https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:29:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2750931 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:34:41 +0000 snowjewelz 2750931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: Great! So glad it worked out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2750927 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:25:26 +0000 lamariniere 2750927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: he can but he doesn't like to. He only did it for a few seconds at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2750880 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 12:27:58 +0000 looch 2750880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: can he float? that's what I need to teach my son to do first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2750877 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 12:24:54 +0000 lamariniere 2750877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were at a hotel this past weekend and I taught my 6yo son some basics in the pool. He's not doing strokes or anything, but he can doggie paddle his way around with his head above water and he can tread water in place now. He was even doing cannon balls into the pool and coming up on his own. That's the most important to me, that he can keep himself afloat and swim to the side should he ever fall into a pool by accident. If we had more frequent access to a pool, I would start working on more underwater stuff and then add strokes. But all in all I was extremely pleased and he was feeling confident after he swam around the pool unassisted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2750860 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 11:49:31 +0000 Cole 2750860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: awesome! I was just going to post that we've had success with doing private lessons a few times a summer and asking for lots of ideas of things to work on/homework. My daughter is a little over 2.5 and can jump in, glide underwater and turn around to swim back to me/the wall now. She's highly motivated in the water and pushes herself so typical lessons didn't really work for us. I also found doing a couple of lessons at a local goldfish swim school helpful because they have me some ideas of things to work on (like building strength to hold onto the wall and to "walk" themselves to the steps or like if you fall in, go straight back to the wall.) We go to the pool a few times a week in the summer and once or twice a month in the winter usually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2750832 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 11:22:41 +0000 FaithFertility 2750832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: a local swim instructor for the college does lessons during the summer from her home!!!!!<br /> $30 a session for a 30min session!!!!<br /> She starts in July!!!!!!!<br /> It pays to ask local friends and around town! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746735 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:37:38 +0000 808love 2746735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just before LO turned 6, we went to a pool party and it was the first time I didn't jump in with her. Of course I watched her like a hawk with heart racing. Mama milestone more than anything. She could already swim but it is nerve wracking the first time and the second. Like someone said, you don't want a kid to hold your kid down so if there were any inexperienced kids who can't really swim near LO, I wouldn't do it.</p> <p>As for the vest, I always tried to not use them to support LO as I didn't want her to become dependent and get in the way with learning. The one posted above looks interesting though. Also she stayed basically where I could touch and forced her to be aware of her surroundings. Motivated her to learn. I did let her use a noodle a bit. She got the hang of being on her tummy and dipping down a bit with her movements. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746585 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 21:45:26 +0000 JCCovi 2746585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can barely swim, so we're doing lessons! DH can swim very well, but we just don't have the time to get to the pool with the consistency it would take. </p> <p>That being said, my youngest is in a parent-baby class and he's one of the oldest. So I'm working with him on a different level from the other kids in the class. Basic stuff like back floats or holding his breath. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746425 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:16:20 +0000 ShootingStar 2746425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: There were pool parties for 4 year olds and the parents don't even go in the pool? :shocked: </p> <p>DS is 3.5 and with the vest he swims really well. But we are in the pool and keeping an eye on him the entire time. The only pools we're a little more lax about are kiddie pools, but those are generally only a bathtub deep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746423 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:09:57 +0000 FaithFertility 2746423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree I would/Will always be in water with her, I am a worry wart </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746421 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:01:49 +0000 honeybear 2746421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Saw your eta...yeah, I agree about a bunch of kids in the water. Pool parties make me nervous, and it almost feels worse now that the kids are generally older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746417 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:54:57 +0000 looch 2746417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: Goggles don't solve the problem, I wish they did! We've tried it.</p> <p>I think the key is constant exposure. I am working on wetting his face in the shower. Then we'll work up to blowing bubbles in the pool this summer. Short of that, I my strategy is to research some sensory friendly techniques. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746416 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:53:30 +0000 honeybear 2746416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That sounds tough. My son loves the water and putting his face under wasn't really a problem. Have you thought about goggles? I know a lot of instructors don't like them because you're unlikely to be wearing them if you fall in (true!), but the stinging sensation can be a deterrent to putting your head under, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746414 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:51:33 +0000 808love 2746414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is in stroke development class right now but I took a swim course in college so I'm helping her with her timing/breathing outside of class to refine and reinforce. I find huge progress is made when we do swim tutoring on the side with her throughout the week before the next class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746412 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:47:26 +0000 looch 2746412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: I have a kid that doesn't like to get his face wet, the most he'll tolerate is submerging his chin. It's a challenge.