2 YO Swimmer?

i have two girls now 19 and 22 i started them swimming when they were just about 5 months old (in laws had a pool - better safe then sorry).they really excelled in that sport the rest of their teen yaers doing local summer swim team.Now my youngest is a life guard at that same pool.teaching others to swim.also try having him blow bubbles in the water this helps and is fun for them too.

my little girl swims since she was 16 months. I took her to a private instructor that teaches the ISR method. She was swimming and done with classes within 5 weeks. I am very thankful to have found this program. It was recommended to me by my pediatrician. Here is the link for it, through it you can find an instructor near you. http://www.infantswim.com/

When we moved to Durango I took my son to the pool almost everyday. He learned very quickly. At about 2 yrs. 2 months he was jumping off the low diving board. Check out this video (link below) - it was few months after that (at about 2 1/2). It is fun to have a little person who can swim! We took him to 2 sets of swim lessons before the age of 2, but I really think just taking him everyday was the key.

Have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhNF2AMokOs&feature=user

Hi D.,

An excellent swim program is infant swim resource. The website is www.infantswim.com. It is a survival course vs. a swim course as children under three, per the AMA don't retain the information to actually swim - i.e. breast stroke, etc.

Infant swim teaches the child how to float, roll over, reach for the edge etc. All skills needed if a child would ever accidentally fall into a pool.

My daughter who also loves the water is three and she can float, roll over and she is actually at the age where she is now swimming. She can swim the length of the pool to me by kicking for forward motion, rolling over to back and resting and then resuming the swimming by rolling back over and kicking to get to me.

She has been in this program since she was 22 months and her instructor states she will be ready for swim team next summer when she is four.

I highly recommend this program - especially when Arizona has so many pools and kids get curious. The program is nationwide and you should be able to locate an instructor near your zip code.

Good luck.

L.

I took my son to swimming lessons every summer since he was 6 months old. They were lessons practically every day for 8 weeks. he still didn't learn how to swim till he was over 4 yrs old!

Hello! My daughter began to learn to basic survival principals of water safety when she was 6 months young!! It is totally possible! I totally reccommend ISR.....Infant Swimming Rsources. It is amazing! My daugter is now 3 years old and she loves to swim! Not only has she learned to swim but she also know how to flip over and float! Which is very important around water. I live in Arizona and everyone has a swimming pool! We are in Flagstaff so not quite as many pools but there are swimiming holes, Oak Creek, and the gym pool! It is a little of an investment to enroll in ISR but totally worth it! Please do check it out online! Our Chiildren's safety around water is soooo crucial! Many Smiles to you and happy swimming!
R.

my daughter was a fish from day one.....when she was 2 1/2 we were camping at a place that had a small swimming pool....she could swim the length of the pool underwater....even the lifeguard couldn't believe it! she didn't have any formal lessons until she was about 4 years old, but many swim programs are available for children much younger. i say go for it....get your little fish in the water for lessons or just fun. my daughter went on to swim competitively starting as an 8 year old and right on through college.....it's a great sport, but very demanding. my son was just the opposite.....he sank like a stone....lol!!! just remember that while it's good to offer your child many experiences, it's not good to pressure them to do things that they just aren't ready for, or aren't interested in doing.....we played it slow and easy with my daughter and swimming.....when the time was right, competition came naturally. let your little one have fun in the water as he becomes water-proof!

hugs!
sally

My son swam at 18 months across the pool underwater. The swim instructor would teach him to hold his breath and pick up rings or toys on the stairs of the pool. Doing this daily will help him learn to hold his breath. She would also have him swim horizontal while kick his legs (she would hold him up) and have him blow bubbles in the water.

She also had him jump in and turn around right away to grab the wall. (This is a safety thing)

I think a lot of moms wait until their children are 3 before swim lessons but in Arizona it's vital to start as early as possible. Good for you! Let me know if you need any more info. I watched my sons lessons for years and picked up a lot of good exercises.

My first 2 children were early swimmers like that. Get them involved in a home teaching atmosphere at first then you can move to a public pool area. You want someone who has swam competitively because they will get them into it faster.
Best of luck
kat

My daughter haas been in swim since she was 2 1/2 mo old. We go to Teacher Lyndias Swim School on 79th and Olive. She is now 15 mo and in May will be moving on to the Turtle class (no more mommy and me) Right now she can roll over ond float one her back when she goes in the pool. I do belive it is possible for a two year old to learn to swim but I believe that classes are a good idea. If you have any questions about the school take our daughter to or her swimming feel free to message me.

