It’s widely understood that children have fun in the bath. But does this translate into swimming in a pool? Infants are capable of basic swimming skills. However, before you tackle a pool or swimming class, there are a few things you can do to help. We’ve already learned why children should learn to swim early on and here, we discuss how to help your child start swim lessons.
Start With Their Bath Time
If there is one thing that infants love, it’s bath time. All that splashing around, playing with toys, and spending time with their parents is an amazing time for everyone involved. The best way to learn how to help your child start swim lessons is to ensure that you’re making their bath time fun and comfortable. Although most infants like bath time, some see it as more of a chore. In this instance, following this step first is critical to making sure they will be ready to start swim lessons. Begin by making the environment nice and comfortable. This includes using warm water and ensuring you are giving off a happy, positive attitude.
Next, make sure to smile and laugh with them. After all, when you are smiling, they are smiling. Once your little one has transitioned to a full tub, get in there and play with them. It’s fun to blow bubbles in the water, splash gently and watch the joy on their faces as they enjoy this activity.
Ensure Your Child is Comfortable Around People
When you attend an infant swimming class, you are going to be with multiple families and other infants. Although you may feel safe with a lot of people around, the crowd can stress your child out. So, the next step to getting them used to swimming is to have your infant spend more time around people. This can be accomplished by going to the park, or visiting family.
Once your child is used to seeing different faces, and being around different of people, it will help their confidence grow. Socialisation is a very important part of swimming lessons, as it builds your child’s interaction with other babies and adults.
Show Your Child Your Own Water Confidence
Your child takes cues from you, and they pick up on your discomfort. If you’re afraid of the water, or feel apprehensive about them getting in, this can have a huge affect on their degree of comfort in the water. You could consider taking parent/child swimming lessons. Not only will this make your child feel more comfortable, but it’s a great parent and child bonding time. Always ensure you are giving off a happy, positive and confident attitude to your child, as this will help them to always feel secure in the water.
Spend Time in a Pool Prior to Lessons Starting
Swimming classes, although family-friendly, can seem fast-paced for both parent and child. So, the next step is to find a way to spend time alone in a pool with your infant. Bath time might be a breeze, but your child and yourself must get accustomed to larger bodies of water. In addition, your infant needs to have time to both get used to the new environment and simply be a child and have fun with their surroundings.
Being in a pool with other people helps your child get used to being splashed unexpectedly. It also shows them other examples of people enjoying their time in the water, and encourages them to do so too.
As you can see from the information above, there are several ways to get your infant used to swim before entering them into a class. It must be noted that you should take each step at your infant’s pace. Pushing too much or being too reluctant can slow down their progress.
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