Struggling with teaching 3 year old to swim

[evanescencemummy]

My DD (age 3) loves being in the water but clings to us and won't let us let go at all.

She wears a floatation jacket on the water which will just about keep her afloat if she relaxes.

Swimming lessons locally are completely booked up, so we are trying to just take her ourselves regularly to build her confidence in the water. Unfortunately it seems to be having the opposite effect and reducing her confidence, and I'm not sure where I'm going wrong!

Any tips much appreciated.

I'm considering getting her some arm bands? (Which I know aren't recommended but may at least build her confidence?)

Are you taking her in the kids pool or main pool? I'd recommend kids pool, no floatation device as she should be able to stand up, and honestly just do the fun stuff, floats, toys, sinkers etc. Get her to choose some goggles she wants and just let her get confident playing in the water

We are in a kids pool and she's out of her depth unfortunately!

Any other pools you can go to that have a 'beach' entrance?

If not I would get rid of the jacket, get some noodles and obviously watch like a hawk. The floatation jackets hold you at the wrong angle and it can be a weird feeling if they tip you back, like they wont stop.

I wouldn’t use armbands, most instructors don’t teach with them nowadays. Have you tried a foam woggle? You just need to keep encouraging her, play games like blowing bubbles in the water, holding onto the side of the pool, even sitting on the side with her legs in to get her used to feeling safe without holding onto you. It’s not easy if you can’t stand up in the pool at all - try treading water at the deep end for half an hour and you’d be knackered!! She’s only 3, she doesn’t need to be doing proper swim strokes yet, just confident getting her face wet and kicking her legs around.

Thats odd as most kids pools have a gradient, ours all start at 0.5m and go up to 0.9m at the deepest. Is there another pool you can go to that? How long until she should be able to reach the bottom? I'm not sure they would take her for lessons until she can stand, if its a leisure centre style one as at 3yo they normally go in without parents.

Maybe replace the vest with a woggle instead as that gives a bit more freedom and mimics what most swimming classes use.

Unfortunately all of the small pools around us have a depth of 1m and she is 95cm tall so a way off being able to stand up.

Good point about the jacket tipping her back at a funny angle.

I have tried a woggle but she still doesn't have the confidence to let go yet.

She is a very determined little girl! And not distracted enough by games and things to let go of us.

Definitely not bothered about her swimming proper strokes or anything yet, just need to find a way to build her confidence in the water.

We were in the same position but within the last few weeks did get DS swimming lessons at a different pool a bit further away. He was using one float, in his lessons they use a pool noodle or 2 floats which he finds a lot easier.

The shark fin floats are quite good for positioning.

I like to have them without any aids as well, obviously with adult holding, so that they can learn to float on their back - you can feel how to balance them. Teach the movement from floating to standing. Also holding the side and moving around the edge independently.

Hi I'm a swimming teacher, kids often struggle with parents as they want to play. You can make it fun though. I'd avoid any buoyancy aids if she's in a pool where she can stand up, it alters body position and makes it hard for them to put there feet down. I'd start by doing moment in the water first walking, jumping, blowing bubbles and then walk up to getting sinkers, splashing her face. Can you not find another pool where the depth is 0.80m makes all the difference when they can stand up. I teach ducklings but I won't teach them if they can't stand up as it's not safe especiallywith 8 in a class. My classes are all about learning to move safely in the water and to be able to stand up safely when swimming on there front and back whilst gaining confidence in the water. I now have some of my ducklings in stages 3/4.

You can get woggle make a n shape and get her to squeeze, then get her to put her chin on the water blow bubbles and stretch her legs

I'd look for another pool with shallower end. Maybe a local hotel or something, lots near me are open to the public as well. Get rid of jacket and use a noodle . One of the first things mine were taught is float like a star fish, supposed to help if they fell in I assume. Support her head and arms nd legs out wide. I was told it raises confidence as they don't panic as much if they know they can float (no idea if that's true if course!)

Have just looked at these and they look great. Do they provide enough floatation to let go?

Thanks so much for this info.

I've had another look and literally all the pools close to us are a 1m depth!

Do you have any tips for teaching out of their depth?

I've had another look and literally all the pools close to us are a 1m depth!

Surely that's the max depth of the pool? Most will start at about 0.5 which is plenty deep enough for her to use 95% of the pool to practice in? Just stay out of the very furthest end and she will be able to stand up in most of it.

I definitely agree with no armbands or floatation tools. My DS is 2 and enjoys going with us just to play. Whilst there we practice holding floats and he is getting good at holding onto the side and kicking his legs and blowing bubbles. At that age its definitely more about them being happy in the water.