Swimming is an important life skill that all children need to know. While some kids are natural water babies, it can take others a little more convincing to boost their swimming confidence. In this blog post, we go over some different methods for helping your child become a strong and confident swimmer.
Babies love water and can start swimming lessons anytime from 6 months and older. Combining basic water skills with songs, games, and toys is a great way to encourage water confidence. By the time your child is toddler age, they will have developed a sense of self and be more aware of the dangers of the water. It is perfectly okay if your toddler feels nervous about swimming for the first time.
Children are all different. Some will come for their first lesson and love it. Some will start more wary and learn to enjoy it after a few sessions. Toddler age is a great time to start because your child will learn earlier on that water can be fun and safe. At Aqua Artist, we prioritise comfort and swimming confidence before expecting them to master their swimming skills.
As we are teaching your toddler to be confident in and around water, we also teach crucial survival skills such as floating on their back, safe entry and exit, rolling over, and being able to move towards the water’s edge.
If your child is nervous in and around the water, try introducing them to it through group lessons at a swimming school. Seeing their peers having fun and learning in the water can make them want to do the same. It can also take some of the pressure off and turn it into a fun and social situation.
If your child is struggling to become comfortable in the water, floatation devices can help them feel safe. Once they feel safe, they can begin building confidence and skills. While floatation devices like water wings or buoyancy vests can be helpful, it is also important to ensure your child spends time in the water without them. Only swimming with floatation devices could lead to dependence on them.
There are plenty of fun games that you can play with your child in the water that can help them build confidence. Bring toys to dive with or use simple cues like ‘jump like a kangaroo ‘or ‘run fast like a cheetah’ to help your kids engage more with the activity. If you have access to a local pool or water park, take your child to check out the wave pools, slides, and wading areas. These non-threatening play zones are the perfect introduction to water as a fun place rather than a scary place.
Kids learn so much from watching their parents or caregivers. If you demonstrate confidence in and around the water, your child will likely follow suit. It's important to show them that you're comfortable in the water. If you’re a bit wobbly, stay in the shallow end, but don’t underestimate how much swimming confidence your child will gain by seeing you enjoy the water.
While some children may learn best in a group setting, others may find it a little bit daunting. If your little one is more comfortable in a quieter environment, private swimming classes may be more beneficial to them. One-on-one lessons are a fantastic way to focus on what your child needs to build confidence and become a strong swimmer.