How To Make Learning To Swim More Fun For Kids
Swimming is a useful life skill that everyone deserves to learn. While some kids are happy to learn to swim, others can be less comfortable in the water or may simply find swimming lessons boring. By taking measures to make swimming lessons more fun, you can encourage kids to be happier in a pool and to develop their swimming skills. Below are just a few different ways to make swimming lessons for kids more fun.
Have fun with floats
Floats can be great pool ‘toys’ for young kids and may encourage them to get in the water and learn to swim. This could include foam floats or inflatables. Go shopping with kids and let them choose the floats they want. Public swimming pools may only allow certain floats, which is something worth looking into (inflatables are often banned in many indoor pools, although this isn’t always the case at vacation resorts).
Incorporate games
Most kids get into the water and they want to play. It’s important that you don’t make swimming lessons too regimental – take the time to add a few games in the mix to hold your kids’ interest. This post lists a few different games that are worth incorporating into swimming lessons. Feel free to make up your own games if you can think of any.
Create a sense of safety
A lack of confidence in the water is often down to a lack of feeling safe. Try not to be a nervous parent as your kids will sense this – speak calmly and smile while in the water with them so that they feel the pool is a safe environment. If you can, try to get kids comfortable putting their head underwater as early as possible, as this tends to be a big fear that kids have. You may be able to do this by going under the water yourself and turning it into a game.
Offer positive encouragement
When teaching skills to our kids, many of us have a tendency to dwell on what our kids may be doing wrong. Too much negative criticism will put your kids off wanting to swim, so try to embrace constructive criticism. Praise your kids for what they’re doing right – for instance, they may be kicking their legs right but not moving their arms. When it comes to correcting mistakes, try to focus on suggesting improvements rather than on the mistakes themselves.
Keep your kids warm
A lot of kids don’t like going into a cold pool. Try to look for a public indoor pool with a kids pool if you can – these pools are typically heated, so that kids feel more comfortable. If you have your own private pool, consider whether it’s worth looking into ways of heating your pool. As for swimming in the sea, consider the time of the year – the sea is typically warmest at the end of summer and beginning of fall. Once kids get out of the water, make sure that they’re also warm – these childrens towelling robes for beach days could be a great purchase. Comfort is key to making swimming enjoyable.
Celebrate milestones
Encourage kids to keep developing their swimming skills by celebrating milestones. Such milestones could include putting one’s head underwater, learning to swim without arm bands and learning to dive. You can celebrate with gifts like toys or going somewhere for ice cream.
My name is Louise and I am the Digital Marketing and Administrative Assistant at MyBump2Baby. I have been writing in the parenting niche for over 2 years specialising in fertility, pregnancy, baby and baby name support articles.