How do i teach my 5 yr old to swim?

Question

When she was 3, she had no fear of the water and actually swam (with swimmies) the width of the pool while i walked beside her but was not holding onto her. last year and this year, she is terrified to let go of me and, as far as i know, nothing has happened to make her scared of the water.

Help!!!

Answer 1

I have a 4 year old daughter, Ellie, who was exactly the same until a few weeks ago. My two older kids go to swimming lessons on a monday, so I take Ellie, my 3 year old Corey, and my baby Ava to the smaller 3 ft pool. She was always very scared and would cling onto me, whilst the two others wee happy bobbing about in their inflatable baby seat type things lol. Well I ended up buying her a pink inflatable life vest which she absolutely loves and now she wants to go swimming all the time. I've been showing her how to do the doggy paddle with the life vest on for now as she's only 4 but she turns 5 this month and I'll soon try her doggy paddling without the vest. The key is to encourage her and reward her when she does swim well. Another good technique is saying how about being a big girl and trying without the vest, look there's big girls ove there swimming without life vests! Good luck and I know how you feel. Roxie Xox.

Answer 2

Take her to classes where a pro teaches her how. Local YMCA or YWCA will have classes all year round.

Answer 3

It's similar to learning how to ride a bike.

Hold her belly under the water so she is "swimming" with your help.  Show her some basic swimming moves and make this FUN!  Show her a really fun swim park you will take her to when she has learned.  Practice practice practice and show her how to go under the water and hold her breath (that might take the fear out).  But some kids snorkeling supplies.

Good luck and kids go in and out of fears so if she is totally against it, wait till next summer and try again.

Answer 4

Don't throw her in the pool. or force her underwater. My mom made me take swimming lessons as a small child. The instructor would grab me and force me to go under water. Too this day I don't like swimming pools or want anything to do with water. I take a bath and a shower, but that is the extent of it. Don't force her to learn how to swim.

The other thing to be afraid of is stray f***s and urine floating in water.

Answer 5

two words

swimming lessons

seriously, go to the local swimming pool. They do lessons

Answer 6

LOL, totally had the same problem when I was younger. My parents put a full swim vest on me and we sat on the pool steps. Then they said just walk deeper and back up, and I would hold on to the rail. Then, tell her to hold the side of the pool and start kicking her legs. Also, I didn't believe the life vest worked, so while she is holding on to something, slowly let her go and she will find out the floats work.