience, even if you are a great seim teacher, it is difficult to get your child to learn from you. Plus another person gets more out of them, either because they are in awe of the instructor or just respect them more for that task.

buy one of those swim suits that help them float and some armies. my almost 3 year old son uses those when we are in our inground pool. he loves to swim "alone" it makes him think he is doing it by himself. i definately reccomend those.

My son (5)has just started swim lessons at the Y. He's about to finish his first class. I dont know how to teach swimming, but I'd say to practice what they are learning in their swim lesson. My son is only on his first class but he has picked up so many skills already. We practice what he's learning and also use a kickboard and a noodle to practice some of the moves they are using in class.