Getting Your Child Comfortable in the Swimming Pool

Families who have above ground pools in their backyards and want to spend fun family time in the pool know that before they can teach their children to swim, they have to first get them comfortable in the swimming pool. It takes patience and perseverance to get your child comfortable in the water and the parent has to offer loving support while doing this. The rewards of patience pay off in the long run when you and your children will be able to spend hours of fun in the swimming pool.

If your child absolutely loves bathtub time, they may be more welcome to the idea of jumping into the above ground swimming pool with you. You can take steps to get them to share your love of water with you by using patience to introduce them to the water. One of the best ways is by simply picking them up in a hug hold and walking into the swimming pool with them in your arms. Spend some time just walking around the pool with them in your arms and then you can work up to jumping and splashing in the water. If your child joins in the splashing fun and lets loose of your neck, they are getting used to the water and you can then move on to grasping them under their arms and letting their legs float while you walk around the swimming pool with them.

The next fun step in water fun will be teaching your child to put their face in the water and blow bubbles. If you do it first, they will probably be happy to copy your movements and will soon be putting their head underwater and blowing bubbles right back at you. You’re doing this so you can teach your child to be unafraid of having their face underwater and this will teach them to hold their breath.

After you’ve mastered the bubble blowing and going underwater, you’ll want to teach your child to jump into the water to you. Encourage them to jump into your arms. Stand a few feet back from the ledge and hold your arms out to your child. Make certain you catch them and that they can feel your hand when you jump. Eventually they will be able to jump to you, go underwater and know they will bob back up. Once this step has been mastered, teach them to doggy paddle and they will be able to swim right to you after they’ve jumped in.

It might be tempting to rush the steps of getting your child comfortable in the swimming pool water, but don’t. Plan a few weeks to work up to your child being able to happily frolic in the water — under your ever watchful eye — because no matter how comfortable they get in the water, you need to always remain vigilant in supervision in the water. With a little patience though, your child will learn to love the swimming pool just as much as you do.

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