Swim Lesson Ideas For A Five-year-old

As of 2007, fatal drowning was the second-leading reason for accidental deaths due to injury in children between the ages of 1 and 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although your 5-year-old child is still young, he is at an appropriate age to take swimming lessons and begin to learn to swim.

Readiness

The American Red Cross conducted a poll in 2009, which found that 21 percent of the participants learned to swim before they turned 5, and 56 percent learned to swim between the ages of 5 and 10. The poll found that the earlier the person learned to swim, the better they swam as an adult. Learning to swim at a young age will help keep your 5-year-old safe around the water, as well as give him the ability to enjoy water related activities for years to come.

Private Lessons

Private swimming lessons for your 5-year-old are generally the most expensive option; however, the opportunity for your child have an instructor focus solely on her may help her learn to swim faster. Private swimming lessons are usually held in your private pool, or at a gym or community center that allows private, certified swimming instructors the use of their facilities. In a private lesson, the instructor will help your child feel comfortable putting her body and face in the water, teach her beginning stroke movements and instruct her on water safety.

Semi-Private

If you have another child who is ready for swimming lessons, or if your child has a friend who wants to learn to swim, semi-private swimming lessons are an excellent option. Rather than a swimming instructor trying to focus on five to eight 5-year-old children at one time, the instructor divides her time evenly between the two children. The incentive of having a sibling or friend to demonstrate his bravery and competencies may help your child be motivated to perform his best during lessons.

Group

You can find group swimming lessons for your 5-year-old at most community centers, some private gyms and often through your city's parks and recreation department. Before signing up, make certain the group class size has a small student-to-teacher ratio for safety and adequate instruction time. Due to the size of the group and their young age, the instructor generally asks the children to remain on the side with their legs in the water as he works with one child at a time. Group swimming lessons are often the least expensive choice for paid swimming lessons.

Teach Him Yourself

You can teach your child to swim yourself by setting a designated time and location for swimming lessons. Purchase a book or DVD, which explains the techniques and sequencing of swimming lessons for young children. If your child listens to you readily and responds to your instruction, teaching her to swim is a rewarding experience for both of you. Once she learns basic strokes, consider further group or private lessons to perfect her stroke and teach her more advanced skills.