Aibu to want to teach my 4yo to swim?

[Fruitbat1980]

My DS loves playing with water, but doesn’t like being in it much? I’m hoping to convert him this summer with several holidays planned in villas with pools.
How have you got your water shy child in the water? What aids did you use? I’m completely bloody overwhelmed, rubber rings? Arm bands? Foam arm bands, life jackets, wtf.
I know I Abu not to have spent the last 4 years at little dippers or whatever but frankly our local pools are grim and I’ve been working.
I need to play catch up and last summer involved me standing in pool trying to coax/ bribe him in help!

Could you consider some lessons OP?

Anything attached to the body (arm bands, arm rings, back fins/back floats) does not position the child correctly in the water, they teach unnatural alignment which can be hard to correct - a foam woggle / tube they can hold on to is best.

This.

Stay where you can touch the floor, and just play games.

Lessons are all about water confidence at this age anyway.

Formal lessons are not necessary unless he wants to swim competitively at a later date.
Nonsense , breathing and style are hugely imporyant for getting the most out of swimming as a form pf excercise. You see kids/adults splashing up and down head up and they are wasting energy.

Also dont agree that yoi shouldnt use bands and rings to start. ASA recpmmends that you use them to build confidence My dcs teachers who is an award winning teacher used them when dcs were little and my dc had no problem with body position.

I would recommend playing with toys in very shallow water. Try watering cans, bath squeezy toys, things that float and things that sink (dive toys). Get him to put his mouth in the water and blow bubbles out (teaches breathing out underwater and makes a funny noise). Don't use water aids as a pp said they don't learn the right position and it can give false confidence.

I have done lessons with my kids since they were a few months old, but I love the water. From 3, they can go in a lesson with the teacher and you stay on the side which might be better if you are not keen yourself.

y dcs teachers who is an award winning teacher used them when dcs were little and my dc had no problem with body position

An “award winning teacher” will know how to use flotation aids correctly to assist body position.

Most parents won’t have a clue, and will probably encourage incorrect body shape.

I’m a swimmng teacher and see parents in general sessions every week teaching incorrectly.

In the o/p’s case, teaching water confidence through games without flotation device is the best start. It is far easier to teach a child who is confident in the water without aids, than it is to undo all the bad habits instilled by a parent having taught their child to swim incorrectly.

Reallyanotherone
I agree most parents dont know how to teach their child to swim.

I found having other, slightly older, children around did the trick. Somehow they really want to copy the "big boys and girls" much more than they want to copy the adults.

Not much use if you don't know any slightly older children you can borrow.

My DD2 was quite water shy. The only thing that worked for her was one to one lessons with the teacher in the pool with her. She progressed really quickly and is now a confident swimmer. The group lessons with the teacher standing poolside were a disaster. She just stood in the water and wouldn’t join in at all.

Formal lessons are not necessary unless he wants to swim competitively at a later date

I strongly disagree. Good lessons will help water confidence, breathing and technique both of which are essential building blocks of learning to swim.

Formal lessons are essential imo

If the want to swim competitively then they join a swim club later, and move from lessons to coaching.

As previous PP said, lots of games is a nice place to begin/supplement lessons. My DD loves cups, watering cans, little floaty squirty bath toys, rings to blow bubbles in - pretending to be a motorboat and blowing bubbles is fun too - she used to hate noodles but now loves them especially mum pretending to be an elephant by blowing water out the end. Kickboards are fun to float on or even floating on a life jacket depending what's available. Jumping in and a little dunk is good fun with some songs but she is a bit younger than your DS. Plus practicing climbing out and safety sliding in. I'm sure if you look happy and relaxed and keep it fun he'll get there. Happy swimming!