Many parents ask themselves whether they can teach their children to swim themselves. And if so, how? We have some information and tips for you on how you can teach your child to swim safely and with fun.
Table of contents
At What Age Should My Child Learn To Swim?
In breaststroke, legwork in particular is very difficult to learn. Most children don’t make it until they are six years old. But that doesn’t mean they can’t get in the water before then. Your child should get used to the feeling of being in the water. Many parents take their little ones to baby swimming just a few months after birth. You can also go to the swimming pool with toddlers. However, always keep an eye on the little ones, even if the water is very shallow.
Many children begin using dog paddles to stay afloat before breaststroke. Always make sure that your child is equipped with appropriate aids such as swimming wings (for example, from Beta, available online from 5,00€ ) for safety.
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Why Should My Child Learn To Swim?
There are many reasons for which your child should learn to swim. Probably the most important one is safety. In case of an emergency, your child should be able to stay afloat. Dangerous situations can always occur, whether on vacation at the North Sea or at the neighbor’s pond. Sooner or later, your children will go off on their own with their friends, to where you can no longer keep watch. And your child should be prepared for that.
Another reason is school. Most children have swimming lessons from the third grade on. Meanwhile, the teacher has to supervise so many students that he can’t concentrate on any of them one hundred percent.
Reason number three: swimming is healthy. As one of the most joint-friendly and effective sports, swimming has nothing but benefits for your child. That being said, most kids truly enjoy playing in the cool water with their friends.
How Do I Teach My Child To Swim?
Only parents who feel confident in the water themselves should teach their children to swim – you could otherwise transfer your insecurity to the child. In this case, a swimming course is advisable. Otherwise, there are no reasons why you should not teach your child to swim. As mentioned earlier, your child should have developed a feeling for the water beforehand. They can encourage this through games. For example, by pulling your child through the water on a swimming board.
Before it can really start, you should first teach your child the leg movement as a dry exercise. Before the arms are added, this complicated movement should be practiced in the water. To do this, your child can lie on a swimming board with its upper body, so that the leg movements can be practiced without much effort. Alternatively, you can stabilize your child in the water yourself. In the next step, the arm movement can be practiced.
After you have successfully taught your child to swim, the following applies: practice, practice, practice. Only if you regularly go to the pool with your child will he or she be able to improve his or her swimming skills. With playful tasks you can make learning easier for your child and have a lot of fun yourself. For example, you can always increase the distance at which the child should swim towards you. In throwing games, you can always throw the ball or ring a few meters next to your child, so that he or she has to swim towards it. Competitive swims are also a fun way to improve your child’s swimming skills.
Once your child gets the hang of it, the Seahorse is not far away. Don’t overestimate this badge, though. To be on the safe side, your child should pass the bronze badge. Then you can rest easy when your child plays in the cool water.
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