How to Teach Children to Go Underwater

Teaching your child to be comfortable underwater is one of the most important safety lessons they can learn, and it's a lot of fun, too. You'll all feel more comfortable at the water and enjoy it more when you're confident your child has mastered a few basic techniques. Follow these steps when teaching the kids how to swim.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start by getting your child used to having water on her face. Sprinkle water on her head and let it run down, or let her do it herself. This way, she'll become comfortable closing her eyes and holding her breath.

2. Teach your child to blow bubbles in the water. Start by giving him a bottle of regular bubbles from the store and let him blow the bubbles through the ring. When he can blow those bubbles easily, let him hold onto the side of the pool and encourage him to submerge his mouth and blow. Then try it with his mouth and nose submerged.

3. Let your child move along the side of the pool, holding onto the wall, with you beside her, and teach her the "Elevator Game." Tell her that the elevator goes up (you keep your head above the water), and the elevator goes down (you put your head underwater). Ask her if she'd like to try it, too.

4. Return to Step 2 if your child is uncomfortable with the elevator game. Continue practicing blowing bubbles in the water and try again in a few days.

5. Support your child under the belly while he holds onto the side of the pool and encourage him to kick. At first, let him kick whatever way he wants, but eventually begin to encourage him to do a more controlled kick. When he no longer needs you to support his body from sinking, you're ready to start teaching him actual strokes.