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The Secret Ingredient You Must Include in Every Swimming Lesson

No matter what aspect of swimming you’re teaching your kids, there’s one thing that you have to include in every lesson if you want to keep them motivated and moving forward. What is this secret ingredient?

The Secret Ingredient You Must Include in Every Swimming Lesson

It’s play. I’ve already talked about how important and underrated play is in teaching and learning. There’s more than that to consider about play.

After you’ve spent some time teaching, take a two- or three-minute break to play a game. This small break will signal that you’ve accomplished something and it will give your child a chance to relax and stretch, preventing him from overtiring one part of his body. It will also prime his mind and his mood for learning something new.

Present your kids with several suggestions of games that use the skill they’ve been practicing, and let them choose their favorite. They’ll feel like they’re taking a break and getting a treat, but really playing with the skill they’ve been practicing deepens their knowledge and understanding of the skill in ways that drills won’t.

If things get out of hand and you end up playing so long that you don’t have time to finish teaching what you’d planned for the rest of the swimming lesson, that’s cause for celebration. Your kids have been having fun, strengthening their bodies and their skills, and bonding with you. What could be better than that?

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Why You Should Wear a Hat Instead of Sunglasses When You Teach Your Kids to Swim

Sun protection is important for you and your kids when you’re teaching them to swim, but that’s not why I recommend that you wear a hat instead of sunglasses. It’s not because hats are super cool, either. What is the reason?

Why You Should Wear a Hat Instead of Sunglasses When You Teach Your Kids to Swim

There are two reasons: communication and security. Both of these reasons have everything to do with eye contact.

Communication

If your child is looking you right in the eye when you’re explaining something, you can be sure that he’s focusing on you, not on the myriad distractions in and around the pool. It’s easier for him to look you in the eye if he can actually see your eyes. If he’s making eye contact, it will be easier for him to stay focused on what you’re teaching him.

Security

It’s important for your kids to feel secure in the water. The more relaxed and at ease they feel, the easier it will be for them to learn to swim. Keeping eye contact with you lets them know that you’re focused on them, too, and that you’re taking care of them.

Choose a hat with a brim to shield your eyes from the sun. Whether it’s a baseball cap or a glamorous Grace Kelly affair, a hat will help you make eye contact, and that will making teaching your kids to swim easier for both of you.

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Time to Play! Going Underwater

Kids learn by playing. The more you can make learning to swim fun for your kids, the more they’ll like it, the quicker they’ll learn, and the more fun you’ll have teaching them. An important swimming skill is being comfortable putting your head underwater. Play this game to help your kids practice.

After your kids have practiced blowing bubbles and holding their breath underwater, have them put their heads underwater and lift up very slowly, until their eyes are just above the water. Have them pretend they’re crocodiles looking for prey, and you’re the prey. Let them pounce!

No biting, please.

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4 Safety Features Every Pool Has to Have

Most of the time, teaching your kids to swim will involve a pool. Whether you’re at a friend’s pool, a commercial pool, or your own pool, make sure the pool has these four safety features before you start a swimming lesson.

A Fence

Pools should be fenced, and the gate leading to the pool should always be closed.

Barriers and alarms aren’t foolproof safeguards. They’re designed to give you a little more time to look for a missing child before the child can accidentally—or with some effort—get into the pool. They’re not a substitute for supervision.

If you have a pool, install a four-sided pool fence that’s at least four feet high, with self-closing, self-latching, outward-opening gates and latches higher than kids can reach. Fences need to prevent kids from getting over, under or through them. They shouldn’t have anything a child could use as a foothold or handhold for climbing. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides detailed information about the specific structure of fences.

Consider getting an alarm that sounds when the gate to the pool area opens. Make sure the switch for the alarm is locked or out of reach of kids.

A power—not manually operated—safety cover that meets ASTM standards can be used as a layer of protection, but remember that a young child can drown in just inches of water. A pool cover that sinks slightly below the surface of the water or that has puddles on it can be a drowning hazard even if it prevents a child from getting into the pool.

A Working Phone

Make sure that there’s a working phone near the pool and that emergency numbers are posted.

A Drain Cover

Don’t use a pool or hot tub without a drain cover. If you have your own pool, install a Safety Vacuum Release System, which shuts off the drainage pump if the drain is blocked, preventing kids from becoming trapped at the bottom of the pool by the suction of the drain on their hair, clothing, or part of their bodies.

Glass-Free Surroundings

Don’t use glass of any kind around the pool. Be aware of things made of glass other than the obvious drinking glasses. Don’t use breakable tabletops, lamps, vases, or other furnishings around the pool.

Other Safety Measures

Do everything you can to make sure the pool you use to teach your kids to swim is safe. Other safety measures you can take include:

  • Remove steps and ladders from aboveground pools when the pool isn’t being used.
  • Don’t leave tempting toys in or near the water. Remove them from the pool area when you’re not there. Kids can fall into the pool while they’re trying to reach a toy.
  • Have your pool inspected regularly. Know and clearly mark the electrical cut-off switch for the pool pump.
  • Keep the water level of the pool high enough to make it easy for a small child to reach the edge of the pool and pull himself out.

If you have a pool, check with your local building and planning department about safety standards in your community, and always use common sense when you’re evaluating a pool and its safety.