Teach Your Children to Swim

Several years ago I watch as a little girl who was barely two jumped into a pool and seemed to begin drowning in front of her mother who did nothing. As I started to say something, the little girl surfaced and dived back down.  I realized that this two year old was swimming underwater with ease. I had no idea this was possible.  My first thought was of my niece who drowned at 17 months old. I asked the mother how her daughter had learned to swim so young and very soon after my son was enrolled in lessons.

Now, both of my children, ages 7 and 3, are swimmers. The picture above is of my daughter at age 2 diving to the bottom of a deep end to retrieve a ring. We don’t have a pool, but I know the risks water poses to children all too well. The lessons I put my children in were more expensive than the lessons at the local community pool, but the results were worth it to me. I advise parents to be sure their children learn to swim one way or another.

Even young children can learn to swim and survive in the pool.  Check out this short video of my daughter swimming and climbing out of the pool at the age of 20 months.

Now that my children know how to swim, they continue to take lessons to help them refine their skills. Here is another short video of my daughter swimming freestyle at the age of 2 1/2.

We love to swim around here.  The desert heat requires it. Wherever you live I am sure you know how much children love water. Please teach your children to swim and watch them around water.

Have you taught your children to swim?  How did you do it? Feel free to leave comments. Share and let’s talk about it.

In memory of my niece Dominique who would have been graduating high school this year. We love and miss you sweetie.