-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Rut Reporters
- Deer Camp
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
- Hook Shots
Presented by
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Health & Fitness
- F&S Adventurer
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
-
- Rifles
- Shotguns
- 2nd Amendment
- SHOT Show
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
AnswersASK YOUR QUESTION
Print
Email
Share
Answers
Browse By
Top Users
Q:
I don't know if this question qualifies for Field and Stream but it's related to our camping trips. . . my daughter will be 3 next summer is this a good time to start swim lessons? And how do I go about that? It's a safety thing because we spend so much time next to lakes and rivers.
Question by squirrelgirl. Uploaded on November 12, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Loading...
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
Fieldandstream.com is part of the Field & Stream Network, a division of Bonnier Corporation.
Copyright © 2012 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Answers (8)
I started my kids in life jackets at 2..we spend a lot of time at the beach..at 3 they usually started figuring out how to stay upright in the life jackets by themselves and swim out to me, by four they were swimming fairly well on their own with life jakets, next summer my oldest will be 5 and we will work on swimming without the jacket. I don't think they are ever to young to start learning to swim, and about safety around streams and lakes. It is as important as a fisherman to teach your kids water safety, as gun safety is to the children of hunters....
Contact your local public swimming pool or YMCA/YWCA. At age 3, it may be hard to find an Instructor who specializes in this age group. My gut feeling you will might not find a class so I recommend to find a life vest that is Coast Guard approved and get her use to it and to where it when around water. During my years in Search and Rescue, its has been my experience in all the drownings, the parents were at hand but it only takes a fraction of an inch out of reach and a blink of an eye for disaster to happen! Your best defense and Insurance is a "VEST"! You also can put patches and drawings on the vest that would make her want to have it on even in bed. Kids can do the darnedest things, you just have to find out how to get them to do it :)
Three years is the age I taught all mine to swim. One summer in the pool (or lake) more than twice a week usually gets it, except for the more cautious tot. Qualified instructors help (I was a water survival instructor in the Marines)... Patience and practice during the course of a summer will do it. And it is VERY important!
Good answer that are posted here!!!
I started my son at the age of 2, We had a private swimming pool in the backyard and I have him swimming everyday...He loves the water and it was easy for me to give him some class and I was a Marine Recon for 8 years...
Great suggestions have already been posted. My daughter took classes through the American Red Cross at age five, and my son started a bit later (7 or 9, I believe), but there were younger children in those classes, and I was impressed that these kids were swimming before they could walk!
Strongly agree with the PFD (personal flotation device, the vest) whenever they're playing in or near the water, aboard a kayak, canoe or boat.
YMCA has certified swim instructors if you would like to put her in such a program. They have beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.
American Red Cross also has them as previuosly mentioned
I personally think that it is a GREAT idea to teach kids to swim as early as possible so that they know what to do should they find themselves in the water for one reason or another. I taught my kids to swim at about 2 or 3. I just spent lots of time in the water with them and started them out with swimmies until they learned to navigate on their own. I think that most sensible parents realize that teaching them to swim doesn't mean you intend to abandon them on the lake. Clay is right on, just because they know how to swim, doesn't mean you can suspend good safety practices like parental supervision and life vests.
spend as much time in the shallow water with your kids, they see you smiling and having fun, then they'll be having fun. I put my hand under my childrens belly while I assured them I would not let them sink. As I move the child in a circle I say now grap the water with one hand then the other, grabbing the water with a cupped hand and pushing it behind you and at the same time keep kicking your feet. It does take time but I have taught several children by using this method. I also encourage the child to show the water who's the boss, and that the child controls the water. The fast you make the water move behind you, the faster you'll be swimming.
Post an Answer
I started my kids in life jackets at 2..we spend a lot of time at the beach..at 3 they usually started figuring out how to stay upright in the life jackets by themselves and swim out to me, by four they were swimming fairly well on their own with life jakets, next summer my oldest will be 5 and we will work on swimming without the jacket. I don't think they are ever to young to start learning to swim, and about safety around streams and lakes. It is as important as a fisherman to teach your kids water safety, as gun safety is to the children of hunters....
Contact your local public swimming pool or YMCA/YWCA. At age 3, it may be hard to find an Instructor who specializes in this age group. My gut feeling you will might not find a class so I recommend to find a life vest that is Coast Guard approved and get her use to it and to where it when around water. During my years in Search and Rescue, its has been my experience in all the drownings, the parents were at hand but it only takes a fraction of an inch out of reach and a blink of an eye for disaster to happen! Your best defense and Insurance is a "VEST"! You also can put patches and drawings on the vest that would make her want to have it on even in bed. Kids can do the darnedest things, you just have to find out how to get them to do it :)
Three years is the age I taught all mine to swim. One summer in the pool (or lake) more than twice a week usually gets it, except for the more cautious tot. Qualified instructors help (I was a water survival instructor in the Marines)... Patience and practice during the course of a summer will do it. And it is VERY important!
Good answer that are posted here!!!
I started my son at the age of 2, We had a private swimming pool in the backyard and I have him swimming everyday...He loves the water and it was easy for me to give him some class and I was a Marine Recon for 8 years...
Great suggestions have already been posted. My daughter took classes through the American Red Cross at age five, and my son started a bit later (7 or 9, I believe), but there were younger children in those classes, and I was impressed that these kids were swimming before they could walk!
Strongly agree with the PFD (personal flotation device, the vest) whenever they're playing in or near the water, aboard a kayak, canoe or boat.
I personally think that it is a GREAT idea to teach kids to swim as early as possible so that they know what to do should they find themselves in the water for one reason or another. I taught my kids to swim at about 2 or 3. I just spent lots of time in the water with them and started them out with swimmies until they learned to navigate on their own. I think that most sensible parents realize that teaching them to swim doesn't mean you intend to abandon them on the lake. Clay is right on, just because they know how to swim, doesn't mean you can suspend good safety practices like parental supervision and life vests.
spend as much time in the shallow water with your kids, they see you smiling and having fun, then they'll be having fun. I put my hand under my childrens belly while I assured them I would not let them sink. As I move the child in a circle I say now grap the water with one hand then the other, grabbing the water with a cupped hand and pushing it behind you and at the same time keep kicking your feet. It does take time but I have taught several children by using this method. I also encourage the child to show the water who's the boss, and that the child controls the water. The fast you make the water move behind you, the faster you'll be swimming.
YMCA has certified swim instructors if you would like to put her in such a program. They have beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.
American Red Cross also has them as previuosly mentioned
Post an Answer