how can I teach my 5 year old to swim?
545472
This site has tips on learning to swim.\n\nhttp://www.daaa.org/swimlearn.htm\n\nMake sure you are always supervising her while in the pool. The American Red Cross also has learn to swim classes as well\n\nhttp://www.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/lts.html\n\nThis site offers babyswimming but she might be too old.\n\nhttp://www.babyswimming.com/
107148
If she is on a team and not improving stroke during practice look at joining a different team with different coaching attitudes. If her practice is just dozens of kids swimming laps with no feedback she is being short changed. If the YMCA is not an option and she really needs the private lessons talk to her coaches and see if they will help out. Sorry I don't have specifics for your area, but try USA swimming for other options.\nGood luck
646156
If you are comfortable taking the kids around water you could take them to a local park where there is a lake or pond and you can feed the ducks there.  I live in a small town and there are two places here to do that so I'm sure there's a place where you live.  Kids love it!! And it doesn't cost any more than a loaf of bread, which you can buy at a day-old bread store for next to nothing or take one from home.  You can take a picnic lunch from home and just enjoy the day.  But I would definatly get permission from the parents before taking the children around water!!\n\nAs for art and craft ideas, there are lots of fun things to do outdoors in the summer. Doing art outside cuts down on the mess and clean up time  Here are a few:\n\nPainting with water-  all you need are paint brushes of any size and a bucket of water.  The kids can "paint" the house, the sidewalk, the deck....whatever....and watch as the "paint" magically disappears.  I taught preschool for 13 years and my kids there always loved to do this.\n\nShaving Cream Play-  All you need for this one is a can of shaving cream and a surface for them to fingerpaint with it on....like a table with a smooth top or an art easle if they have one.  Just spray a glob of it and let them rub it around.  If they play in it long enough it will eventually disappear but if not it is easily cleaned up and so are the kids...even if they get covered in it, it just wipes right off.\n\nBubble Painting-  Add some paint to bubble solution and let the kids blow the bubbles onto paper.  \n\nI hope something here has been helpful!
981103
Tell them i would be better off in the pool then having nothing to do ......... swimming will give me somthing other to do than what most kids who dont participate in sports... drugs ect.
1032904
For swim lessons, where kids have fun, here are some good ones:\n\ntag.. you would be amazed how much fun it is in the water, walls are base.. so much fun. and they have to do a set while they are doing it ( for more experienced swimmers ) \n\ncone.. have an orange cone in the bottomo of the pool, and have 2 or 3 kids per lane.. you can play power cone or poison cone..  the object of the game is either to have the cone in the bottom of your lane at the end of the set. \n\nThose two are more when you ahve a workout and you want to have fun.. \n\nthere are reflex games, that are a lot of fun:\nstand in the middle of the pool and pick names for both ends.. and whenever you say the name, everyone sprints to that side.. you can change the names, and trick the kids.. and award points to whoever gets there first\n\nand I know many more.. if you choose me as best answer and email me, i can give you more
1148594
Okay. So, if there is a local, "open" swimming pool in your town area, go there. Then, start at the deep end (not too deep). Hold breath in the air and then go down in the water. And just breathe, down in the water, just breathe. Breath with your nose and mouth. Just imagine being a fish, you know, when we were babies in the stomach, we breathe in water! Just do it. Don't be scared. When you breathe underwater, you are fine, soon the water would push you up when you're running out of oxygen or just kick your feet up if you need more air. Then keep doing this. It'll help you *immensley*. Once you learn how to breathe, things will get a lot easier. And just Try to swim or float on the water while breathing. So you are basically teaching your body to swim. Okay, during the summer, take swimming lessons in your local town area. You'll learn breastroke, sidestrock, FRONTSTROKE, BACKSTROKE, elementary backstroke, butterfly. Etc. But most importanly, just teach yourself a little, just be a fish! Just thing as water as your home.
1097498
Well, i'm 16 and at the moment I can swim (crawl) 200metres (+-219 yards) in about 2mins and 8secs (I've done better :-), I stopped swimming for a while), when I was 12 or 13, i did this in about 3mins 30secs. What stroke are you refering to, crawl/freestyle, or breaststoke, or backstroke , the strokes are important in comparing time.  Good lengths to do are (sorry i work in meters :-)) 50meters (mine- 30secs), 100 meters (mine +- 1min 3secs), 200 meters, 400 meters. To get better, get your daughter to concentrate on her breathing (this increases ones lung capacity and makes them in a way fitter), in crawl- try not to breathe every 2 strokes but every 3 (breathing once on either side) If shes already doing that then great. Obviously make sure she doesn't overdo it. She can also use a board and just kick for 100meters and then just use her arms (no help from legs) for 100meters and then for another 100 meters arms and legs together, this will also help go faster (obviously all this takes time and it must be constant-everyday, every second day ect). Hope that helped.
