I Taught My Daughter to Swim at Two

Keeping Her Safe

I was 19 when I had my daughter. Although I was young, I made sure to educate myself on every potential danger in our home. One major one was the giant, ungated swimming pool in the backyard. I immediately knew that teaching her to swim wasn’t optional, it was necessary.

Learning Together

We started swim lessons when she was about six months old, but it was hard to keep up with a consistent schedule as a busy working mom. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Since we had a pool right outside, we’d go out once a day, even if it’s for a few minutes. I learned what I could from YouTube videos and from the few lessons we attended. Little by little, I picked up how to safely dunk her underwater so she could learn to hold her breath, how to help her kick, and how to float on her back.

Building confidence

By the time she turned two, she was swimming completely on her own. She could dive down to the bottom and grab her toys, swim the full length of the pool. It wasn’t about pushing her, it was about giving her confidence around water and peace of mind for me. Teaching her myself became one of those unexpected things that made me realize how much we’re both capable of.

Growing as a mom

Now that she’s older, I still think back to those days. It taught me that motherhood isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about being willing to learn alongside your child. I remember feeling so accomplished back then, and honestly, it’s still one of my proudest moments.