Many swim lesson curriculums teach beginners the basics of swimming before moving on to more advanced skills. These fundamentals include floating! When your budding swimmer knows how to float in the swimming pool or another body of water, they can stay safe and perform the primary swim strokes correctly.
To help your child master floating, we’ve shared a step-by-step guide to this essential skill below.
Get Your Child Ready to Float
Before you teach your child the skill of floating on water, start their swim with these three important steps:
- If your child is practicing floating in a swimming pool, choose one with a lifeguard present and have them float in a shallow part of the pool.
- Let your child learn to float at their own pace. They’ll need some time and practice to master this essential skill.
- Finally, encourage them to relax.
- Some deep breaths will help your child loosen up and float properly.
- Your little swimmer should start when they feel ready.
Start Learning Basic Floating Techniques
Floating can be done on the stomach or the back. Below, we guide you through these techniques step by step.
How to Float on the Stomach
Your child’s first step in floating on their stomach is to blow bubbles out their nose. It’s done by humming while the face is underwater, then exhaling gently to create bubbles. Get your child to practice this step in shallow water or while holding onto the pool wall.
After making bubbles, it’s time for your child to learn a movement called sculling. They’ll stand in the water with outstretched arms and pull the arms side to side. This motion keeps your little swimmer in their current position while floating.
When they’ve got the hang of sculling, your child can drop their face into the water and blow bubbles for five seconds. They should raise their head, catch their breath, and repeat while their feet stay underwater.
Raising the Feet
The feet are also key to floating on the stomach. For the next step, have your child blow bubbles with one leg raised, then repeat with both feet raised above the water. Their hips should rise toward the surface while they look down on the ground.
As your child lifts both legs to float, you may see them sink. It’s because air exits the body as your child exhales, and they swim in place. With practice, your little one can stay afloat by moving forward.
Doing the Technique
Once your child learns the steps above, they can push off the wall and float. Tell your child to stand near the pool wall—from there, they should hum, lower their head, and move their legs forward. Make sure your child’s arms stay above the water the whole time.
Your little one can also scull and do light kicks while floating. If they need to catch their breath, they can just push their hands down so their body goes up.
How to Float on the Back
To float on their back, your child starts with their feet on the pool floor. They should lean back until their ears are in the water and scull to stay where they are.
In this position, your child must lift their hips and belly button to the sky and look up. Looking toward the toes brings your little swimmer’s hips to the bottom of the pool.
Next, get your child to raise one leg, then float with both legs. Their body should be in the same position while practicing. It’s also a good idea for your child to raise their hands above the head, as it adds balance. Doing so means a more equal distribution of their body weight and leads to an easier time floating.
Doing the Technique
Once your child is ready to float on their back, they just need to face the wall, lean back, and float while lifting their arms overhead. They should also use their legs to push themselves forward and glide, and if they want to stay afloat, perform light kicks.
Your child can raise their body afterward by looking toward their toes and resting their feet on the pool floor.
Achieving the Perfect Float: 4 Helpful Tips for Your Child
Along with consistent practice, there are some things your child can do to ensure proper floating in the pool.
Float with Proper Posture
When floating, your child should try not to slouch or roll their shoulders. These postures can bring their center of gravity down and make their lower body sink rather than stay upright.
If your swimmer floats on their back, they should roll their shoulders back and, as if a string lifts it up, raise their belly button toward the sky. In turn, they’ll float with their chest open and their body in the right position.
Take Deep, Steady Breaths
Fully inflated lungs help your child float properly. Before jumping into the pool, have them work on deep breathing from the diaphragm. This allows your child to bring plenty of air into the lungs with each breath.
To practice deep breathing, your little swimmer can put one hand on the upper chest and the other on the abdomen. The lower hand should rise and fall whenever your child breathes, with the upper hand staying in place. By doing this technique, your little ones can keep themselves afloat!
Relax the Muscles
Your child will deal with tension as they learn to float. Tense muscles tend to sink, making it essential for your little one to relax. Encourage them to forget their fears or worries and let their body melt into the water. Otherwise, give your child time to relax and try floating again.
Adjust Arm Position When Needed
This tip is great for whenever your child sees their legs sinking. All they have to do is extend their arms like Superman when he flies, lining their hands up with their ears. Alternatively, your child could float with their arms in a streamlined position.
Both techniques can spread your little swimmer’s body weight out to the water into equal portions. As a result, their legs help your child stay afloat.
Help Your Child Learn How to Float in the Water
Floating is one of the first skills taught to budding swimmers in lessons. It’s key to your child’s safety, proper technique, and fun times in the water. Perfecting this basic skill takes time and practice, so it’s best to provide your child with continuous guidance and immense support throughout their learning journey.
For more tips and updates on swimming lessons for kids, visit the Bear Paddle blog today.