Teaching child to swim myself

[Coyote72]

I am after some advice and tips on teaching my 7yo to swim.

For context, he started lessons at 6yo and flat out refused to put his face in the water, so just wasn't making any progress. He can now doggy paddle but I decided to pause lessons for the time being as the teacher had given up on him and my son was finding the whole thing quite stressful.

I'm planning to take him weekly myself for a bit with less pressure on the face in the water and work on improving his strokes, floating etc. Then look at 1-2-1 intensive sessions down the line.

So would appreciate any advice on self teaching children. He gets insanely cold in the water so we'll only have 30 mins.

Put him in a wet suit if he gets cold

Just play games with him, and get out before he gets cold. We used to play sharks , basically I'd chase them round the shallow end , and I'd be the one putting my head under the water.

I would prioritise working on him putting his face in the water. It will be very hard to work on any of the strokes on his front if he wont do this. Play games and make it fun. Bring some toys that sink slowly. Practice floating on back and front and backstroke

Buy him some goggles. That was the secret to my DS putting his face in the water. It gave some control over the situation and he became happier with water generally.

If you've already tried goggles, then work on face in the shower/bath; safe environment, easier task.

If you can, take him to the pool where they do 1:1 lessons and spy on them for tips

I would go somewhere with a "lagoon" type pool , if possible. Basically a slope into the water, rather than a drop. Lets him choose exactly how deep he goes. Also preferably a warm pool. Not all public pools are the same temperature (lagoon pools are often also well heated, for some reason - perhaps more aimed at kids?). Take some floaty/squirty toys, like bath toys, or inflatable stuff.

Then I would focus on just spending time in the water and having fun, rather than "teaching" anything. Feeling confident and familiar with the sensation of being in the water is the big thing, in my opinion. As he gradually explores around the pool under his own steam, then he will feel his buoyancy and also naturally get water on his face sometimes. Honestly I think that having a kid feel happy in the water is a much bigger achievement at this age than actually having them able to "swim." The swimming will come in time. He is still very young.

Swimming lessons are normally 30 mins anyway. I think you should put him in a swimsuit and try swimming lessons again or wait till next year.

I've bought thermal swim clothes which I didn't mention, only helps a little.
The swimming lessons were becoming humiliating for him. Most of the children were 4 or 5yo and progressed much faster because they put their face in.
Next year he'll be 8 and do school swimming lessons so I think it would be good to keep going swimming, teach him what I can and not just stop entirely.

Agreed, we do regularly go to a lazy river pool which he adores. But in 2 years + swimming lessons he's not really become any more than moderately water confident!