Now that you understand the importance of teaching kids how it feels to move their bodies in the water, it’s time to do it. Here’s how.

Stage 1 of Teaching Kids to Get a Feel for the Water

Before you even get into the pool, you and your child can start this swimming lesson. You can play with your hands in the water to get a sensual feel for how the body and water move together. You can do this in the bathtub or even using a big pot of water on the kitchen table.

Push against the water with your palm. Then slice through it with the side of your hand like a karate chop. Feel the difference. Expand your exploration of movement through the water to larger parts of the body—the arm, the leg. (You’re probably going to need the tub for the larger parts of the body, unless you’ve got really big pots in your kitchen.)

Try pushing and pulling through the water with fingers spread apart and again with fingers tightly together. Use a cupped palm and a flat palm. Discuss how these movements feel. Discuss their effect on the water. Which movements are harder and which are easier? Which move the water more? Which make bigger splashes?

If your kids have been playing in the bathtub or are already comfortable moving around in the pool with you, these feelings will be familiar to then. Practicing this swimming skill is about focusing and being aware of what they’re experiencing.