Parents often ask how they can teach their own children to swim. Sometimes teaching swimming looks so easy, even to those who are not good swimmers themselves. Do you really need a swim teacher and pay for swim lessons for your child to learn swimming?
Parents teach their children many things everyday and you may think why swimming should be no different. But teaching swimming can be more complex than most people think.
Knowing how to keep the process of learning to swim progressive and efficient, requires a mixture of science and creativity.
As a parent if you really like to teach your own child you need the following:
If you have all the above, you may both find the ‘learn to swim’ journey rewarding and successful.
But it’s worth bearing in mind that there is a risk of getting it wrong and putting your child off swimming for a very long time or for a lifetime.
Over the years I have taught many nervous children whose parents had tried teaching them to swim first before enrolling them into swim lessons. It’s not unusual to hear that a parent’s pushiness has completely put the child off swimming.
Even with the best of intentions, parents may sometimes get it wrong.
For example, a water confident parent might think forcing their child’s face in the water is a good tactic to teach water-confidence but it rarely is and often results in children refusing to allow water near their faces in future.
Experienced swim teachers know how difficult it is to build trust with a child in water and this process cannot be rushed.
If a parent knows how to swim but, doesn’t have any experience teaching it, the risk of pushing a child too fast at the beginning is very high. An out-of-pace start could make children feel unhappy and unsure about being in the water and swimming in general.
That’s why most people enrol their kids in swimming lessons because professional swim instructors have the right experience and training to know what to do and when to do different activities.
This article was written by Marjan Moosavi (owner and founder of Blue Wave Swim School).
Marjan has been a qualified swim teacher and coach since 1995 and holds an MSc in Sport Sciences. Marjan has been teaching swimming to all ages including baby swimming since early 1990’s. With a competitive swimming background, Marjan is an avid sports fan and a health & fitness enthusiast. Marjan also has been practicing Yoga for more than 20 years.
A good swim school with professional staff
April 19, 2021, www.yell.com
Easter 2021 Crash Course
Various lockdowns have held back my daughter’s swimming development so we opted for a crash 4 day course over Easter and she has come away from it much more confident and with a recognisable stroke as opposed to doggy paddle!
April 19, 2021, www.yell.com
Although I have only attended two lessons, Marjan’s bubbly personality makes you feel instantly at ease. During the lessons, the pool was not very busy which is a good thing (as opposed to public pools) for those who are anxious.
I would strongly recommend to adults who have experienced trauma with water at a certain time in their lives.
November 24, 2020, www.yell.com
My son has been going to swimming lessons at Blue Wave in Wimbledon for a few years now and thoroughly enjoys it. The teaching is great and the lessons well run. Helps to prepare him for when we finally get to go on holiday again!
September 26, 2020, www.yell.com
Highly Recommended
My son went to improve his swimming technique and found his instructor very helpful, very kind and patient. The school itself is very welcoming and feels safe for all the children who go there. I would highly recommend it.
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Excellent results
My son is 4 years-old and we were looking for weekend swimming classes in a nice environment that could bring good results. After some research we chose Blue Wave Swim. Our son has been having private lessons since the end of 2018 and he is progressing very well. We believe the professionalism of the team, the clean and tidy infrastructure, and the good care of the management are contributing for his development and confidence in the water. Thank you very much Blue Wave Swim!
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Awesome!
I am grateful to Marjan and her team at Blue Wave Swim for their hard work and for promoting happiness and enjoyment in swimming. It is amazing to watch the lessons, see the attention, the encouragement and the support the children receive. I have been impressed with my daughters’ progress and the fact that they love attending their classes and learning a vital life skill. Thank you very much. Great job!
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Superb Swimming School in Wimbledon
My daughter, who is now 7 years old, started with blue wave two years back and we have been very happy with her progress at the school. Initially we started with group lessons but once she got comfortable in water we moved her to semi private lessons, which made a lot of difference in her ability to learn swimming. As part of the smaller group she is better bonded with other children in the group and gets more attention from the swimming instructor, which is helping her advance her swimming skills. During her 2 years with blue wave, swimming instructors for my daughter have changed and while continuity in learning was maintained, I think this could have been managed better. Needless to say, she still goes and enjoys her time here and looks forward to her class every week. Overall we are very pleased with Blue Wave and would recommend them without any hesitation.
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Highly recommend
Highly recommend this swimming school. My daughter has been attending since she was 1 years old and she loves it. The teachers are very good with children and my daughter, who is now 4 years old is very confident in the water.
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
*My husband & I have taught my grandchildren to swim a length b4 lock down.. We want to carry on, but it seems no where let’s us have the facility, apart from training pool at sovereign Centre, which is always closed due to No life guard, I helped teach parkland school for 8 yrs. I taught my own boys, Nephews & nieces, Im Frustrated at the lack of places WE can teach our own to swim. I can never promise them the same time each wk. because I have to call on the day, to see if its open or not. Not really exceptible, when we live in a seaside town. *