You’ve decided to teach your child to swim! This won’t be an easy journey, but it will be rewarding, for both you and your little one. Not only will they learn the water safety basics, but swimming is part of an active and healthy lifestyle.

You may be wondering if you need any swimming qualifications to teach your little one how to swim. Whilst it is recommended for your child to have formal swimming lessons with an instructor, as long as you know the swim safety basics, you can teach your child the foundations of swimming.

So, first, what are the swim safety basics?

How can I keep my child safe in the water?

Safety must be the priority when it comes to teaching your child how to swim. This list highlights all you need to make sure safety comes first:

Always be close by when your child is in the pool. If you do need to leave, take them with you.

If the pool is at a residence, make sure the gates open out from the pool and self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach. Also, ensure the pool's gate is at least four feet tall on all sides and completely separates the pool from the house and yard.

The parent or caregiver that plans on teaching your child should also know how to swim and perform CPR.
Practice climbing in and out of the pool. Have your child practice holding on to the side of the wall and climbing out of the pool to safety.

When working with your child, avoid using inflatable swimming aids such as floaties. If your child needs a flotation device, use a life jacket.

What if my child is afraid of water?

If you have a reluctant swimmer or a kiddo who is afraid of the water, you can help prepare them for the pool without even dipping their toes in the water:

Condition them for the water. Fill a small cup with warm water (not too warm) and pour a small, steady stream of water over your child’s shoulders and head. This will help them get used to the water and its temperature.

Let them experiment. As your child begins to show interest in going into the pool, give them a pair of goggles to wear while in the tub or shower. This can get a child familiar with the benefits of using goggles, which can help to create a more positive experience at the pool.

Play in the bathtub. Another great way to encourage your little one to have positive associations with water is to encourage them to blow bubbles and play in the bathtub.

Of course, it’s important that your child has fun while learning to swim. How can you make their learning experience a fun one?

How do I make the water a fun experience?

Once you get them in the pool, there are several games you can play to get them excited about swimming:

Blow bubbles. This activity may seem simple, but kids love blowing bubbles, which helps them get used to being in the water.

Play some fun games. Play games with them, such as diving for rings (with your assistance) or kicking with a red light, green light game.

Use a lifejacket. Swimming with a life jacket helps with movement in the water, which can be very useful to develop effective pulling and kicking motions, and your child may find this very enjoyable!

At what age can I get my child in the water?

Acclimating kids to the water will look different for babies than it will for older children. Here are some guidelines for teaching babies, toddlers, and older kids to swim:

Babies:

When at the local pool or in the bathtub at home, parents can pour a small, steady stream of water on the crown of a child’s head to condition them to feel more comfortable with water in their face. It’s important for parents to remain calm and celebrate when conditioning takes place to keep the experience positive.

In the pool, have your child splash around as much as they can. This helps them get used to the resistance of the water. While standing in the water, place your baby on their back and allow them to experience the feeling of floating (with your assistance, of course) while you walk backwards.

Toddlers:

Blowing bubbles and looking for items such as rings or small pool-safe toy animals in the water is a great way for toddlers to get more comfortable with the water. That said, make sure to watch your toddler when close to any water source. At this age, they are very curious, and this can lead to situations where water can become extremely dangerous.

When it comes to safety, it's not just swimming pools you need to be alert to. It’s also lakes, rivers, and even smaller unexpected sources of water like buckets or even toilets, which can be a risk for kids this young.

When they are ready to advance, practice “swimming” with your child. This helps to familiarise them with floating and using their arms and legs.

Start by having them hold onto the edge of the pool. Keep the distance between you and your child about an arm’s length away. Encourage them to let go and swim towards you any way they can. This may take the form of doggie paddling, and that is okay.

The point is not to perfect a swim stroke but to help them gain confidence and have fun. As they become more comfortable, increase the distance between you and the wall.

Older Kids:

Preschoolers are often young enough to still need you in the pool with them. Use pool time as an opportunity to talk to them about the importance of safety in and around water.

When in the pool with your emerging swimmer, give them small challenges like putting their face in the water, jumping into your arms from the side of the pool, and touching the bottom of the pool at the shallow end. And of course, always remember to congratulate them with warm smiles and hoorays!

How do I teach my child to swim?

Unii shares how to teach your preschooler, toddler or baby this important life skill.