How To Teach Children Swimming Lessons

By: W. Davies

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Learning how to teach children swimming lessons can be very fun and incredibly rewarding. Each child is different, so while one may enjoy being in water, others may just hate it. When you teach children how to swim, you have to approach them in a manner that encourages them to want to get into the water rather than run away from it. Here are a variety of strategies that you can use the next time you teach children how to swim.

  1. Let the children become accustomed to the water before starting the swimming lessons. You can do this by having children blow bubbles in the shallow end of the pool. Put your hands underneath their armpits to hold them up and move them slowly around the pool. This will help to create reassurance for them and make the swimming lessons easier.
  2. Practice stroking their arms. Use your hand to hold onto the chest of the child so that you can support them as they are in the water. During the swimming lessons, allow them to practice stroking their arms and kicking their feet. The child should perform strokes in a circular motion. You can tell if the strokes are being done correctly and if the child is just splashing water. Their head should not move that much as they practice this swimming lesson.
  3. Practice kicking. During the swimming lesson, tell the child to use their arms to hold onto the wall and to kick their feet up and down in the water. This can be easy and fun at the same time. Make sure that the child's body is completely horizontal as they do this swimming lesson. Kicking should come from the hips and not the knee.
Posted on: Jan. 28, 2011