Swimming Aids for a 3 Year Old

B

Babyface

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Could you tell me what swimming aids you use for your 3 year old please?

There seems to be so much choice on the market that I'm quite confused as to what to buy. Are float suits/belts any good? What about the little jackets with floats? Someone from the UK has recommended swim pads which are simular to arm bands and also a woggle/noodle.

Also does anyone know what swim instructors tend to use here to teach swimming as I'd be looking for something that my LO can use both in the pool on holiday and for learning.

Thanks alot!
 
swim floats

I am sure you will get varied response to your question. Our 3year old is using the "floaties" arm bands and loves using them to "swim". Up until a few weeks ago she would only "swim" in the deeper water if she had Mommy or Daddy's hand as an extra support. But now she is "swimming" on her own - well assisted by the floaties - kicking and using her arms - and really loves it. I am looking to get her into some swim lessons so she can begin learning to swim without relying on the floaties. I do fear a bit of her becoming too reliant on them if we dont try getting her some practice without them. She is also learning to use a kick board and enjoying that as well.
Look forward to hearing input from others as well. Good luck and happy swimming!
 
D also wore armbands until he was 3 1/2. That's when he started taking lessons and they only use a noodle and board in class. He's able to swim a bit, but still uses the 2 aids.
 
Thank you Rani and Stilli. I've gone ahead and ordered the Delph Swim Pads and some regular arm bands for him too. Will also buy the noodle, it looks like my son could have great fun with it and I've heard they're great for beginners.

Thanks again.
 
Rani, are you happy with the ESF's swimming lessons? Do you mnd me asking if they run them all year round as I'd be interested in signing up for some in September. Does it depend which pools they use ie - indoor or outdoor?

Thanks!
 
Yes, very happy with the classes at ESF. They are all year round, and the pools are indoor. We go to South Island, and its run by ESF teachers. West Island school is run by Harry Wright, which quite a few members have also recommended. There is a price difference between the 2 for some reason. Classes are only for 30mins which is quite short. I take D, and observe the lesson, and then we practise at our pool later in the week.
 
We used a swim vest or a sitting floatie until the kids got to be about 2 or 3. Then we used floatie armbands.

But, I would also sometimes take off the arm bands and play w/ them and teach my kids to float and play without them. I think my kids were able to do w/out them when they got to be about four.

But, we are lucky to have a very nice pool in our housing estate and I am a confident swimmer and had helped a couple of people learn
to swim before (not as a professional instructor).

Stilli,

What I did was from the time they were very young was to play w/ them in the pool (from ~ 4 months old). I would never play w/ them in a way that made their heads go into or under the water unless they wanted to. That is the most important thing. They need to love the water and feel confident in it and trust that you will never ever ever deliberately do a scary thing with them.

One game they really liked was "bouncing" where I would walk up and down the pool and bounce them in my arms so that they would go up in the air and then into the water to about their chest.

I would also play "swishing" in the water, or (in their floaties) play "train" older one in front w/ me supporting her shoulders and little one on my back and play that way.

Then I worked on teaching them to float on their backs. We called it "sui mo" (jelly-fish). I would show them how I could float and I would have them lie in my arms in the water and and then BRIEFLY remove my hands and see if they could float, replacing my hands the second they began to sink.

I got them used to putting their faces in the water through the time honored method of blowing loud bubbles. They learned to dunk their heads themselves by watching older kids go under and wave w/ their hands.
 
swimming

Thnx for the suggestions Loupou - we too play in the water a lot with our daughter - in fact as we have recently just arrived to HK we are enjoying the ease of going to the pool on a daily basis. Oue daughter has yet to actually go completely under but she is a keen observer of her new pals and I think the "peer pressure" will eventually ease her into it (infact that is what got her "swimming" without clinging to me). My goal is to keep the enjoyment level high while balancing it with some respect for the water - as well as the others in and around the pool. I find it is great time for the 2 of us to play together as well as get some good exercise too.
 
My 4 year old can swim and take breaths and has not had formal lessons.

We started him on 2 noddles under his arms at about 18-24 months. They are quite long and create a big "u" as he free floated/paddled around.

We consciously avoided fixed aids (vests, armbands, etc) as they create artificial assistance and don't teach any confidence, control or comfort.

You can be wild with those on and basically learn bad habits.

We gradually moved from two noodles to one, and then to a kickboard.

If you want to have drinks and lounge in the pool, then I can't help you... with the noodles you have to be in the water and watching them at all times.

He learned quickly to control himself and not be flip flopping about... he also learned self control and conifdence allowing him to be free swimming now.

...

oh, if you've ever had a child clinging to you for dear life in the pool you'll know what i mean... when we were in the pool and he is free-floating on the noodle we were the envy of all the those other parents in the pool. He's wasn't breaking my back, and he was tooling around on his own while we followed.
 
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