No interest in learning to swim

proudworkingmom82

DD has zero interest in learning to swim.  She will play in the pool in the 3ft end where she can easily touch but has no desire to actually swim.  I really want her to learn to swim.  Any tips?  Swimming lessons aren't an option at this time (work schedule and money).  Maybe I should wait until she's a little older?  She's 4.5.  I was about 8 when my dad taught me.  I just know that kids are learning so much earlier these days.  

TSimpsy07

You could try swimming in the deep
End with her

TSimpsy07

Make it a joint effort while assuring her that your body is physically there to assist her. The only time I ever panicked was when I realized I was on my own and my dad wasn't within reach.

NativeFloridian

As someone who's been around water all my life, I've seen kids learn at all different ages.  Everyone around here learns.  I learned sometime around 4 or 5 maybe.  I definitely recall the learning process.  But I think it's a good idea to pay attention to your kid's cues.  Water is scary and if you push her into learning she may end up hating the water and never learn at all.

Like PP said, I only ever freaked out when whoever my pool guardian was was out of reach and I was totally on my own.  Until I was totally fine with swimming freely I wanted someone with me at ALL times.

proudworkingmom82

TSimpsy07:

You could try swimming in the deep End with her

She doesn't like this.  I take her into the deep end with me all the time but she doesn't want out of my arms and doesn't want to even attempt to swim. 

proudworkingmom82

I definitely don't want to make her hate water, id rather her learn later in life than do that.

proudworkingmom82

fredalina:

What is her hang up? Is it getting her face wet? She could wear goggles. Is it going under? You can try some super cool dive toys, whatever kind she's into. Try floating toys too and get her to practice swimming to get them. Bribe her with M and M's. We just went through this and honestly I felt she needed the instructor to push her a little. It worked. Now she is swimming about 10 yards at a time. But we also did the SpiderMan dive toys, rubber duckie floaters, and M and M bribe.

 

She doesn't like her face wet or going under but her big hangup is she doesn't like being in water where she can't touch.  I guess I could try the toys and bribery thing.  I bought her a floatie today, one I let her pick out.  She can hang on it and swim with it so were gonna see how that goes.