Tips for parents to help gradually accustom the child to the water and teach him the basics of swimming.
Have you already thought about sending your child to the swimming section?
Children are advised to start swimming no earlier than the age of 4, when they have already developed the skills necessary to stay on the surface of the water.
But up to this point, you can teach your baby to water and prepare for swimming with the help of various games.
How to teach a child to swim
1. Water splashes. Allow your child to splash in the (inflatable) pool, this will help him get used to the movement of the water. If the baby knows what to expect in the water, he will be less afraid of it.
Hold the baby and move his legs, teaching him to splash or kick in the water. You can dip the baby in water for a short period of time.
2. Wet your baby’s face with water. Blowing bubbles helps your baby get used to having a wet face, because if the baby doesn’t like to get his face wet, it can be a hindrance to learning to swim. You can also sprinkle water on the child’s head if he finds it amusing.
3. Overcoming fear. At first, your child may be afraid of water, so hold him securely by the armpits and submerge him slowly.
Walk in the water with your child, smile and show him that you enjoy being in it until he feels comfortable. Children tend to learn to swim more easily if they enjoy being in the water.
4. Hold on the water. Show your child that he can naturally float on the water. Lay your baby’s head on your shoulder, and lower your body into the water so that he can freely be in it. At first, this may seem scary to the child, so reassure the baby that you hold him tightly.
Stop the exercise immediately if the child does not want to continue it, even if it lasts only a few seconds.
5. Dive head first. If your child can hold his breath and likes to dip his face in water, try convincing him to swim underwater for a while. This must be done carefully, as pressure on the ears and nose can be uncomfortable at first.
Start by dipping one side of the baby’s head and then the other. When he gets comfortable, go deeper into the water. For the first time, pinch your child’s nose underwater until he can control the dive on his own.
6. Play water games. When your child gets used to being in the water, start playing games with him. Let your little one catch up with the toys in the shallow area of the pool or hold him by the stomach and play “super hero”. You can also invite your child to swim on a swimboard.
7. Leg movements. Teaching a child to move his legs in the pool is one of the first steps in learning to swim. Have your child hold on to the swimboard and try to swim forward using their feet. After the child has mastered this skill, he can begin to learn to row with his hands.
8. Strokes with hands. Support the child’s body so that he can learn the stroke technique with his hands. Show him how to row correctly and practice the strokes on the ground until they are fully mastered before moving into the water.
Once your child is comfortable with the new moves, remind him to paddle with his arms and legs at the same time. As a result, you will be able to let go of the body of the baby, and he will swim on his own.
9. Keep exercising. Once your child has mastered the different swimming moves, ask him to swim from the side of the pool towards you. Start with a short distance and gradually, as his skills improve, increase the distance between you and your child.
You can organize fun relay races and come up with other activities that will help your child learn to swim and be interesting to him.