Whether he can or not, I don’t know. But my kids (4 and 6) take swim lessons and I would absolutely not allow them to take lessons from a 14 year old. A 14 year old is not qualified to keep kids this age safe in the pool.

Now, MAYBE intermediate lessons, like where you have an 8-10 year old kid who is completely safe in the water and can swim, but who is starting to learn strokes and techniques and stuff - then, maybe. But absolutely not beginner who is at risk of drowning.

I got myfirst job as a swim instructor at my local YMCA when I was 14 (this was in PA where that was the age you could get a work permit at the time). So, yes I think he could theoritically be qualified and good at the job with trianing.

I would strongly caution against teaching little kids to swim as a side hustle on his own- as pp said that would be a huge liability. He could maybe do advanced tutoring kind of instruction (fine tuning stroke technique, etc.) for middle schoolers hoping to make a swim team, but I'd say he's maybe 2 years too young to have enough experience for that. He should look into getting a job/training through a local swim school, DC Parks Department, or YMCA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this depends. Has he had any training? CPR, swim instructor, etc.?

14 is pretty young. You can get lifeguard certified in my state until 15, so I would say that should be the youngest age to start giving swim instruction.

Also, I would only allow this in a pool with a lifeguard on duty or an adult overseeing the instruction and supervising. Our HS swim team works with kids on swim instruction, but there is a lifeguard present plus the adult swim coach there supervising. A 14 yr old solo with a young child in a pool and no lifeguard would be a big no for me.

Usually, states set 15 at the age to lifeguard in a pool and 16-18 for open areas like water parks or beaches, but places vary. I agree on requiring a lifeguard to teach. I have a 14 year old who will teach this summer in a pool with lifeguards. Someone asked him if he can come teach their child in their pool at home and I told him to decline. Too risky.

Your child should be certified and there should be a lifeguard.

Certified for what? My kid has a slate of requirements to complete before he can start teaching, including BLS training, a background check, OSHA training, etc.

Yeah, this is all complete nonsense.

He won't be in an empty pool with nobody around. There will be lifeguards present, he doesn't need to be one. He doesn't need to know CPR either, the lifeguards and pool staff and probably other adults around will know CPR.

His market will be 3 - 7 year old reluctant or new swimmers so just need to be good with kids and understand how to motivate them to get beyond their comfort level to learn/master the basic swim/water safety skills. The other market will be the younger kids on the swim team(10u) that already know how to swim but want to get faster, like he is.

No need to overthink and over complicate this like so many here seem convinced that you need to do. This is a great opportunity for him to make some money on the useful skills and knowledge his gain over years of hard work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this depends. Has he had any training? CPR, swim instructor, etc.?

14 is pretty young. You can get lifeguard certified in my state until 15, so I would say that should be the youngest age to start giving swim instruction.

Also, I would only allow this in a pool with a lifeguard on duty or an adult overseeing the instruction and supervising. Our HS swim team works with kids on swim instruction, but there is a lifeguard present plus the adult swim coach there supervising. A 14 yr old solo with a young child in a pool and no lifeguard would be a big no for me.

Usually, states set 15 at the age to lifeguard in a pool and 16-18 for open areas like water parks or beaches, but places vary. I agree on requiring a lifeguard to teach. I have a 14 year old who will teach this summer in a pool with lifeguards. Someone asked him if he can come teach their child in their pool at home and I told him to decline. Too risky.

Your child should be certified and there should be a lifeguard.

Certified for what? My kid has a slate of requirements to complete before he can start teaching, including BLS training, a background check, OSHA training, etc.