Any tips for teaching a child how to swim?

Question

Me and my 7 year old niece went swimming today,I'm trying to teach her how to swim but every time i let go of her she just sinks .ive tried floats and lying her on her belly but it just doesn't work.she's really small and skinny for her age and i think that may be the problem,no matter how much she kicks her legs she just can't stay afloat and i feel ive tried everything any tips at all will help.

Answer 1

give her insentive.... also if she is having trouble floating on her back tell her to squeeze her cheeks, and not the ones on her face.  

Answer 2

Get her to hold on to the side of the pool and practice kicking her legs, once she has the hang of that try her with a float.

Its all about patience, make sure you have fun too or she'll get bored with it. A simple game like throwing you locker keys some where in the shallow end and "racing" to get them will encourage her to swim and build her confidence going under the water.

Answer 3

I learn to swim with an inflatable float, which I used along with arm bands, and this gave me security, and taught me how to swim with my legs, and relax my body.

Answer 4

Have her try treading water with her head laid back--see if she can float with her face clear without trying to keep her legs on the surface. First have her time how long she can hold her breath OUT of the water (for comfort level). Then get in water and hold breath without paddling or kicking and see if she sinks or floats.

Answer 5

Try a jacket, its like a life jaket but you can remove the floats, this helps the child float in its own time, do not rush as child can get scared and may never swim again. (if your tall it helps lol)

Answer 6

Teaching someone to learn how to swim cant be done in one dive in the pool.

1. Teach her how to properly breathe first. That'll make her conscious with the situation and would not panic if she suddenly sinks.

2. Make her relax while lying on the water. Our body has air that means if we do relax, we can float.

3. When she learn how to do that, try to make her do the kicks. You can use a kickboard to make her upper body float while she master the kicks.

4, Then you can introduce her to Freestyle stroke.

It'll take some time and effort before she can learn how to swim. Again, your kind wouldn't achieve that in just one dive in the pool. Make sure that she will calm down and won't panic on water. If she does, more chances that she will sink. And of course, she needs to be willing to learn how to.

Hope this helps.  

Answer 7

She needs to RELAX her whole body.  A stiff body won't float.  (That's why a body in rigor mortise sinks in water, and later rises to the surface when the rigor wears off.)

I taught my children and grandchildren how to float and swim.  My youngest granddaughter is thin, and has a hard time, but when she feels safe with us in the water, she is able to relax and float a bit.

Answer 8

I have seen this many times.  First, at 7 she may be hesitant.  Second, one does not float by kicking or moving their arms.  Floating is balancing the body.  Motionless.  Try standing her up, bending her knees until her shoulders are submerged.  Then, arms extended outward, tilt her head back in the water...(be sure she does not rise and get her shoulders out)....then have her lift her belly button up while you support her head.  If her legs sink, have her tuck them under her butt while keeping her knees in the water.  (Some will raise them out and this causes you to sink)  If you can not get her to do this after a few attempts, try curling her up in a ball and have her float in a ball, face down.  If she floats, then it is her balance that is the problem, not that she can not float.  It will take a few tries at the back float....kids never want to do it...it scares them.  Otherwise, have her float face down and have her tuck her chin to her chest "glueing" it there.  If she floats then, again, her balance on her back is off.  Head down on the belly is key to floating and swimming on your stomach.  Good luck!