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Childrens Swim Exercises |
Here are some fun children's swim exercises you can do with your child to prepare her for the first swim lesson or as "homework" for her swim lesson. These swim exercises are not meant to be a substitute for swim lessons.
Beginner Swimmers
Blow bubbles - Your child can hold the pool edge, hold your hands or sit in the shallows of a beach. The child can put just their mouth in the water or up to their whole head. For a child who is nervous try holding some water in your cupped hands and have them blow into that.
Dunking - Have your child dunk their face or head. Try dunking with them & see who can do 3, 5, 10 in a row. Do not force your child to put their face in the water as this may make them more anxious about swimming. For the nervous swimmer start with dunking the chin, then work up to the nose & eyes. Remind your child to hold their breath or blow bubbles while under water.
Jacques Cousteau - Have him/her try to touch the bottom of the swimming pool or beach with his/her hands or feet. If the water is too deep for them to touch, try holding a toy or hand under water & have him/her touch that. This is a good way to help a child put their face into the water. Goggles can be a good way to "bribe" him/her to go under water. Finding goggles to fit a child's face can be tough, read our swim goggles review.
Bubbles Everywhere - While sitting on the swimming pool edge or in shallow water have your child kick his/her legs up & down making bubbles and waves. Remind your child to keep their knees almost completely straight & ankle loose or floppy. Add a ball or float to the water in front of the child's legs. See how far he/she can push the ball away with a powerful kick.
Intermediate (only use exercises that contain skills he/she has already learned in lessons)
Superman - The child floats in a prone, straight position with their face in the water, like Superman. Having him/her pushing off a wall or running in the shallows to start may help. For a nervous child try holding the child by the waist or his/her outstretched arms. Remind your child to push down his/her shoulder & chin to help bring up their rear end.
Superman with kicking - Similar to the previous exercise but now have the child kick. The kick should be with straight legs & the feet should not come out of the water past the heel. To help motivate your swimmer stand a few feet in front while him/her float & kick to you. Try holding your swimmer's hand and kick together.
Motorboat - The swimmer holds a noodle or other float and kicks across the water while blowing bubbles making the sound of a motor boat. If you have a kickboard have the child do kicking with the board. Now place a toy on the center of the board and have the child kick while keeping the toy on his/her "boat"
Advanced (only use exercises that contain skills he/she has already learned in lessons)
Kicking on their back - Have your child float on his/her back while slowly kicking. You can help by supporting them by the shoulders. Remind the child to push back their shoulders & chin.
Chicken Wing- Have your swimmer swim with "chicken wings" by putting his/her hands in their armpits & swimming with just their elbows or wings. This will help them turn their bodies and raise their elbows out of the water.
Rotary Breathing - Have your child show you how they breath to the side as they swim. Another variation is using a noodle, kickboard or float. Have your swimmer float, kick & breath without the arm stroke. Their arm on their breathing side should be kept by their side & their other hand holds the float.
Backstroke - Have your swimmer show you their backstroke. To challenge them, have them try to balance a cup or small toy on their forehead as they swim backstroke.
About the Author
Andy Murray is the founder of www.SwimLessonInfo.com and swim instructor. He has been teaching swimming for 15 years.
Article source http://w4rum.com/2804.t
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| [By Kimber Fulcher] [08/Aug/07] |
