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At this stage in your childs development you are the best swimming teacher they could have. However, at ages 3 to 4 is a good time to introduce your child to swimming lessons

Now this is common sense, but please make sure your child is happy with the lessons you choose. If they are not they could be put off swimming altogether. Try our swimming lessons section for advice.

What can I continue to encourage as a parent?

	Try replacing the arm bands and your support with floats. This gives your child more freedom in the water.
	At this stage your child can probably reach the floor with their legs, so how about getting them walking while using their arms to pull themselves along. OR.......
	Try using two floats, one under each arm (on their front or back) and encouraging them to kick their legs.

As they kick try getting your child to point there toes and keep there legs as straight as possible. This may seem over the top at this stage, but it’s worth it.

A great fun lesson is to encourage your child to push off the wall towards you and stretching out, this is great as they begin to learn to float and glide. Slowly increase your distance from the wall, your child will love doing this.

The Next Step Is Loads Of FUN - Learning to Stand & Glide through the water

Learning to stand

HOW TO stand from your front

	Start by Floating on your front
	Next Press your arms downwards, palms facing the floor
	Tilt your head back and bend your knees forward
	As you become upright, push your feet down to stand. Use your arms to maintain balance
	Stand fully on the pool floor

HOW TO Stand from your back

	Float on your Back
	Press your arms downwards, and bring head forwards
	NOW raise your knees towards your chest
	As you become upright, scoop your arms and hands forward and upwards
	Push your feet downward and stand up

Learning to Glide

Learning this skill is loads of fun and your child will love it.

HOW TO glide On your Front

	Use a float either out in front of you, or under each arm
	Push off from the wall or floor, raise both legs and stretch right out.

HOW TO glide on your Back

	Use a float on your chest or under each arm
	Again push of the wall or floor, raise both legs and stretch right out

As confidence grows, try removing the floats. This will give your child more freedom; maybe they can start making shapes as they float. A star is always a good one.

When your child has developed these skills in the water, they are on the road to being a good swimmer. The next step is to develop the swimming techniques of the four main strokes, these are,

• Backstroke

• Breaststroke

• Butterfly

• Front Crawl

PLEASE see our page on SWIMMING TECHNIQUE - THE FOUR MAIN STROKES, for tips and advice.

Good luck, now go and have some fun.

I hope this page has been of use to you; please contact us if you would like to add further tips for our readers. Thanks.

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