How to Teach a Child to Tread Water

Video Transcript

"Hi this is Phillip Toriello and this is how to teach a child how to tread water. Basically I start children off by doing a basic head float. By putting their heads back and just kind of letting their belly buttons float beneath them. Or just kind of sink down beneath them. The legs tend to be the hardest part to keep bodies afloat so we just have them put their head back and then they can use their arms in a sculling fashion back and forth. While this is a bit tough to pick up on at first it's good to start using or start a child out by using a noodle underneath their arms and or underneath their legs so that they can just get the basic principle of that back and forth arm motion. Then they can slowly put their head back and then start doing their float or treading water just like this. As the child becomes more comfortable you can move them on or introduce them to egg beating or using their legs in that egg beater fashion while moving their arms back and forth or what we call sculling water. That back and forth motion with the hands? Then also utilizing that egg beater motion. To learn more about treading water and working with children please contact your local swimming expert."