HOW do I teach my DS to swim?

[EmyB]

Hi guys!

As it's getting warmer I am hoping to take DS (12 months) to my parents place to start basic swimming and water skills.

But I've realised I have no idea how to do this! :confused:

Someone today said you try to get them to blow bubbles underwater or something. He's probably too young for that though.... :rolleyes:

Any suggestions on what I should do with him in the water?

Thanks heaps!! :smiliedance:

[TripleTime]

My advice, take him for lessons or become a qualified instuctor yourself.

[*Cj*]

:iagree: It would be best to go and do lessons.

[biscotti]

Or if you can't afford the lessons, go and watch some at the local pool and arm yourself with some ideas.

I taught our kids to swim but I had some knowledge in this area already. Try some games to start with - Humpty Dumpty etc - sit him on the edge of the pool holding him and say the rhyme and then when you get to the "had a great fall" bit, he can "fall" in (completely held and supported by you of course) and use lots of fun facial expressions and voice exaggerations etc
You can probably think of heaps of stuff like this that promotes water awareness and water confidence, which is what he needs at this age anyway.
Good luck, have heaps of fun!!

[EmyB]

I love the sound of the Humpty Dumpty game biscotti thanks! :yes:


I am rather surprised that you're all advising against me teaching him! Why not for goodness sake?? :confused::confused::confused: It's not like I'm trying to teach him to perform surgery or something. My parents taught all 3 of us kids, and they didn't even really "try", it was just a natural thing from spending so much time in the pool together. I don't see why I can't do it! I was just after ideas HOW.

[EmyB]

By the way, for anyone interested I've just discovered a fantastic website

ww dot uswim.com

Where it has videos for different age groups and demonstrates techniques on how to teach your kids to swim. :yelclap:

[TripleTime]

I can only just swim well enough to save myself, i was taught by my Dad who is a qualified instructor.

Im scared of the water going past my knees.

[EmyB]

Fair enough. :)

I spent most of my childhood under water hahaha. Literally, in summer holidays would be in pool from sunup to sundown (aaaah pre-slip/slop/slap era). So I am extremely comfortable in the pool.

[mum2bubba]

I agree with taking him to the pros and getting him lessons. Nathan is almost 15 months and starting swimming lessons tomorrow.

[EmyB]

I agree with taking him to the pros and getting him lessons.


But why???

I am going to be teaching him myself.

[biscotti]

I am rather surprised that you're all advising against me teaching him! Why not for goodness sake??

For what's it's worth I think it's fine - I taught all four of mine to swim and my oldest did squad for a while. Later on (like much much later on, not next year or anything :laughing:) he might need lessons for stroke correction etc or perfecting diving techniques etc but for water awareness and confidence at 12mths there's no reason that you can't do this at home :)

[mum2bubba]

I'm not telling you NOT to teach him, I'm just saying it's better if the pros do it. Unless you're a qualified swimming instructer trained to teach children (especially babies) to swim and breath under water and all that, then it's not something I'd do as a mother. Maybe a few lessons at a swim school first and then you can teach him at home.

[mum2bubba]

But why???

I am going to be teaching him myself.

Because you aren't qualified. They are specially trained to do this. I wouldn't feel safe teaching my child to swim. I dunno, maybe it's just me. As I said in my post above, maybe lessons first and then start teaching him at home, perhaps the swimming instructors can give you tips.

[Leisa21]

I taught my son one on one and he's advanced twice as fast as most of the children doing lessons. After 3 months he was more confident and skilled than my friends child who'd been in lessons for over 2 years ;).

He's 2.5 and happily swims alone and can easily get to the edge from the middle, get in and out, jump in and out and swim laps with a noodle.

[CazHazKidz]

Hayden has his first swimming lesson tomorrow! But if I had my own pool I would have already taught him myself. Like you I spent my entire childhood in a pool, and was taught by my dad. I was a very strong and confident swimmer at a very young age. I don't see a problem with it. Good luck!

[*babygirl*]

I think it's ridicous to assume that you need a professional for EVERYTHING!! I mean it's just swimming!!! Mum taught all six of us by just exposing us to water and teaching us like they taught us how to do everything else... Practise!! We didn't go to lessons to learn to ride a bike!!! I would start slow and show him how fun it can be then progress to going under, blowing bubbles/rasperries on the water etc.

I taught DD how to swim, she isn't 100% yet as it cold too cold before she perfected it but I know she'll be confident swimming within a week when it gets hot enough!!! Can't wait!!

[aussie1]

By the way, for anyone interested I've just discovered a fantastic website

*text removed by mod

Where it has videos for different age groups and demonstrates techniques on how to teach your kids to swim. :yelclap:

Thanks for the link, it looks really good. I'm going to teach my child to swim too.

