Swimming with toddler

[laalala]

What do you do when you take toddlers swimming? My charge just screams to go home whenever I take him. He doesn't like arm bands apparently, so I'm just holding him sort of splashing around feeling like an idiot atm. Where am I going wrong?

Try a different support? Arm bands aren't great for developing swimming skills. You get swimsuits with buoyancy aids attached round the torso.

I wouldn't use anything. As long as you are with them 1 to 1 they don't need a buoyancy aid.

Okay, but what do I do in the water with him other than sort of bob along with him in my arms and splash around a bit? Or is that all your meant to do?

How old is he? My DD loves jumping in off the side. Also nursery rhymes such as round and round the garden but instead of 'tickle them under there' you do 'throw them up in the air', also wheels on the bus using them to do the actions - children go up and down so you throw them up and down, baby's go fast asleep so you lie them back in the water and rock them, ring o roses also works. Not sure if any of that makes sense! Try you tubing swimming lessons and see what comes up?

He's only 2. I tried getting him to stand on the side and jump into my arms, as he loves this at the park off of any high surface But he seems to just hate the whole experience. I'll just persist every week and use some of your great tips. Hopefully that'll help, he does love nursery rhymes.

At 2 you will be doing water familiarization, not swimming. Let him splash around in a baby pool or one ledge where he can touch the bottom. Take a teaset or cups so that he can our water from one to the other. If you only have a deeper pool, hold him facing you, hands under his armpits and give him plenty of eye contact. Go round the pool, bounce him up and down, side to side, sing the wheels on the bus, this is the way we kick our legs etc make up actions, throw a plastic toy and go and chase it (hold him in front facing you or next to your side prone in the water as he gains confidence) etc. he needs to gain lots of confidence before you can start doing anything more advanced. Make sure he is aware this is a fun activity, smile lots, be excited about it and give him lots of encouragement. Don't swim for more than 30 minutes or so as little ones get tired (and even cold) and its quite intense for them. Keep up the excitement levels and keep it short and sweet.

Try to avoid flotation devices if you are holding him in the water.

Water babies or whatever swimming lessons are available locally. Dd1 was swimming properly at 2 and adores the swimming pool. I learned a lot about drills to do to help with water confidence too.

I took plastic watering cans plastic cups and balls. You can also buy swim toys online like seals and fish which are different weights and fill up with water before sinkng to the bottom. As above keep it short and sweet. My little boy was reluctant and 1 plus but is now confident and it is a real struggle getting him out. Swimming lessons for small children were good for me because they gave me ideas.

I am doing 'adult and child' swimming lessons in our local leisure centre with 22 (2.11) - much cheaper than waterbabies. Started at East and sge was quite wary, but now loves them and can't wait to go. She wears arm bands and started off with me holding her all the time, and gradually encouraged her to do a bit by herself. Things we do in them she enjoys include singing Humpty Dumpty with her sitting on side of pool (pulling her in when get to fall), singing grand old duke whilst lifint her up and down. Holding on to side and pushing off like a rocked, happy and you know it with various water based actions, and doing a star flaot whilst singing twinkle twinkle.