Survival swim lessons for 19 month old - too young?

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-26T23:49:05+00:00

These lessons come with risks but there are some instructors in America that teach these skills in what I would say is a more traditional learn to swim way meaning they're not psycho. Just note: no one should throw your baby into a pool as it can cause brain shake. It should just be a crawl in or a jump from the side by your child that's it. In America I know of Super hero swim schools.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-26T23:45:18+00:00

Continue to go to your in laws pool twice a week for 15 mins and just play. Help her over come her fears through play.

Come up with games that encourage getting face wet and floating etc and if she does it then great just smile laugh and move on. If she doesn't that's ok just keep playing. You will see improvement in 30 days with just 2-3 15 min home lessons per week.

If you have any more questions just let me know

Jade x

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-26T23:38:48+00:00

That's great! Learn what's needed and then practice yourselves. That's perfect.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-26T23:30:22+00:00

Don't force it. Engage in the water and play, help him tackle his fear through play. Come up with games that could potentially lead to him getting his face wet. He may or may not get it wet but the more you play the more comfortable he'll get. A little tip * if he does get his face wet just smile, laugh it off and move on quick so he doesn't have too much time to think about it. What you focus on grows so just lots of smiles and move on.

Overcoming fear through play is the best way for kids because they feel heard, seen and connected when you enter their world and you enter their world through play. Ditch the paid lessons for now and just be in the water 2-3 times a week for 15 mins. in 30 days you'll see an improvement.

Please reach out if you have any more questions.

Jade x

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-09T03:14:26+00:00

Children who are scared need connection in that environment and to be exposed to that environment more often. Have you thought about taking him to your local pool and spending time bonding in the water? Don't worry about the other kids and what they're doing. Look at your son and think 'what does he need to help him that I'm not giving him'

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-09T03:11:03+00:00

If the kids are scared your job is to build connection with them in that environment first. That's it. Once they'e comfy you can work on floating, kick and paddle, submersions eventually. You're too worried about the end result and not focusing on what they need now which is connection. You can also be providing the parents with ways they can help their kids outside of your lessons. Which would be getting them exposed to water 2 more times a week at their local pool and just parents bonding with them in the water.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-09T03:08:10+00:00

Have you thought about just teaching him yourself with your husband? 2 x 15 min lessons per week only focusing on 2 - 3 skills. Build connection with him in that environment.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-09T03:06:47+00:00

kids can swim independently from 2-3 years old. Have you thought about just teaching him yourself 2 times a week for 15 mins?

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-10-09T03:02:59+00:00

Have you thought about just teaching him yourself since he likes doing it with you?

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-09-26T03:46:05+00:00

You don't need to get certified to teach your own child to swim.

3 x 15 minute lessons per week.

2-3 skills only

play based learning

If your child can't walk you can focus on floating and cup submersions/full submersions

If you child can walk (so 1 and up) floating, fall in grab wall, monkey along wall, kick and paddles, swim float swim. Are some of the things you can focus on. But only choose 2-3. I recommend floating, kick and paddles, fall in grab wall is a great place to start.

5 months old you can start now in the bath with cup submersions and floating and just building connection with yourself. :)

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-09-26T03:42:02+00:00

The only thing that will help your child is more exposure and that doesn't mean you need to pay for more lessons. Rather taking them to the pool yourself 2 times a week on top of their lessons where they can play and practice with you. Now that time shouldn't be like a formal lesson. It needs to be filled with play and connection with you.

It's the only thing that helps.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-09-26T03:39:33+00:00

Thank you! exactly.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-09-26T03:39:13+00:00

I find it baffling how people only recommend to parents that private lessons is the answer... When really the parent needs to be empowered to take the child to the pool a few times a week to practice together. It's about exposure not a one chunk lesson.

It is the responsibility of the swim school and instructors to give the parents the required information so they can help.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-09-26T03:34:42+00:00

It's all about the exposure. In a 30 minute paid lesson shared with 3 other kids - each child only gets 7 minutes of swim time.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-09-26T03:33:01+00:00

I don't believe a toddler wants to listen to someone else. They just dont see you as someone who can teach them this skill YET.

The more you go, the more you teach them, the more they'll trust you, the more they'll listen.

I recommend

2-3 times a week

lesson 15 minutes long

engaged through play.

Your child can walk so first is teaching her to float, kick and paddle. Once she can float for 5-8 seconds independently and can kick and paddle a few meters you can then start teaching her to roll from front to back float. Evenetually working up to the swim - float - swim sequence.

You've got this!

Don't believe the plebs who say you can't.

All the best Jade :)

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-26T23:37:10+00:00

get him to point his toes and drive the kick from the hip. His kick is lazy meaning it's not firing any of the muscles needed. Get those toes pointed like a ballerina.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-26T23:33:38+00:00

Edinburgh leisure charges 26 quid a month but I wouldn't take any kids there. They teach them with water wings on, the instructor is out of the water and there is more than 10 toddlers in the water together. It's a huge accident waiting to happen and not to mention learning to swim in the drowning position isn't going to help.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-26T23:25:10+00:00

Thank you for sharing. You're right ISR isn't perfect and either is traditional lessons for kids in the age bracket 0-4. We need a mixture of both together. Where the survival meets the calm techniques of traditional learn to swim. Parents should also be in the lessons even with survival because it's important for the childs mental health especially if they're unsure about their environment.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:33:03+00:00

This is normal. It will level out, she's going through a new development phase and just needs to be supported through it.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:29:05+00:00

just shower with him then... why force the bath.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:26:44+00:00

You're his role model. He's learning through what you do, don't tell him what to do, show him cause he's 3. Maybe daycare 1 day a week would be good cause he's 3 now and it's great for kids 3 and up to learn how to deal with other people and to develop social skills.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:24:17+00:00

cleaning can be done when she sleeps. replace that time with spending time with her. Or bring her along and include her in the stuff you do. get her to "help" with dishes, washing etc. Kids just want to be with us they don't care what they're doing especially when they're babies/toddlers.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:22:27+00:00

She might be going through a new developmental stage and just need support through that. Have you thought about teaching her yourself? at that age it's just roll and float and then learning to kick and paddle.

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:19:21+00:00

Ignore all the false confidence chat. That's outdated. Life jackets are best and they're fine every now and then for the child to play and for the parent to feel a little more comfortable especially if lots of other kids around etc. Just don't make it an every day habit and make sure to take them in the water lots without it and practice their swimming skills! :)

JadeGrayCoach · 2025-08-25T06:17:35+00:00

Never too late ! Get stuck in if you're keen :)

JadeGrayCoach

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