How to Teach a Child to Float in the Water

Learning to float is a crucial building block for beginning swimmers. In doing so, they learn what being in the water is really about.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Men's And Women's Swimwear
• Swimsuits For Children
• Floats And Swimming Aids

1. Make sure the child is comfortable in the water and with going completely under the water before you teach floating.

2. Practice "holding your breath" first.

3. Teach your child to float where she can touch bottom. The child will be much more relaxed knowing she can touch down if needed.

4. 
    

   Put a cork (or similar object) in the water and explain that the cork floats because it has air in it. Then explain that people also have air in them, and can float too.

5. Demonstrate a face-down float, then float by wrapping your arms around your knees and holding your breath for five seconds.

6. Have the child imitate your float while holding her breath and wrapping her arms around her knees. This helps her to take her feet off the bottom, so that she is actually floating.

7. 
    

   Teach the child the "dead man's float" (see "How to Do a Survival Float") with your arms out like an airplane and your face down in the water. Demonstrate first, then help the child to imitate you.

8. 
    

   Support the child, then allow her to do it alone.

Tips & Warnings

• Include floating practice in each swim lesson.
• When the child is very confident with floating, move out into the deep end and try it there.
• Never leave a child unattended near a swimming pool.

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