Children need to have the skill of walking while floating in the water. In general, children are able to do this since they were toddlers. If you want to teach your child how to float in water, start by explaining the basics he needs to know and then teach him how to move his arms and legs before practicing in the pool. Have him practice in the water when he's ready.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Explaining the Basics to Children
Step 1. Teach children as early as possible
Children need to be taught how to float in water before they learn to swim. Teach this as early as possible once the child is able to understand the directions and imitate your movements. In general, children aged 2-5 years have this ability.
The ability to float in water is useful to protect children from drowning while in the pool
Step 2. Train the child outside the pool
Instead of directly practicing in the swimming pool, take the time to teach children on dry land so that it is not slippery, for example in a playground. Explain how to move body parts from the hands to the feet.
Step 3. Explain how to breathe deeply and calmly
Invite the child to breathe normally several times. Then, explain and give an example of how to breathe deeply by inhaling for a count of 4 and exhaling for a count of 4. If he can breathe according to the instructions, increase the duration to 5 or 6 counts. He will feel calm and can practice well in the water if he is used to taking deep breaths at a regular rhythm.
Step 4. Tell the child that his body position must remain vertical
Explain to him that when he walks while floating in the water, his body must remain vertical and his head above the water. As he practices deep breathing and moving his arms, make sure his body remains upright.
- If his body is not vertical and his head is in the water, it means he is swimming.
- Although children need to learn to swim, make sure they can float in the water first.
Part 2 of 3: Practicing Hand and Foot Movement
Step 1. Teach your child to move their hands from front to back
First of all, you do this move to set an example and then invite him to do it together. Ask him to stretch his arms out in front of him and then slowly pull his palms back. When he understands how, ask him to do this movement (front to back, back to front) over and over again.
- Children tend to prefer to move their hands up and down, but this method is less effective for learning to float in water and makes children tired quickly.
- Invite him to imagine the two of you walking in the woods brushing the bushes.
Step 2. Pay attention to the position of the palms
When he moves his hand, make sure his palm is facing the direction he is going. Once his hands have moved back as far as they can afford, he should turn his palms so that they face forward as soon as he wants to move them forward.
- Have him pretend he's brushing very tall grass or tree branches aside so you both can pass.
- Remind him to move slowly at regular intervals to conserve energy.
Step 3. Position the child so that his feet do not touch the floor
If he can do hand movements well, teach him how to move his legs. Breathing and hand movement exercises can be done while standing, but you need to practice leg movements while sitting, lying down, or hanging.
- Playgrounds are very suitable for practicing leg movements because children can hang so that their feet do not touch the floor.
- Help him hang on a horizontal post or hoop hanging from an iron bar.
- To demonstrate this move, you also need to hang.
- Hold his feet while directing the movement until he is able to do it himself.
Step 4. Teach your child to move their legs like scissors
One leg movement that is easy for children to do is the "scissor movement". Ask him to stretch his legs (one forward and one backward) alternately while imagining his legs moving as if he were cutting paper. Do this move to set an example and then ask him to do it.
Step 5. Train the child to do the frog jump
This movement is done by bending both knees while directing the knees to the side and straightening both legs at the same time. Do this move to set an example and then ask him to do it like a frog jumping.
Step 6. Train your child to do the "egg-beating motion"
The most efficient footwork for floating in water is the "leg rotation" or "egg-beating motion." However, this movement is quite difficult for children because he has to move his legs slowly in a circle in the opposite direction. Do this move to set an example and then ask him to do it while imagining he is beating eggs with his feet. Help him move his legs one at a time until he can do it himself and then move both legs at the same time.
Part 3 of 3: Practice in the Water
Step 1. Invite the children to practice in the pool
After he mastered the movement of the hands and feet, invite him to practice in the water. Practicing in the pool is much safer than training in the ocean or lake.
Make sure the water in the practice area is deep enough so that his feet don't touch the bottom of the pool
Step 2. Accompany the child as he enters the pool
Make sure you always accompany the child while he is practicing. If he's never been taken to a swim, let him play in the shallows for a while to acclimate.
Step 3. Teach children how to dive
He doesn't need to dive when he's practicing floating in the water, but he'll feel more comfortable and can practice calmly once he's used to diving. Have him hold his breath and pinch his nostrils with your fingers. Pull it into the water slowly and then quickly lift it. Do this exercise several times until he can do it himself.
Step 4. Let him start practicing by the pool
Practicing while holding the edge of the pool makes the child feel calmer when he learns the first time. Ask him to do leg movements while holding on with both hands. Then, have him hold the edge of the pool with only one hand while moving his free leg and arm. If he is able to make the right movements of the legs and arms while holding on, ask him to let go of the grip.
Exercise is more effective if you also get in the water and do some hand and foot movements to set an example
Step 5. Help him calm down
If he doesn't want to move away from the edge of the pool, grab him by the waist to make him feel safe, as long as your hands don't block his hands and feet. This exercise aims to protect the child so that he feels comfortable while swimming, rather than frighten him. Don't force your child to do something that makes him or her uncomfortable.
- He may wear a buoy, for example a swimming band worn on the upper arm/waist or a life vest in the form of a vest to keep his head above the water. In addition, he can move his hands and feet freely.
- If he has good hand and foot movements, he can float in the water without your help or a float.
Step 6. Increase the duration of the exercise
You can gradually increase the duration of your workout while training in the pool. This move made him more proficient and stronger.
- Depending on his ability, let him practice 2-5 minutes once he is able to float without assistance or buoys.
- Extend the training duration by 10 minutes each time he trains.
Tips
- Remind the child to move slowly and calmly because he will tire more quickly if he moves in a hurry and irregularly.
- Stand next to him in the water and have him pretend he is digging a hole with both hands while pedaling a bicycle with both feet.
