Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can teach a 5 year old to swim?

20 replies

over2021 · 17/06/2022 12:45

DD2 is 5 and can't swim. All local pools nearby have a waiting list for weekend lessons of 18 months - I work full time and evening lessons would be too late for her. We don't swim often as a family so she's only been swimming a few times and I'm worried she's getting older and will develop an aversion.

We are going to Spain in August and I'm thinking I can teach her to swim myself in less than 2 weeks?!

Caveat, I know swimming teaching is technical so 100% aware that this shouldn't replace swimming lessons!

OP posts:
Headshothelp · 17/06/2022 12:48

Can you go to a local pool a few times beforehand and see how receptive she is? I'm not sure a busy holiday pool will be the best environment to learn

becausetrampslikeus · 17/06/2022 12:49

Why 2 weeks ? 6 weeks down the pool at the weekend surely ?

emmathedilemma · 17/06/2022 12:49

I wouldn't focus on teaching her to swim, get her water confident and happy to get water in her eyes, put her head under etc and the swimming bit will come a lot easier. When kids first learn they don't really have a defined stroke anyway! Go for a doggy paddle sort of action and use a foam woggle rather than armbands.

Original poster
over2021 · 17/06/2022 12:51

becausetrampslikeus · 17/06/2022 12:49

Why 2 weeks ? 6 weeks down the pool at the weekend surely ?

Because I have 1 weekend day free between now and our holiday so it's unlikely we will be able to go every weekend for 6 weeks.

OP posts:
DecimatedDreams · 17/06/2022 12:53

I taught DD about that age. Nothing very elegant but managed to teach her to float and get across a pool with a doggy paddle ish style. She improved as she got more practice over the years obviously, but it started her off. I'm the world's shittest swimmer, so this came from a place of determination rather than skills and knowledge.

becausetrampslikeus · 17/06/2022 12:54

I'd be making time somehow - how far are you from a pool?!

catpoppet · 17/06/2022 12:54

there's a book - teach your child to swim I think it's called - might be worth buying for tips!

DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2022 12:55

I wouldn’t say that you could teach her to swim but you can teach her to be safe in the water.

  1. make her comfortable in the water, play and splash about. Get her to the point where she will put her head under water and blow bubbles (always exhale when under water).
  2. teach her to float on her back. It can show that she trusts the water and is usually the safest position to be in if you are in trouble in the water. Everyone can do this, it’s easier for girls/women than men. She might need to starfish or pencil, whatever works for her.
  3. Then start on kicks - straight legs but not stiff like a board.
  4. After legs come arms - get her to pull herself through the water and find the most effective way (eg fingers together, stretching and reaching)
  5. then work on breathing/timing.
The most important thing is that she isn’t scared of the water. Confidence is key. As is a positive attitude- she will copy yours.
parietal · 17/06/2022 12:55

You can make a good start on teaching her on your holiday but she probably won't be confident and independent by the end. You need to follow up with lessons or family swimming afterwards.

Turnthatoff · 17/06/2022 12:55

I’d buy arm floaties and enjoy your holiday.

PineappleWilson · 17/06/2022 12:55

If you've got a package deal, you may find that they offer swimming lessons at your resort in Spain.

Tbh, I'd put her down for the waiting list. My DC would have hated having me trying to teach them.

Reallyreallyborednow · 17/06/2022 12:58

Have you tried swimming clubs? Most have learn to swim classes from 5.

these are separate to pool lessons and you’ll need to find and contact the club directly, not ask at the pool.

it’s often less crowded as people don’t realise clubs and council are separate.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 17/06/2022 12:59

What’s she like in the water generally?

Mommabear20 · 17/06/2022 12:59

I taught my dad when he was 45 in 1 week in Egypt. He couldn't swim by the end but he was able to support himself in the water, something he absolutely could not do before hand. While learning to swim is important, water safety is far more important. She needs to be able to fall into the water and get onto her back and float with her face above water until help could arrive. Also treading water would be a good place to start. Getting into and out of the water herself. Make a start on these with her and then when the swim school has a space for her she'll be able to go in with confidence from the beginning and hopefully she'll pick up the actual swimming easier.

PetraBP · 17/06/2022 13:00

Get her some armbands and take her to the pool every evening if you can.

Being in the water is the first confidence thing that you need.

The lessons can come afterwards.

LittleMissLego · 17/06/2022 13:00

I'd try and build water confidence before you go. You can kind of practice bits in the bath, /paddling pool. Like feeling comfortable with immersing face under water and the progressing to blowing bubble under water.

Then once on holiday get her to use a pool noodle for under her arms and just kick her legs.

But the main thing to do at this stage is just to get them feeling confident and comfortable in the water. Make the pool a super fun place to be where you can play together. If shes not comfortable doing something then don't force it.

Dd was around the same age when she kind of learnt to swim on holiday. A very inelegant doggy paddle type of stroke.

Discovereads · 17/06/2022 13:03

I agree your goal of teaching her to swim on a 2 week holiday is overly ambitious. At most you will be able to get her comfortable playing in water using appropriate floatation devices and with adult supervision. I also would not put the pressure of “we are at the pool so you can learn to swim!” on a child (or yourself) on what is supposed to be a fun holiday.

I know it’s hard with work schedules but keep looking for swimming lessons close to home.

Mariposista · 17/06/2022 13:03

DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2022 12:55

I wouldn’t say that you could teach her to swim but you can teach her to be safe in the water.

  1. make her comfortable in the water, play and splash about. Get her to the point where she will put her head under water and blow bubbles (always exhale when under water).
  2. teach her to float on her back. It can show that she trusts the water and is usually the safest position to be in if you are in trouble in the water. Everyone can do this, it’s easier for girls/women than men. She might need to starfish or pencil, whatever works for her.
  3. Then start on kicks - straight legs but not stiff like a board.
  4. After legs come arms - get her to pull herself through the water and find the most effective way (eg fingers together, stretching and reaching)
  5. then work on breathing/timing.
The most important thing is that she isn’t scared of the water. Confidence is key. As is a positive attitude- she will copy yours.

I agree with all of this. And DON’T put armbands on her. Absolute nightmare when she does learn to swim to get her arms in the right position. Float is a good idea, on front and back. Make sure she wears goggles so she can see. And most of all, enjoy it.

Raspberryjam22 · 17/06/2022 13:05

When my 3 were young ( 1980s) swimming lessons weren’t really common so I taught them all and they are all proficient.

DialsMavis · 17/06/2022 13:07

both my DC have learned to swim on sailing and beach holidays, probably cheaper than swimming lessons in the long run 😂

If they can swim fairly confidently they will go in a higher group in primary and learn the different strokes.

The clincher for both of mine was snorkeling, as they are so busy enjoying tbe view muscle memory from trying to swim does the rest, obviously I was there to catch them.

Ignore me if you want them to have perfect form or compete

New posts on this thread. Refresh page