DD -9 swimming still using water wings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

I live here and agree it is young. People in the DMV are intense and weird about all these milestones -- swimming, riding a bike, potty training, you name it. Earlier is always better.

On the other hand, the intense pressure of this area meant my kid was a decent swimmer who didn't need any kind of floaty by age 5. I'll admit this is pretty nice when we go on vacation. Obviously you still have to watch the kids and I wouldn't let a 5 yr old go swimming alone, but it was pretty nice to know she has all the basic water safety skills and can even swim the full length of a pool at such a young age.

She still doesn't know how to ride a bike without training wheels though, and the parents in our neighborhood act like this might be a sign of special needs. Again, 5 years old. People here are crazy!

Agree! My firsrborn was the reverse- was riding a pedal bike independently at age 4, but swimming took a lot longer. Whereas my younger kid, who just turned 5, is picking up swimming a lot faster but definitely not there with the bike. All kids are different and I wish it wasn't so competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

There is no one tried and true method. I've taken all 3 of my kids to various pools for lessons and none used the same method. The biggest piece just seems to be getting comfortable in the water, putting your face in, head under, and the rest goes from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

+1 this thread isn’t about how to teach kids how to swim anyway. FWIW I don’t think it’s easy. The kids have a fear of putting their head under. That’s why you have to start young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

Not being snarky back but why not just share the "excellent" ones? There are literally hundreds of videos and multiple approaches to teaching swimming. (kind of like reading- and we know now that some of those approaches are bad)

FWIW I was one of the lazy parents who enrolled my kids in swim lessons instead but I'm sure it would be helpful for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

+1 this thread isn’t about how to teach kids how to swim anyway. FWIW I don’t think it’s easy. The kids have a fear of putting their head under. That’s why you have to start young.

Yeah with a 9yo I would not try this yourself- get private lessons with a swimming instructor.

Sometimes kids respond better to a different authority figure than their parents, particularly when there is fear involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Start early and get them in the water frequently. Dip them under with you. Play with them in the water while holding them, swirl them around, sing songs. Teach them to put face in the water and blow bubbles. Hold on to side of pool and kick. Practice jumping in the pool and let them fully go under before catching them. Use kickboards and pool noodles. The foam backpack can be helpful too as you can decrease the buoyancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

+1 this thread isn’t about how to teach kids how to swim anyway. FWIW I don’t think it’s easy. The kids have a fear of putting their head under. That’s why you have to start young.

Yeah with a 9yo I would not try this yourself- get private lessons with a swimming instructor.

Sometimes kids respond better to a different authority figure than their parents, particularly when there is fear involved.

Yes. We tried to teach DD to swim but she doesn't like taking that kind of instruction from us. She did great with a swim class and various coaches though. She wants to learn things "on her own" (with a teacher counts as on her own to her) and then show us what she can do and see us be proud. I think some kids are just like this. I could never homeschool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

Not being snarky back but why not just share the "excellent" ones? There are literally hundreds of videos and multiple approaches to teaching swimming. (kind of like reading- and we know now that some of those approaches are bad)

FWIW I was one of the lazy parents who enrolled my kids in swim lessons instead but I'm sure it would be helpful for others.

Oh go away already. Start a new thread about teaching swimming techniques if that’s what you’re interested in. This thread is advice for the Dad with a 9 year old who can’t swim and she needs lessons, not YouTube videos.

[Anonymous]

I find this hard to believe 1) a 9 yr old can even fit in water wings 2) that they would be willing to wear them. Surely all their friends have known how to swim for years not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

Not being snarky back but why not just share the "excellent" ones? There are literally hundreds of videos and multiple approaches to teaching swimming. (kind of like reading- and we know now that some of those approaches are bad)

FWIW I was one of the lazy parents who enrolled my kids in swim lessons instead but I'm sure it would be helpful for others.

Oh go away already. Start a new thread about teaching swimming techniques if that’s what you’re interested in. This thread is advice for the Dad with a 9 year old who can’t swim and she needs lessons, not YouTube videos.

Yes please take your fight elsewhere you two. This child needs proper instruction, not a parent googling youtube videos, yikes.

[Anonymous]

OP here - to finish this thread we have booked professional lessons, and I know this is overdue. Hopefully we can catch up and build confidence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Start early and get them in the water frequently. Dip them under with you. Play with them in the water while holding them, swirl them around, sing songs. Teach them to put face in the water and blow bubbles. Hold on to side of pool and kick. Practice jumping in the pool and let them fully go under before catching them. Use kickboards and pool noodles. The foam backpack can be helpful too as you can decrease the buoyancy.

This was the method I used for both of my kids. One was swimming by 4, all 4 strokes legal by late 5/early 6. The other was a bit later, I 5 and then late 6.

They're in their late teens now so this has always been a bit of a trend around here.

[Anonymous]

Please try Goldfish swim. Speak ahead with Goldfish and describe your child.

Our 8 yr old was very very resistant to lessons and didn’t like certain styles of coaching (loud, high fives).

Goldfish suggested instructor who had great personality fit.

Only 4 kids in class and individualized so kid levels up when kid ready. And the level up process is fun.

We got lucky because often other kids rescheduled so only 1 or 2 kids in lesson.

Classes are 1/2 hr. And they had a family swim night once a month.

Good luck. It is really important for them to learn to swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this isn’t helpful for you op but I hope other parents reading this take this as a lesson- parents should never use water wings to start with. They do not help kids to swim.

I don’t get the fearmongering about Puddle Jumpers, as long as you’re also teaching kids to swim and watching them closely. My kids both used Puddle Jumpers during play time in the pool when they were toddlers. But, we also had them in Goldfish lessons weekly starting when they were 2. We ditched the puddle jumpers around 4, and had them swimming legal strokes on a summer swim team (full team, not junior team) starting during the summer they were 5.