Practice swimming helps your child learn how to be better and faster in the water. However, parents often wonder how to practice swimming without a pool at home.
While formal swimming lessons are essential, parents can actively support and enhance their children’s swimming skills at home in numerous ways. After all, practice makes perfect. Keep their skills on track and ensure they are still learning outside the pool.
This blog explores creative and enjoyable tips for practice swimming at home that can significantly splash your child’s aquatic journey.
How to Practice Swimming at Home
Blow bubbles in the bathtub
Some children have a fear of the water, and bath time is a great opportunity to overcome it. It’s also the perfect chance to practice swimming without being in a large area like a pool or lake. The best thing about doing this in the bathtub is having parents nearby.
Do this tip by having your child put their face in the water to blow bubbles. It helps them be comfortable getting their face wet until they can submerge their entire head underwater.
Blowing bubbles in the water teaches your child how to control their breathing. It also improves their lung capacity so they can perform better in the water and progress to the next swimming level.
Learn rotational breathing
Rotational breathing further enhances your child’s performance in the water. Like blowing bubbles, you can practice this skill in the bathtub.
Have your child put their face in the water and hold their breath for as long as possible. You can count while they do this so they can see how they are improving! Practicing this also strengthens their lungs, making them more confident in the water.
Perform arm rotations in the air
Arm rotations are dynamic exercises that offer various benefits for your child. For instance, it promotes flexibility in the shoulder joint, increases the range of motion, targets key muscle groups, and improves coordination.
Your child can also enjoy better propulsion in the water as they perform this tip. The resistance created by moving arms through the air helps strengthen the muscles in the arms, including the shoulders, biceps, and triceps. It also refines their motor skills, fostering a better understanding of how to move efficiently through the water.
Begin with a brief warm-up to prepare the muscles for activity. Have your child stand comfortably and extend their arms to the sides at shoulder height. After alternating rotations between both arms, challenge your child to perform them simultaneously. Gradually increase the duration and intensity as they become more proficient with this exercise.
Make sure you encourage your child to fully complete each arm rotation as if they’re swimming. This helps them familiarize themselves with the different strokes, making performing in the pool easier.
Practice kicking on the floor
Swimming involves the coordination of the arms and legs. Most children struggle with keeping their lower appendages straight during flutter kicks. However, there’s an effective way to practice this at home.
Have your child lie on the floor and urge them to make small, swift movements with their legs. Children that are small enough can perform this exercise in the bathtub. This way, they grasp the fundamentals of moving through water resistance in a confined and controlled space.
Watch swimming videos
Apart from performing exercises, your child can also learn by observing. Utilize your free time by watching videos of professional swimmers with your child. Use accurate terminology for each stroke and discuss the swimmer’s techniques.
As you consistently incorporate this practice swimming at home, your child should gradually adopt the vocabulary commonly used in swimming, making it easier to keep up with a swimming coach. Having an increased familiarity contributes to their comprehension of instructions during lessons.
Try water games
Make practice swimming at home more fun by trying classic pool games. Not only are these activities dynamic and entertaining, but they are also an excellent way to enhance your child’s swimming skills.
Marco Polo is a classic water game that hones swimming and listening skills. It involves one child closing their eyes and calling “Marco” while the others respond with “Polo.”
For more advanced little swimmers, you can also try underwater treasure hunts by tossing sinkable objects, such as pool toys or weighted items, into the water. Encourage them to dive and retrieve the treasures.
Continue Aquatic Learning at Home
Incorporate these engaging activities into your routine and transform your home into a supportive environment for your child’s swimming development. Continue their aquatic learning and learn how to practice swimming without a pool. The key to making these practice swimming exercises enjoyable is fostering a positive association with water.
While these activities are no substitute for professional swimming lessons, they complement formal instruction, helping your child become a more confident and capable swimmer. It also encourages continuous learning despite being out of the water.
Learn more creative ideas that help foster your child’s swimming skills by visiting the Bear Paddle blog.