584693
You have to hold your breath and keep your eyes open or wear goggles.\nPut your head down into the water and put your feet up in the air out of the water. It is easy if you can swim under water. Learn that first.
601317
Read to him, talk to him (no baby talk). Go on walks together and examine plants, flowers and animals you see along the way. Play simple board games with him. Make learning fun and he will respond by wanting to learn. We did this with our grand daughter and she is in 1st Grade an A Honor roll student, and loves to learn, it's an adventure for her. Don't put any pressure on your son though, make everything a game. We bought things like a plastic table mat with clocks on one side where she could draw in the hands of the clock to tell the time she went to school, came home, had lunch etc. On the reverse of the mat is the same thing but in written sentences with spaces for her to fill in the missing word. Another table mat we bought for her is a map of the world (simplified), on the reverse is a map of the USA with all the states outlined and named. We bought jig saw puzzles for her from the time she could hold something and place it where she wanted it to go (rather than just wildly throw it). Start with 10 or 12 piece puzzles and build up to the bigger ones.\nKids learn an amazing amount of stuff very quickly, they like to poke about in dirt-make that a learning thing, is the dirt wet or dry, what kind of stones are in the dirt, are there any bugs in the dirt, how many bugs are there? After finishing with the dirt we go wash our hands and feel and see the soap wash all the dirt and germs off, look at the colors on the soap bubbles on our hands. The possibilities are endless with young children, just make it fun!
178342
my 5 year old daughter...
254337
Great exercise and therapy:\n\n Swimming can be very demanding for the beginner. Exercise at a comfortable pace and periodically check your heart rate to make sure you're staying in your training range. It is recommended that beginners swim 12-20 minutes, building endurance with time. As you progress, you'll be able to swim farther and faster at each workout, and the efficiency of your strokes will improve. Intermediate swimmers should swim 20-30 minutes and advanced swimmers 30-60 minutes. The freestyle, or crawl, is the most efficient and strenuous stroke. A 150 pound person burns about 8.5 calories, a minute, swimming freestyle. \n\n If you get tired, switch to a less strenuous stroke, such as the sidestroke or breaststroke, or swim a few laps with a kickboard. Swimming in sets - 4 laps freestyle, 4 laps breaststroke, 4 laps backstroke, for example - will make your workout more interesting and will exercise more muscles\n\nSimple Water Exercises:\n\n Kick with a kickboard or holding on to the side of the pool to tone legs, back and stomach. \n\n Leg lifts also condition legs, back and stomach. \n\n Holding on to the side of the pool, lift each leg 10 times in front of you, behind you and to each side. \n\n Running in the water increases your heart rate just as swimming does. Many people who can't run on land can run in the water without a problem. Because of the water's resistance, the impact on your body is far less. In chest-high water, begin by running with your hands on your head, and as you become more fit, paddle with your arms. You can alternate running with skipping, hopping, or even dancing in the water.\n\n Bobbing up and down in the water improves breathing and muscle tone. \n\n Treading in the water improves arm and leg strength. Whatever your level of ability, remember to cool down afterwards with water or stretching exercises
103071
It's different for everyone.  I don't like the idea of being too forceful, but I also don't like the idea of leaving it completely up to the child.  Some kids will NEVER try if not pushed a bit.  A class would definitely help- sometimes being taught by someone who's not a parent or close relative can speed things along.  People develop at different rates, but generally speaking, a child can easily learn how to swim by the age of 5.
38515
swimming - very healthy
201007
The Red Cross offers several courses for swim coaches and learn to swim classes. The most informative to teach swimming would be the WSI (water safety instructor) class. In this class you will learn tips on how to teach the basic swim strokes.
585222
get him to go swimming and throw in some soap!!
467051
You should probably try warning them up by rubbing your hands together on them or wearing something over them... hmm... maybe jumping up and down might help? It's for the times when water gets stuck in your ear after you get out of the pool...
225454
Infants are like sponges...they soak up everything in their environment using all of their senses. Choose places where there are not only sights, but sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. Even a trip to the backyard or park can be fun for them. Let them sit or lie in the grass, grasping the blades in their pudgy fingers and bringing it to their mouths. \n\nThey also love water...it is very natural to them. If you are not close to a public pool or beach, fill a small plastic one...just make sure the temperature is not too cold. Drop some small cups, duckies, boats, etc. in for fun. \n\nA plastic pool or baby bathtub can also be filled with sand or rice. Put the baby in along with tools (little containers, spoons, strainers) to scoop and fill and pour. Don't forget little cars and trucks!\n\nAlso, allow them to get messy. They can be dressed in diapers or swimsuits and sit in the pool with puddings, jello, or ice cream. Just make sure you have lots of washcloths and a water source nearby. This could be a great kodak moment, too!\n\nI hope you and the babies (and parents) have a blast!!!