Now that you’ve taught your kids the basics of doing the backstroke, you can use your practice time in the swimming pool to work on refining it. Here are four tips to help your kids learn the fine points of this fun swimming stroke.
- Your child needs to learn to be aware of where he is in the pool and when he’s approaching a wall when he’s doing the backstroke. If you’re practicing in a pool with lanes and flags, this is easier. Have him pay attention to the flags above his head and keep an arm outstretched once he passes them. How long does it take to reach the wall once he’s seen the flags? How many strokes?
(If there are no flags suspended above the pool you’re using, help your child to pick out another landmark that he can spot from the corner of his eye or by slightly turning his head. Make sure to let him know that you won’t let him bump his head into the wall while he’s practicing.) - If you want to work on refining the backstroke, have your child focus on the position of his hand as it enters the water. His palm should face away from his body, and his little finger should enter the water first.
- The rotation of his shoulders will create a twisting motion in his torso and a gentle rolling feeling. Have him notice this and the effect of his kicking on stabilizing him.
- The backstroke is a perfect stroke for paying attention to keeping the kick small, gentle, fluid, and from the hip. Point out how only his toes will break the surface of the water and his feet will create very little splash.