How to Encourage Children to Start Swimming

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Your backyard pool provides a whole host of benefits. 

As a place to socialize with friends and family or relax after a long day at work, they’re also great to help little ones learn how to swim. For families, having a pool in the backyard can help their children get used to the water in the comfort of their own home and learn a valuable life skill. 

Every child is different, and while some will be naturals at taking to the water, for others, swimming can be daunting. 

While swimming lessons for children outside of your home will help, there are a number of great things you can do at home to encourage children to start swimming.

Here at Claffey Pools, we’ve put together some of our best tips to motivate a child to swim.

When do children first start swimming?

Before we give you some tips on how to encourage kids to swim, let’s look at when the best time is for them to first take to the water.  

There is no set age when a child can begin swimming, it really depends on the individual and whether you as their parent think they’re ready. 

Some parents take their kids into the pool at an early age, with babies as young as 6 weeks old taking to the water. 

However, typically, children begin swimming lessons around the age of two or three years old. 

If your child is scared of the water or just needs a bit of encouragement getting into the pool, there are a number of things you can do to help them.

Read on to find out more.  

Use motivating words

Learning new things can be frustrating or boring for children, especially if it’s an activity like swimming where they may also initially be scared. With this in mind, always make sure you’re using positive, proactive, and motivating words to encourage your child. 

Try and help them focus on the fun and enjoyment they can get from swimming and offer lots of praise when they make progress. 

Keep it fun

Staying on the theme of motivation, remember to keep it fun. Yes, you’re teaching them a skill, but your pool is a place your children should enjoy, so keep this in mind. There are a number of ways you can make swimming fun, including playing children’s swimming games, getting other family members like siblings and cousins involved, and taking photos or videos of them in the water (the added bonus is they can look back on these memories when they get older!).  

Have the right equipment 

You can also use swimming pool equipment to help motivate a child to swim. Armbands, rubber rings, floats, and other inflatable toys and objects can help kids feel more comfortable in the water while also having fun.

Retrieving dive sticks from steps is a great way to encourage children to blow bubbles on the surface of the pool and even put their face in the water.

Practice step-by-step

Different kids learn at different speeds, so take your time and focus on each skill individually:

• Kicking – encourage children to keep their legs as straight as possible, point their toes, and keep the motion strong yet controlled.  
• Holding their breath – one of the most important skills when in the water, start by practicing out of the water by seeing how long they can hold their breath, before transitioning into the water. 
• Using their arms – for children, the front crawl stroke is the best one to practice when learning how to swim. Get them to stretch their arms out, pull back through the water, and keep their fingers together. 

Once the basics have been mastered, you can try more advanced swimming techniques like backstroke, diving, and treading water. 

Don’t rush

One of the most important tips we can offer is to remain patient and not rush. Encouraging a reluctant swimmer into the water can be time-consuming and stressful, but just stick with it. Try not to get frustrated, as this is likely to only slow things down and make them even more unwilling to swim.

If things get too much, take a deep breath and a break. If you have a pool in your yard, it’s always going to be there and you can try again tomorrow.  

At Claffey Pools, we can make your dream pool a reality, providing you with a quality family pool where your kids can learn to swim in their own backyard. We’ve acted as luxury pool builders in Southlake Texas, Colleyville & Coppell for more than 30 years, creating personal paradises that meet the unique needs of every property and family. Whether you are looking to build your own pool, have your existing one remodeled or require weekly pool maintenance, we’ve got you covered. To find out how we can help you, get in touch with our team today.