If you’re ready to introduce your little one to the water, there is a step-by-step plan for it.
Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers may need a little coaxing and encouragement. Don’t panic. Approach this as a process using patience and have fun and your child will follow your lead.
Step 1: Do the bathtub test.
Start your baby or toddler off in the bathtub or kiddie pool to increase their familiarity with the water. This is a calm, happy place that will help your child stay relaxed. Ease babies into familiarity by gently squeezing a soap-free sponge or washcloth over their heads and allowing the water to trickle down their foreheads and into their eyes.
Increase the fun factor and get your children to blow bubbles and submerge their faces by:
- Turning the tub into a playground with favorite water-safe toys and playthings to make the water a welcoming place.
- Play peekaboo by submerging your face in the water and emerging with a bright smile. Children are natural mimics so they will want to join in on the fun and be very willing to submerge their own faces.
- Blow on the water to make bubbles. Be sure to put your lips to the water when making bubbles so that when your children mimic you, they will put their faces to the water. The more they become the deeper you can go, finally getting them to blow bubbles with mouth and nose submerged.
If they do well through this test and have confidence in this smaller setting, you can move them to the shallow end of the pool for the next step.
Step 2: Get their feet wet.
The pool looks huge to little eyes! It can be overwhelming. So try to make the first dip less intimidating. You might even consider taking your children to a family swim or to the neighborhood pool so they can see others having fun in the pool. If they are observing, they feel less pressure to actually do it. Next trip to the pool, sit together on the side of the pool and dangle your feet in the water.
If they are still game, go to the shallow end and where each child should be eased into the water. Fully support their bodies, holding one hand under their bottoms and the other around their backs. Gradually ease them in. Stay relaxed. Remember, they react to your posture. If you’re relaxed, it’s probable that they will also be relaxed.
And if they’re still game, help them to become accustomed to moving through the water by towing each child as you slowly walk backward. They can feel the water supporting their weight as you pull them along. Chat and smile the entire time and stay relaxed.
Increase the fun factor here by:
- Take them for a ride as you pull each child by the armpits as you walk backwards through the water. You can add even more to it by chanting “Motorboat, motorboat, go so slow.” Pick up the pace a little and then chant “Motorboat, motorboat, go so fast, step on the gas.” When comfortable with this, add kicking for them and they will enjoy helping the motorboat go!
- Get them accustomed to being in the water without your support by Monkey Walking with them. Hold each child’s bottom as they grasp the ledge of the pool and walk hand over hand along the side. They will think Monkey Walking is funny!
- Work on bubble-blowing and breath-control skills by pretending your finger is a birthday candle. Have your child blow on it, gradually moving your finger closer to the water until she makes a few bubbles.
Step 3: Let the splashing begin!
When your children feel at home in the pool, begin to prepare them for formal lessons.
Practice floating. With the child’s stomach in the water, position yourself so you’re cheek to cheek then have the child extend the legs back and take a nap on the water. The child’s head will be resting on your shoulder like a pillow. Do the same thing with the child with their back in the water. For security, the child can latch on to your neck. Use your arms to straighten legs to the rear and help him to begin kicking.
Increase the fun factor by:
- Encourage the child to put his face in the water, close his mouth and hum to prevent water from going up his nose.
- Prime your little one for learning the rhythmic breathing that goes with swimming strokes by prompting him to blow a few bubbles. Suggest that he put his face in the water and ask an imaginary fish a question. Then have him turn to the left or the right, keeping his ear in the water so he can listen to what the fish has to say. Keep up the pattern of bubble blowing and then side breathing by feeding him questions for the fish, such as, “What do fish like to eat?” “What is a fish’s favorite color?” “Where do fish sleep?”
- Play a few rounds of “Simon Says” in the shallow end. As you give your little one instructions for each goofy activity that Simon says to do, intersperse swimming skills. Sneaking swim skill practice into the game associates fun with learning the skills.
If you want to help your little one be accustomed to water prior to swimming lessons and while they’re progressing through early lessons, these steps will help you to ensure that they’re building confidence in themselves and learning love for the water and an excitement about becoming a little swimmer.
Little Otter Swim School’s curriculum begins with activities that help children safely and happily progress from baby to toddler and onto preschool swimming levels and beyond. Little Otter Swim School’s team members are passionate about teaching kids to swim and be safe as they enjoy the water. Learn more about what makes Little Otter different.
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