Once they have a feel for moving in the water and for breath control, most kids love to dive under the water. It’s fun and freeform and as close to being a fish as you can get. Here’s how to teach your kids to move underwater.

Moving Underwater: The first stage

Have your child stand in the pool in a spot where he can touch the bottom. Ask him to touch his toes. Next, drop sinking toys or coins and have him pick them up.

The Next Stage

Move to deeper water. Have your child hold onto the edge of the pool and try to pick up sinking toys or coins from the bottom.

Show him how to move his hands from his thighs into a palms-together position and then move them like an arrow into streamline position. Next, have him turn his hands so that his palms face away from each other, shape his palms into cups, and pull his arms out, with his elbows slightly bent, until his hands touch his thighs. Have him practice this motion out of the water and on the surface until he’s ready to use it to propel him to the bottom of the pool. At this stage, he can use a flutter kick.

Once he feels comfortable with his arm motions, have him try moving his legs like a frog to kick. He should bring his heels to his bottom and then kick both feet out to the sides with his ankles flexed. When his feet are extended to the sides, he can flick his feet like flippers to point his feet and bring the soles of his feet together, legs straight. Have him practice the movement while he’s lying on his stomach on dry land. The power of this kick comes from the flick of the ankles and the quickness of the return to straight legs.

And, Finally

Have him play with the movements. How would a fish move through the water? How about a frog? A dolphin? A whale? A shark?

Have him swim under water from one side of the pool to pick up a sinking toy or coin you’ve dropped on the bottom of the other side.