article · Issue No. 6, June 1958 · p. 16 p. 17

How to Teach Our Children to Swim

كيف ندرب اطفالنا على السباحة

For weeks now the sandy and rocky beaches along our sunlit coasts have been swarming with creatures — creatures of every kind — whose one concern is to enjoy the delights of nature, in the water and on the sands... And of all who enjoy these delights, none enjoy them more than the little children, for from spring onward they begin dreaming of running and playing and diving. How, then, shall we let our little ones make their dreams come true, and profit from every minute they spend on the beach? How do we train them to swim?

Madam: it is best, if possible, to let your child learn swimming at the hands of a special instructor; but if no instructor is to be found, take on the task yourself. The ideal way is for the two of you to begin the lessons as though you were playing — let us say "the train game"... or "the automobile game!" or "the boat game" — and try to teach him to imitate the movements of the train or the automobile or the boat... Then watch his wonderful response and his rapid progress!..

The truth is that the speed with which little ones learn to swim varies with their ages, and with their parents' familiarity with this art! It is natural for a child who opens his eyes upon two swimming parents to show his readiness to go down to the sea even before school age... But the general rule is that the seventh and eighth years of age give the quickest results, because at this age the child has already learned from his teachers how to receive instructions, understand them, and apply them...

In any case, do not put off teaching your child to swim beyond the ninth year, lest he feel his companions' superiority over him... and his own ignorance and dullness beside them... Spare him the "feeling of inferiority" by encouraging him to learn swimming as soon as he shows the desire for it.

It will be noticed that a child of this age has little endurance or patience for keeping up one and the same movement for more than a minute; so try to drive away his boredom and his fatigue by passing quickly from one movement to another... And choose words that ring in a child's ear: "Now you are a duck!! And you must dive under the water!" — which means that the child must hold his nose shut with one hand, so the water does not get in...

Train your child to swim in this way, while the two of you play and frolic in the water, and you will be amazed at the speed with which he learns, and at the eagerness he shows to go with you to the sea!

Translation and transcription are machine-made and may contain errors. See it on the page.