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What to expect when your child is Learning to Swim. I have a rule my kids must learn to swim.  Here are my recommended ages and ideas on your kids learning to  swimming.   FACT: 2nd leading cause of accidental death of kids under the age of 14 in the US.  10 kids a day die due to drowning.  Also a main reason for me,  my parents and in laws live near lakes and ponds.  I have pushed the issue of swimming the 1st sport my kids had to learn, no soccer, or t-ball till they had knowledge in the water.  Not only is swimming a safety issue but it is a great sport for a lifetime.  You can swim from a year till you are 100+.

So a few years ago I wrote my safety tips on swimming.  I urge you to read it.

This year my 8 year old daughter has found her swimming ablity,  a parent it is lovely to watch.  My son 12 who as been swimming for year took the spring session off of swimming but admitted to me last night that he misses the regular exercise and being in the water.

When you child becomes a regular swimmer several things happens:

• Routine  they swim on a regular basis they come to expect it
• Water confidence but also a respect for the water – realistic fear of water
• Improves on  concentration: Swimming is a sport where you have to concentrate or you drown
• Swimmer make better students  Studies have show that on average swimmers had a better grade point average  then other sports
• Self Reliance you are competing against yourself and others to get a better time.  You are against yourself ultimately
• Caloric intake goes up at 1st then slows down over time.

The best way to really get a kids swimming is not the weekly lessons at the YMCA.  Where as they are great to get your child familiar with the water and hour 1/2 week will not make a strong swimmer anytime soon it is fine for under 4 years of age.  If you can find a local summer program like at a local pool,  that has lessons  every day and you follow through on a regular basis with will stick for a lifetime.

What to expect when your child is Learning to Swim:

Swimming age 1-2 years What to expect: I promote my child / baby getting in the water and going under for an early age.  My daughter started getting dunked at 15 months by one of the life guards.  She held her and made it a game-  Lots of smiling.  The result my daughter never was scared of putting her face in the water knowing it would come out.  Also if you get in the water  they love it with you.

Swimming age  3-4 What to expect: Make sure they kick on the wall and blow bubbles in the water continue to be use to the water. Get that face wet- super important.  (Don’t to this—>)  I tried to get my kids to float .. yea it just kind of freaks them out.  Let the kids get familiar with the water on there terms .. Do Not force because they will not progress.  Tip: buy your child Swim Goggles they make a child love to swim  because they can see underwater.

Swimming 4-5 years What to expect:  Start a more independent swimming and don’t expect greatness.  Very few kids total get it right away.  I found many parents think (including me) there kids are great and can do it and push quickly. The kids say I can do it and become disruptive in swim class. Listen to the Swim Teacher and take the ques from them.  Because the know how to teach swimming.  The best thing is to spend as much time at the pool as possible.

***In My Opinion: before your child goes to Kindergarten they are great at everything, at least as a parent I thought he could do everything my little angel and he was the best .. then Kindergarten and reality sets in,  your kids is great at somethings? this is true with your 1st  especially your 1st.. I hate to say it I can always spot a that Parent. Last Year I watch a little girl struggle in a class that was above her level ,  because Dad thought she was/needed to at that Level.  The Swim Teacher said she need to be at a lower level, the Dad said The swim Teacher was wrong, forcing the girl and teacher. The little girl disrupted and cried the entire class.  Taking away from the lesson from the other children.  So listen to your teachers.

Swimming 5-6 Kids What to expect: What to expect  might be progressing on the basic stokes Crawl (aka Freestyle) and Breast stroke (back and fly are harder) .  Breathing and learning how not to stop and stand while take breath is the hard part. Also some kids get the arms then struggle moving the feet.  Girls tend to progress quick then the boys,  They seem to be more coordinated  with arms and feet moving at the same time.  Again look to Swim Teacher.  This is the time that most kids will try to jump off the diving board.  They will be concerned with the deep water. Most swim teaches will catch the children.

Please note my son hated going off the Diving board (I did push the diving board thing-I am no saint) My son fought for a very long time , he did not get the rhythm (of not touch the ground) or go off the till right before 1st grade late Aug.   My son also swam underwater for a very long time(holding his breath) ,  the breathing was a major issue.

Swimming Ages 6-7 What to expect: They really start to get things going, swimming forward, The children start to  understand concepts and try to do them some kids will start really moving forward. They are confidant in the water.

My daughter started swim team at this point (after 1st grade) wanting to be like her older bother.. yea she was slow to cross the pool and I think the life guards were on pins and needles when she swam thinking she was going to drown (she would flail her arms and would not move forward when doing the crawl.)  She was very determined to make it.   I did ask if she could switch to breast stroke because they breath on every stroke making swimming easier. She went from 1.5 minutes to cross the pool with in a month she was able to cross the pool in 38 seconds.

Swimming ages 7-8 What to expect: This is the Sweet spot age the kids really start to get it.  They are confidant and willing to learn.  They have a need to do better and want to improve.   Expose them to the water and you will find amazing things happen quickly.  I call it when things “Click”  they learn how to control their bodies.   If you kids has not started swimming make sure they start at this age because the have the best attitude to learn, swiming that does not come easy for some, and it takes time.

Swimming ages 9-13 What to expect: This is when I find the girls can fly in the water compared to the boys they are more coordinated and  better listeners. Also 11-13 year old girls look like they are years ahead of the boys, because many girls start to develop  with puberty.  There male swimmers who are standouts ..but  the boys tend to screw around more,  they splash each others an rough house.  Also for some reason boys spit water on each other (gross).  Then 11-12 boys they get it and focus more.. After 13 they are developing it is fun to see the dramatic change  that happen with boys in the pool.

I have learned from my kids I such as I should never teaching my kids how to swim.  It is best if the Swim Teachers and Coaches teach them. (I learned when my son was 5 –  when he said Mom I can do it and shut me down) I felt it was best to leave the professionals to do it. I just provided praise and support.  I made sure they had oprotunity to learn.   I have spent many years sitting by a local pool.  I am not an expert except years of watching a learn with my kids.

Next week:  be sure to check out my post “So your Kid want to be on swim Team?   What to expect”
I also want to add if you are looking for Swim gear for your self or your kids check out swimoutlet.com they have the best prices around. I find my favorite Place to Shop On Line for Swim Gear  is SwimOutlet.com   the prices are the best and they have anything a swim family will need.