</p> <p>eta: I am a former water safety instructor, I have pretty decent form with the exception of the butterfly. I am confident in my ability to teach pretty much any child except my own, hahaha!</p> <p>I personally would be getting in the water, even if my kid could swim well because the likelihood is high that another kid couldn't swim and grabbed onto mine and under they went. My personal comfort level around the water is low when there are kids in the equation, even if they are much older! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746408 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:38:31 +0000 honeybear 2746408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Not really. I know what you mean, but we went from the how-to-not-drown safety-type stuff to strokes. We started strokes at 5, so this approach meant that he had a lot more close supervision in the water than his peers for a few years. During that time he could float on his back, tread water, and get to the edge of the pool by kicking/semi dog-paddling underwater, but he wasn't swimming laps with those moves and we didn't let him get much more than an arm's length away at any point. It made pool party birthdays at age 4 rather wet affairs for me; the other parents mostly weren't getting into the pool at that point. But then, I pulled a kid out of an inflatable that had trapped them upside down in the middle of the pool at one party, so I guess my approach has some benefits...</p> <p>ETA: Oh, and I agree with @pollywog's point. We've got the swim team experience and lots of regular practice in-house here, otherwise I'd have hired someone at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746391 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:04:18 +0000 Pollywog 2746391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I each taught swim lessons for 5+ years. I recommend focusing on having fun until 4 and then contacting a high school or college swim team to see if they have anyone who can give lessons. A few sessions with an expert really helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746389 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 13:56:33 +0000 looch 2746389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: I am curious, did you teach to swim underwater? That's what all the kids that can swim seem to be doing, as opposed to strokes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746343 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 12:50:24 +0000 snowjewelz 2746343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I initially learned from my dad too, and later on took lessons (maybe like 5-6?) so I def plan on teaching my girls on my own first, and then taking lessons when they're a bit older cause I'm sure what I teach is pretty amateur plus I would like outsiders to reinforce water safety to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746288 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 10:48:36 +0000 honeybear 2746288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did. I did the initial water safety stuff and then my husband took over with strokes and form. If you want some ideas about sequence, there are a lot of videos on YouTube (but, you know, use common sense to evaluate whether you want to take their advice!). The key is repetition. </p> <p>We did not use floaties or vests, for the most part. I feel like it's good that children understand that they won't float unless they're making an effort. (And a large part of that was for me--I've seen children float pretty far away from their parents in the pool and I didn't want to get complacent.) But there are different approaches that work, so find the one that works for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746285 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 10:42:16 +0000 erinbaderin 2746285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we're going to have to do this on our own too, because we've had B in swim lessons off and on since about 6 months and he hates them. It's like trying to take a cat swimming, he just tries to climb me - if it was possible he'd be sitting on top of my head. But when we went on vacation he was splashing around in the water and swimming with his puddle jumper no problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746280 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 10:31:52 +0000 looch 2746280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: That looks super interesting, I am ordering one of those for my son.</p> <p>I am really having a tough time with teaching him how to float. He's like my husband, he sinks like a stone in the water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746251 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 09:00:59 +0000 FaithFertility 2746251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746249 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 08:56:22 +0000 ShootingStar 2746249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done swim lessons, but we've actually had more success on our own. We got DS this vest: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UA8S4K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&#038;th=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UA8S4K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&#038;th=1</a></p> <p>It has removable foam cores that you slowly remove. Whenever he seems to have gotten really good at swimming with the vest as is, we remove two more cores. So he's slowly learning to swim on his own, really. We work a little with him on kicking and his strokes, but really the vest helps him figure it out on his own. </p> <p>We have a Y membership where we can regularly use the pool and when we travel we generally stay where we can use the pool too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-to-swim#post-2746247 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 08:50:08 +0000 FaithFertility 2746247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone teach your kiddos to swim on your own?<br /> Me and all my sisters were swimming by 3 ... learning from our parents in our community pool! </p> <p>DD is 2.5 and loves the water and uses swimmers but I want to teach her</p> <p>Classes around my area are so exspensive<br /> We have no YMCA close or anything of that nature!</p> <p>Anyone teach your own kiddos?! </p>