How to Teach a Child to Kick in the Water
Once a child can both float and glide, she is ready to learn the flutter kick.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Face the pool's wall and hold onto it with your hands
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2
Demonstrate the flutter kick, keeping your legs fairly straight, pointing your toes, and kicking from the hips. Exaggerate it by splashing more than necessary.
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3
Have the child hold onto the wall and try the flutter kick. Hold the child's legs straight so that she doesn't kick from the knees. Have the child point her toes and kick from the hips.
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4
Get the child to blow bubbles in front of her as she kicks. If she can, have her stretch out her arms and put her face completely in the water.
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5
Support the child beneath the child's armpits and lead her around the pool. Have the child practice the kick while blowing bubbles.
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6
Have the child hold onto a kickboard and pull the child around the pool while she practices kicking.
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7
Let go of the kickboard and let the child propel it with her own kick.
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8
Build up to where the child can kick across the pool, on her own, with a kickboard.
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9
Stand a few feet away, and have the child push off and glide with a kick to you. Gradually increase the distance.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Introduce each new level of kicking one lesson at a time. Get the child to kick for a few minutes during each lesson so that she starts to build kicking strength.
When pulling a child around the pull, pool her at a relatively slow pace so that she doesn't feel let down when under her own power.
Review each kicking lesson before introducing a new one.
Never leave a child unattended near a swimming pool.
