I am a former swimming instructor, and I worked with tots, too. I was horrified when our 4th child was petrified of the swimming pool at 2 years old. Our 3rd child was swimming unassisted by then, without ever having had instruction ! Kid #4 LOVED bathtime and would play and lay in the tub and everything, but she wouldn't even go IN the swimming pool, and sometimes wouldn't even go inside the room the pool was in without screaming. I have no idea why. In the end, we were visiting her grandparents and grandma got her throwing rocks into the lake and she thought it was fun (very little rocks, obviously, and not near people) We then bought her a turtle that went around her waist and she could wade in and play, and she decided it was more fun than her fears.
Unfortunately, you can't use flotation devices in the pool, and often parents who do rely on them, and no flotation device (short of an Coast Guard approved PFD) will hold a child's head out of the water.
I recommend that you play together on the steps, where he can sit with his feet in the water, and maybe you in the water, and you can play with floating toys . . . and maybe he'll inch down to the next step, etc. In toddler class, you are always in contact with your child, and, really, the goal isn't necessarily for them to become "swimmers", it is to be sure that if they fall in, they will not panic, and will be able to kick their feet, tilt their heads back and keep their faces above water unti help comes. There are lots of places that advertise little ones swimming, but most kids don't become fishes at age 2.
the nice thing with a beach area, is that it's really easy to sit at the water's edge and play, and dig and make castles, and do lots of fun water activities without getting into anything deep. And if they toddle and fall over, they are probably able to lift their heads up and not be in the water. So there is more control for the child.
what we are asking our kids to do at age 2, is to climb into the pool with Mommy and/or Daddy and cling to them for dear life because we are getting into about 20 feet of water. There IS no shallow end of the pool for a 2 year old. When I used to teach, and a child would take off and figure out he could swim, it was always scary for the parents because he would swim at any end of the pool, and it would be really scary -- but then I realized that to a child every end of the pool is the deep end. If it's 20 feet deep or 3 feet deep -- it's no difference to you if ALL of it is over your head.
YMCA's that teach tots usually have styrofoam flotation cubes or something to help support a child's back. If they allow it, I also like water wings. They are NOT a safe flotation device, because they will not support the face, but they will provide extra bouyancy at the biceps, and they allow the child to lean on his/her biceps and hold himself up. It makes swimming easier for them to begin to master. But, again, do not let your child just go romping into the pool (not a problem at this point, is it?) with his water wings. And pool lifeguards are trained to handle emergencies, and they are "on guard" moment by moment, but there is no substitution for parental control and proximity.
With all that said, my advice would be to work within your child's sense of comfort. If he will only sit on a bench and watch a class, you might be able to do that without paying. (I would recommend watching a class that doesn't have panicky children in it) Or you can go and watch children play during open swim. It's good for him to see kids playing that are having FUN. It will provide incentive.
We used to teach by having the child cling to our necks, so he felt safe, and he could even rest his chin on a parent's shoulder. You then grab the legs, holding the knees straight, kick the legs and say, "kick, kick, kick" After a while, it becomes fun, and the child will simply kick, and you can hold on around the hips to keep him horizontal in the water. Then they learn to dig a hole in the water with their hands, and eventually, they attempt a dog paddle -- but when little ones start to swim alone, they swim upright. They do not swim horizontally as they've been taught. They basically bicycle their legs, and dig with their paws, and it works. After they can do that, then they can learn to stretch out some.
For learning to float, you can also start easily, by dipping him in water, but not over his chin. He needs to learn to "blow a hole in the water" which is a fun game. And then to make motorboat bubbles in the water. That one works eventually into a bob -- and he blows bubbles under water. The idea is to learn to breathe OUT when your face is in the water, and IN when you are in the air. Breathing out underwater takes more lung strength than breathing out in the air, and that's why they practice it so much.
In the end, most of us will float in some position with our faces out of the water, if we have inflated our lungs and tilt our heads all the way back. Skinnier people need more help to keep their faces up, so maybe arms over the head. Don't worry where the feet end up -- what's important is learning to keep the face in the air until help comes.
They are all little skills, and they lead to being safe in or around the water. The first thing is to teach him he is safe, and that it's fun to be in the water -- so maybe even a paddle pool at home would be enough water to practice in -- playing with boats, sitting in the grass, then climbing inside and walking in the water -- with Mom. With only knee deep water, he will have more control, and feel safer. He can also learn to crawl in the water, and might even be able to lay in the water, if it's shallow, and kick his feet behind him to splash mom. Mom can scream and yelp so he laughs, too ! (lucky mom)
i have seen instructors take 6 year olds who are afraid to jump in, put them in a life jacket and toss them in, so they learn that the life jacket will save them, and they come up laughing . . . but I don't really advocate that. I advocate working with the child until he or she FEELS safe. And it happens.
Our youngest never was submerged or anything. She was terrified just watching her older siblings playing in the pool. I don't have any idea what went through her head, but she would scream just watching them. . . . and she loves water play now. She and her sister tube behind Grandpa's boat and they have a wonderful time. You just have to observe, and play and encourage, and comfort, and not give up.
and it's really good to tackle it while he's young, because there's so much more "fun" around the water at that age. I've also taught 60 year olds to swim who were absolutely petrified of the water. They have determination that gets them there, but they also have long entrenched fears. With kids, Mommy and Daddy represent a BIG safety feature, and the ability to get involved and distracted from our fear by playing is a BIG plus !!
And in the end, what you really want is for your child to be able to fall into a pool, not panic, and be able to support himself long enough for help to arrive. (I wouldn't practice that scenario, but keep it in mind as YOUR goal -- not that he become an olympic butterfly medalist)
:-)
Most of all -- ENJOY your child ! My youngest is 12 now, and while I am thrilled to participate in her development and I thoroughly enjoy her, "childhood" has definately receded from our lives !!
Sorry this is so long !! Feel free to correspond if you have Q's and I'll try to be briefer !! (ha ha)
barb