Swim Solo
Children will be able to "swim" at different ages. It depends on how young you start putting your baby under water. Zane's mom started him with "swimming lessons" in the tub and in the pool at 4 months. In this video you can see him being glided at 6 months and "swimming" by himself, with his mom encouraging him at 13 months!
Click to watch the video for this lesson
Though babies move their arms and legs in the water as if they are swimming, they are not independent or safe in the water at this age. Your baby is developing a positive foundation and happy attitude necessary to swim and move about in the water.
Teach your child to Swim Solo:
Your goal in the Swim Solo swimming lessons is for your child to become more independent in the water as he is developmentally ready. If your follow the swim lesson progression in swimbea.com, by 2½ your child may be able to push off the side and swim or propel himself to you for about 5 feet. You have helped him to become comfortable in the back float position. You child has respect for the water and knows that he needs you in the water. But more importantly, you will have practiced with your child to swim back to the side is he falls in the water.
Most children want to be more independent in the water though they might be afraid. Remember that the child trusts you. As you teach your child to move about with less assistance from you, always tell and show the child what you expect him to do next.
Try the following strategies:
To teach a child to be more independent, have him get a toy that is under the water on the steps. Instead of holding him under the arms, now place your hands lightly behind the head as you move him to the goal. Stay close to him and teach him to stand up on the step.
Pull the child toward you with your hand behind his head releasing him a little as you take a step backward.
To encourage an older child to swim alone, teach the child to be a bumper fish. Pushing off the steps, putting the head down and kicking really hard he has to bump your belly with the top of his head. Start by hold the child's hands as you count to three. The child pushes off and you step back telling him to kick and splash. As the child works hard to get you, let him bump you. First you practice the two-handed bumper fish, then the one-handed bumper fish. As he gets excited with bumping your belly, here you sneak in the no handed bumper fish by giving him a little pull and releasing him while you step back a little.
Suddenly the child will be pushing off.
The child is so proud that he is swimming!
If the child is swimming but will not put his head down, have him look for and swim to a toy that you are holding under the water.
As the child gains confidence, teach him the rocket: The child puts his feet on your thighs. You hold the child on the shins. After the child puts the face in the water give the child a push off as you lift the legs to the swim position. Be watchful. If the child seems to be in trouble, help the child to get to the wall or the steps, do not pick him up.
Let the child feel that he can achieve his goal. As the child swims toward you, you move your arms. He will see your arms and move his.
Work with your young child to push off the steps alone swimming a longer distance to you and back to the steps.
Swim with your child in the deep end. Explain to the child that he can swim the same in the deep end and the shallow end. If the child is afraid of the deep end, practice letting go next to the ladder.
Only confidence, ability and respect for the water will make the child water safe. The child works harder while lengthening the distance that he has to swim.
Encourage and praise the child for a job well done!
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