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Time to Play: Kicking

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. Kicking is a critical swimming skill, but it can be tough to concentrate on the nuances when you’re just trying to stay afloat. This game is one that you can play on dry land to give your kids a chance to really get it without the pressure of being in the water.

Have your child sit in a chair and alternate pointing and flexing his feet. Is he fast enough to keep you from pinching his toes when he points them?

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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. Once your kids have the basics of going underwater down, you can use this game to help teach them to be really comfortable with this swimming skill.

Have your child put his head underwater while you say something above the water. Can he figure out what you said? How about if you say it while you’re both underwater?

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Time to Play! Blowing Bubbles

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. Blowing bubbles may seem inconsequential, but it’s a great way to ease your kids into understanding breath control. Here’s a game you can play to make blowing bubbles even more fun than it already is.

Have your child pretend to be a little fish blowing tiny bubbles in the water. Now have him be a big fish blowing big bubbles. Did you know that real fish have actually been observed playing bubble games. Fish like to play!

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Time to Play! Getting out of the Pool

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. It’s critical to your kids’ safety that they learn how to get out of the pool by themselves. Practicing in this fun way will help your kids get comfortable with this essential swimming skill.

Have your child experiment with using his feet to walk along the wall and help his hands. Can he lift them up so they’re close to his hands? Can he stretch them down so he’s flat against the wall and only his toes are helping?