Imagining your child swimming alone may be scary, but don't wait until she's a teenager to teach her how to doggy paddle. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most kids are ready to take swimming lessons at the age of 4. Help your child get acclimated to the water before she takes formal lessons in your neighborhood swimming pool. Consult your doctor before teaching your child to swim if she has injuries or health conditions.
Blowing Bubbles
Help your child become comfortable in the water by showing him how to blow bubbles. Show your child how to submerge only his mouth and explain that he must either keep his mouth shut or blow out to stay under water without swallowing water. When he feels comfortable blowing bubbles with his mouth, show him how to submerge his face up to his nose while blowing out at the same time to avoid breathing in water.
Going Under Water
When your child has mastered bubble blowing, get her comfortable with submerging her head completely under the water. If your child is afraid to go under water, she will have a hard time learning to swim because she'll be focusing on trying not to get her face wet. Lead by example -- put your head under water and sing an easy song your child knows such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Instruct your child to put her head under the water and sing along with you. Your child may have so much fun singing, she'll barely notice she's under the water.
Gliding
Teach your child that following the weight of her head is the key to swimming. Place your hand approximately 8 inches underneath the water. Instruct your child to use the weight of her head to meet your hand, but not to push her head down into the water. Once your child has mastered this, have her lie facedown in the water while wearing goggles. Instruct your child to glide through the water by letting her head carry her. When your child is able to glide through the water, she's ready to start swimming.
Swimming
Teach your child the basics of kicking his feet and paddling his cupped arms in front of his chest. This stroke is called the doggy paddle. If your child is still nervous about gliding or putting his face in the water, he will probably be tense and won't float as easily in the water. When your child is comfortable gliding in the water, adding hand and leg movements may require some coordinating, but he will be swimming in no time. When he's mastered the doggy paddle, move on to more advanced strokes, like the breaststroke.
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