Before becoming a mother, I was a swim instructor. I’ve been on a swim team and teaching swim lessons since I was about 12 years old. I’ve taught lessons at both community rec centers and at private swim schools. Teaching swim lessons is one of my realest and truest passions in life. I love to see children move from being nervous and unable to swim on their own to making connections and swimming independently. It is so rewarding for me to see how far children can come when given the skills, consistency and time needed to make incredible achievements.
When I became a mother, I planned to send my children to learn to swim with an instructor, like most people. We didn’t have our own pool, so this seemed like the easiest and best solution for our family. After trying several swim programs and even private instructors, I quickly learned that not all swim instructors are created equally. Some didn’t have the experience or knowledge to deal with a young, fussy toddler and some just wanted to socialize with me instead of focusing on my kids lesson.
It was such a disappointing experience for me as a swim instructor myself. If I, with the skills and knowledge I have, can't find someone that I believe to be qualified, how can someone without my background even know what to look for? This question troubled me for a long time.
I knew what my solution would be. I decided that I needed to return to my swim instructor roots and teach my own children to swim. There were a few obstacles to overcome in order for me to do this, but I knew we could make it work. The biggest challenge was finding a pool to use, but we did it!
After asking friends and family if they had any connections, we found a solution. My sister’s mother in law graciously let us come to her house to use her pool for a few weeks of lessons. It was so worth it for our whole family!
Teaching my own children to swim gave me another way to bond with my children and make memories with them in the pool. I have delighted in their progress, shared their wins and experienced joy by their sides as they have discovered a love for the water just like I did.
All three of my children are proficient and confident swimmers. They are all asking to join swim team this summer. I couldn't be happier with the outcome for our family.
I know teaching your own child to swim isn't for everyone, but it worked for us.
If you are thinking about teaching your own child to swim, there are a few things you should consider before you dive in.
- Are you comfortable in the water? You don't necessarily need to be a good swimmer yourself to teach your child the basics, but you do need to be comfortable enough to stand in water that is deeper than your child can touch. If you aren't comfortable in the water, it's time to hire a pro and skip this generational cycle.
- Can you be consistent? You need to dedicate 30 minutes each day for at least two weeks in order to teach your child to swim. Look at your calendar and make sure this can be done. Remember, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
- Can you be persistent? I won't lie to you, teaching swim lessons isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, you child will cry. Sometimes, they will fuss. Do you have what it takes to be uncomfortable with them as you both learn new skills in the water? I know most of us parents are made of pretty sturdy stuff, but if you can't then it's best to seek professional help for swim instruction.
If you know you are comfortable in the water, and can be consistent and persistent, then you are ready to teach your child to swim. Which leads us to your next dilemma- what skills should you be working on with your little swimmer?
What skills should I teach my child?
If your child is 2.5 years old - 4.5 years old, you should work on:
- Holding the breath and putting the face in
- Kicks on their belly
- Scoops on their belly
- Floats on their back
- Kicks on their back
If your child is 4.5 years old or older, you should work on:
- Holding the breath and putting the face in
- Kicks on their belly
- Windmill arms (freestyle) on their belly
- Floats on their back
- Kicks on their back
Teaching your child to swim is simply a matter of practicing these skills over and over until your child grows confident and independent. Playing games and singing songs together during this time is a great way to help your child feel comfortable in the water while bonding with you and growing their skills.
How can I learn more?
If you've reached this point and know that you want to teach your child to swim, but are feeling like you still don't have a strong idea of what you need to do during a lesson with your child, your in luck!
I've created a printable PDF guide that walks you through step by step explaining what tools you need, what skills you need to practice and what body positions to get yourself in along with a poolside guide that you laminate and bring with you. With the poolside guide, you will know exactly which skills you are supposed to be working on with your child to help them grow as an independent swimmer.
Click here to get your "Teach My Child To Swim" Guide
My goal is for parents to feel empowered to teach their own child to swim while building loving bonds and lasting memories together.
