Best Way To Teach Kids To Swim

Waynefire · 06-11-2012, 01:52 PM

I have two young children that I am going to try to teach to swim this summer. Do you have any suggestions on what is the best way to teach them? I am curious so I can have a short cut rather than having to deal with them constantly complaining about thinking they are going to be hurt.

campclose · 06-11-2012, 01:53 PM

Just toss them in with life vests on. You can be in the pool too so they aren't scared. If you don't want to do that, perhaps you can sign them up for swim lessons.

dashboardc33 · 06-11-2012, 03:05 PM

The worst thing to do is to throw them in the water and hope for the best. This may scare them and they might be terrified of water. It is important to get them slowly used to the water. Start by having them wade in slowly. It is important that you are out there with them as well. The first step is to get them to put their head under the water. Tell them to hold their breath and go under for a few seconds. Bobbing in the water is helpful.

Perhaps it may be better for you to enroll them into swim lessons?

Greatoutdoors · 06-11-2012, 06:51 PM

I agree with dashboard...whatever method you choose do NOT just throw them in. I cannot believe how many parents use this method. That's not teaching them to swim...that is scarring them for life. I would also recommend swimming lessons. We have an instructor here that teaches at her house, but she does family lessons which I think is pretty neat. That way we can learn how to help them learn to swim.

**CozInCowtown** · 06-11-2012, 06:56 PM

It is a test, just toss'em in the river!
It is a pass or fail type situation, which I allways found easier myself.
DC

southerngal · 06-11-2012, 09:16 PM

I can't believe that anyone would just toss their kids in the water when they can't swim, but that is what my father-in-law did to my husband. I already told him that will NOT be the way we teach our kids!

oldsarge · 06-12-2012, 08:54 AM

Get some swim fins for them to play with. It makes keeping their heads above water much easier. Once they gain a little self confidence in the water you can progress to other swimming techniques. It's all about confidence and controlling ones fears. Lead by example, float on your back, dog paddle around the shallow areas and let the kids see you having fun, they'll want to copy. Avoid using the teaching technique of "here, try this", wait for the "how do you do that" question to arise and then take it from there.

Gondor · 06-12-2012, 09:03 AM

My grandfather tossed his kids into the water. People were less spoiled back then and you had to learn a lot of things the natural way, as they come in life.

Barney · 06-12-2012, 09:07 AM

I know a lot of people that were "tossed" but nowadays that is a sensitive subject and a brutal act to most. But I doubt that those parents loved their kids any less by doing that. It was not like they tossed them in the middle of the ocean entirely without their supervision.

Cupcake77 · 06-12-2012, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dashboardc33

The worst thing to do is to throw them in the water and hope for the best. This may scare them and they might be terrified of water. It is important to get them slowly used to the water. Start by having them wade in slowly. It is important that you are out there with them as well. The first step is to get them to put their head under the water. Tell them to hold their breath and go under for a few seconds. Bobbing in the water is helpful.

Perhaps it may be better for you to enroll them into swim lessons?

Having been through many swim lessons over the years with kids I have watched, they really do tell you to toss them in, with a life jacket of course. Hold them under the armpits and put them under pushing away from your body and then pull them up.