[Blueberry Crumble]

Oh come on! I am planning to teach my kids to swim too. I never had lessons, and I swim fine! The more they are around water, the more they learn... I honestly believe swimming lessons are so overcharged. We had our son in lessons, and he spent so much of the 1/2 hour waiting at the side of the pool for his turn while the teacher worked with the other kid, it was a waste of money!

You dont need to be qualified to teach your kid to swim. People homeschool, but they are not qualifed teachers.

[mum2bubba]

Maybe I just think that way because I am worried that if I teach them something wrong and something happends I wouldn't know what to do...

[Nomsie]

I don't think you can teach them 'wrong' though... :) It's very logical, all the things you need to be able to do to be 'water confident'.

My boys haven't had lessons quite simply because we cannot afford for two children, and I would need another adult to be constantly free at the same time each week to help with the other child, and I just don't have that luxury. So when the time is right, I will teach them myself, too.

Thanks for the link, OP- glad you posted it :)

[Mrs Molly Coddle]

My Dad taught me and my three siblings to swim :)
I have DS in swimming lessons now to get the basics. I'm not a professional obviously and they provide good ideas which I am packing into my little old brain as I will continue teaching him myself once number 2 is here, methinks.
Half the battle with DS is getting him into the pool with strange people who he doesn't know or trust, but he knows and trusts us as his parents so why not?!?

Some things we have learned so far (we have had 3 lessons.)

Don't submerge them until they xan hold their breath. Always warn them when the water is coming with "ready, set, go."

When teaching them to jump in, teach them to either sit on the edge or have their toes just over the edge as it forces them to pay attention to how close they are to the water. Again, make them wait with "ready,set,go!" hold them to wait If you have to to get them used to the idea.

We drop toys in the pool and we collect them one by one, climb out (teach them to use their shoulders for strength), put the toy in a bucket, jump in to you and colect the next toy and repeat.

Just some examples for you OP :)

[veve]

I dont think you NEED professional lessons at 12 months (however I do take both of my boys to lessons .. and have been for about 6 months now ... they are 2 and 4 years old.)

bubhub has a link to a cyber swim school - run by laurie lawrence ..

here is a link to the area of the directory

http://www.bubhub.com.au/cyberswim.php

I think there are a few sites out there that have free dvds and stuff (do a google for laurie - learn the five save lives type stuff .. he really has a focus for teaching ALL kids - you should find some useful stuff :)

[EmyB]

Thanks heaps for the suggestions Lambkin - they are great!

Veve - sorry I put a link to an external site, I didn't realise that's not allowed. But am I allowed to write it in long-hand e.g. www "dot" something?? Is that right?

Thanks for that info about Laurie Lawrence's online swim school but they charge for online lessons. It's blardy expensive too. I hope I'm allowed to say that?

I'm sticking with the first website - it's awesome with lesson plans to print and certificates to print when your child completes individual skills. The videos are great too (although a bit jerky). Can't wait to start!! :smiliedance:

[yvona]

Hi :)
just watched dvd from Laurie, about benefits of early swimming lessons and dangers of water. And now, everyone writes how expensive those lessons are, but actually, how expensive? Any ideas, examples? And do you recommend some particular swimming school, preferably around Hurstville area ;)
My little one is 5 months, would like to start at 6 months. Not knowing it, we already did conditioning on him ;) so far when bathing.
If someone can contribute, I would be very grateful :flowerz:

[brookehunter]

I love the sound of the Humpty Dumpty game biscotti thanks! :yes:


I am rather surprised that you're all advising against me teaching him! Why not for goodness sake?? :confused::confused::confused: It's not like I'm trying to teach him to perform surgery or something. My parents taught all 3 of us kids, and they didn't even really "try", it was just a natural thing from spending so much time in the pool together. I don't see why I can't do it! I was just after ideas HOW.

Check out www.uswim.com. We stumbled across the website with our little Miss J. It's a wonderful website and great community incentive - best of all its 100% free. I know with the Laurie Lawrence website there are fees etc. involved.

We have found it to be an amazing help and although Miss J is now in lessons at Aquatic Achievers we will continue to use the uSwim website and lessons!

Hope this helps!
:cheerleader1:

[EmyB]

Thanks Brooke. We already discovered that website in the thread but cheers anyway!

As an update from the OP - my DS is now 18 months and we try to go swimming together once a week. We usually have about 45 minutes together in the pool. He LOVES it! He can't fully swim yet but if I let him go he treads water so that his eyes are just held at water height hehehe. So not long to go I imagine.

I would encourage anyone to teach their own kids to swim (as long as u're a confident swimmer). It's easy - just spend time with them in the pool and they will pick it up!