How to Teach a Child Rhythmic Breathing in the Water

Once a child can kick and glide in the water, it's time to start teaching rhythmic side breathing. This is a difficult but crucial step in a child's progression toward learning the crawl stroke.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Swimsuits
• Swimsuits For Children
• Kickboards
• Swimming Goggles
• Swimsuits

1. Practice bobbing up and down in the water with the child at every lesson. Each time, do more bobs than at the previous lesson. The child should submerge completely on each bob.

2. Have the child hold onto the side of the pool and kick.

3. Demonstrate how to hold onto the wall with your arms outstretched, put your face in the water, and breathe on the side while kicking.

4. Breathe by turning your head to the side, so only your cheek is still in the water. Take a breath, put your face straight back down in the water, and blow bubbles.

5. Have the child first try this breathing method with feet on the ground.

6. Advance to having the child breathe on the side while holding onto the wall and kicking.

7. Try the same exercise with the kickboard during the next lesson.

8. Have the child practice breathing on the side while kicking during each lesson.

Tips & Warnings

• Correct the child's tendency to breathe in front or to turn to the front after breathing, before either mistake becomes a habit.
• Work on breathing in a steady rhythm. Try counting and having the child breathe every time you reach three. For example, count as follows, "One, two, three, breathe. One, two, three, breathe."
• Never leave a child unattended near a swimming pool.

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