Let’s Dive into your Stay-At-Home
DRILL 1: PLAY (Toys are Learning Tools)
Whether your kid(s) are scared or fearless of the water step-one is to make pool time fun for parents and kids! Here are several Swim Drills for Parents and Kids:
Drill: Use toys as an awesome learning tool to start getting your kid(s) used to the basics of swimming. Toys help with kicking, arm movements, and the toughest part for the little ones – having water on their faces.
This set from Amazon is my favorite. The kids love them.
Diving toys are the perfect tools to make going underwater a little less scary and a little more fun!
DRILL 2: Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light
This simple swim drill/game is a childhood favorite for parents and kids. It’s fun, silly, and effective.
Step One:
Sit on the edge of the pool or top of the steps with your kid(s) and explain the rules
Game Rules: Red light = No kicking, Yellow Light = Slow Kicking, and Green Light = Fast Kicking.
Shout out the color and begin the game!
*Make sure feet are ON TOP of the water splashing and making “white water”.
Step Two:
Play the game until they get the hang of it while sitting. Progress to being fully in the water while holding onto the side of the wall or a parent. Play the game again, make sure their feet are splashing the water and not just kicking underwater.
Step Three:
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
When the light turns green the race begins! Race to a toy, race to Mom/Dad, race to the steps or the wall, if they are kicking, it’s a success!
DRILL 3: Beginnings of a Back Float
Learning the back float is usually the hardest skill for kids to learn! For kids, it feels unsafe and majority of children dislike getting their ears wet.
Step One:
To begin, hold your child facing away from you, their back to your chest, and have them lay their head on your shoulder. Put one arm over their chest and the other on their lower back/bottom to get them in a floating position.
Step two:
Once you child can comfortably rest in the step one position, begin lowering yourself in the water more so that they submerge their ears underwater, with their head still resting on your shoulder like a pillow. Feel free to stand still or walk backwards around the pool so they get used to the flow of water.
Step Three:
Once your child can comfortably rest in the step two position, you will take both hands and gently slide your child down further into the water. So instead of their head resting on your shoulder, you are now supporting them by their head/shoulders with your hands while they are laying in a floating position on top of the water.
Floating is a hard skill that takes time to learn, practice these steps until they can float without crying or wanting to get up!
Tips: Sing a song or tell a story while practicing these steps!