My son just turned two and he has been going to swim lessons since he was 1 year old. He does fairly well now. I think two is the perfect age - you can finally reason with them - something just clicked with my son in the past 2 months and he is growing with each lesson. We go to aqua-tots.com

Good luck. =)

I highly recommend infant swim resourse. It has been mentioned in a few other posts. They are awsome. My son is now 7, but was afraid of the water for years. We tried regular swim lessons, and a swim school with no success. Then we found Jesse with ISR. Tyler was the oldest student but in 5 weeks he could swim. The thing that impressed me the most was the dedication of the teacher. The students do not "graduate" until they can at least get to the edge of the pool in full winter gear by floating and swimming. My son was 4 when he fell off the top step at my brother's pool. He didn't even try to get out and just waited for someone to notice he has gone under. That scared me and him. ISR was the only successful program we tried. He can now swim and is not as afraid of the water (he even goes in the deep end now). Good Luck and enjoy the water.
M. B.

Hi D.!

Both of my boys are grown now. But we lived in San Diego by the beach. My boys loved the water. So I taught them how to swim. They both were swimming before they were a year and a half. Swimming is a very natural thing to babies. They pick it up really quickly. But don't get frustrated if it takes a little while. My second son took longer than my first did. When going under water do it quickly. Go under than come right back up. Until they get use to it. Then slowly they will be able to do it themselves. Also remember if they look terrified, make it short trips until they realize that the water is a good thing.

Good luck
D.

ISR!!!! My boys are 17 months old and 3 and are in the middle of this program! It is amazing! They have learned so much from our instructor! The price seems a little high at first but I promise...it is well worth the money! I am so excited to play this summer!!

My Mom put me in water babies at 9 months old. I was swimming before I was 2, so yes, you can teach a 2 year old to swim. As always, use protective gear and be careful.

Two things...

First, watch this short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdOYMf0SAq4

Then (if you like what you see), go to this web-site and enter your zip code to find a private instructor in your area:

http://www.infantswim.com/home.html

They specialize in teaching small children (even under 1 year) how to self-rescue. If your son is going to be around water, I highly encourage you to sign him up for these lessons...

My son was not even walking (less than a year) when he wiggled out of my grasp, went under water and started swimming. Kids really don't need to be "taught" how to hold their breath, if you start young enough. They just do it instinctively. The hard part was getting him to stop under water because he would run into the pool at the side or I'd worry about him running out of air and not knowing what to do, so I'd always be with him and ready for him.. He was just like a little fish, totally amazing, and I think most babies are this way if we just let them and don't transfer our own fears.

My daughter learned how to swim last summer and she was two. We went to private lessons at a woman's house and she basically threw them in the water and showed them how to breathe, kick, etc. She didn't do as much with her arms, but more teaching her how to swim underwater and get to the side. She learned this all in a week and a half. She screamed the entire time, as did my son, but they learned. We never took more lessons because they had done so well and learned the basics. We still kept both of them in floating swimming suits when we were alone in the pool with them, but if both my husband and I were in the water they swam without the suits. I will try to get the woman's info, I need to get it too for a refresher course for my kids!

D.,

I would highly recommend to teach him to swim a this age. My friend teaches private swim lessons and says the best time to learn is when they are at least 1 1/2 yrs. She starts by letting them blow bubbles in the water and then putting their face in it. Then they kick on the side of he pool. It is too dangerous to not teach them to swim since there are so many pools here in Phoenix.My daughter learned from her. She was afraid and overcame her fear.The last lesson they get thrown in the water with their clothes on since that is the way they would fall in if it were an accident. Also they are tught to either swim to the wall or the steps which ever are closer not to the closest person since they may not be a strong swimmer. I hope that helps a little bit.have fun!

Janet

Yes! Sandia Swimming pool has classes as early as 6 months old! They are great there and it is great to have your child swimming so early!.

You should consider signing your 2 yo up for survival swim lessons (ISR). Regardless of if you have a pool or not, you can never be too careful when it comes to preventing drownings. We have done the lessons with all three of our boys. Before anything they learn how to roll over and float. After six weeks of lessons, my 2 yo was swimming (he is 4 now). Most importantly though, he has the skills to survive if he silently slipped into the pool which is what happened to our 3 yo cousin that very summer - he drowned.

In my opinion these lessons are wonderful and produce results, unlike traditional swim lessons (which we did with our oldest until we found out about ISR). I highly recommend them, and we are very fortunate here in Tucson to have a plethora of certified ISR instructors.

Toss the foam vest (false sense of security and puts your child in the wrong position - vertical - to learn how to swim) and sign up for the lessons. Check out their website!

Blessings to you!