When you are teaching a child, you are being entrusted with a parent’s most cherished possession. You must immediately begin gaining the trust of both the parent and the child.

Things to Remember

• The first lesson is the most important one. The first impression you make on a child is the most important one. Swimming skills are secondary here and should only be introduced if the child is encouraging it.
• Watch the child’s eyes. Tears are a tell tail sign of being afraid – not mad.
• Smiles and hugs go a long way. All children are different, adjust your lesson to the child.
• Try to learn as much about the child as you can. Names, siblings, pets, schools, toys, etc.
• Remember these personal things about them for the next lesson.

Each child is different. Your routines may have to be changed depending on the child.

Once you have developed trust with your young student, time to introduce the student to that wonderful skill – “Going under water”! It’s not that bad.

Remember: Work on getting completely wet at this time. Not getting completely submerged. Do bubbles, splashing, swishing, etc. Get the hair wet. Be imaginative here. Try the water can, squeeze toys, teacher goes under, etc.

Once it is time to submerge keep in the back of your mind these things:

At Quality Swimming we do not do forced submersions. We will help a child go under the water that initiates the action. If an instructor can get the student to take a big breath and close their mouth, the child has initiated the action and we will help them go under.

We always use cues – “1-2-3”, “eyes down”, “face down” and then let them hear you take a breath.

Also, be sure the student has eye contact and sees you. Watch their face. Be sure a full breath is taken, slowly bring them under and up at a consistent smooth pace.

Touch is involved too. The student feels you squeeze and release during the cues, submersion and recovery.

Different positions you can use include:

• holding over the armpits, swim towards you
• hold under the armpits, swim towards you
• swim child towards the wall
• you can sit older children on your knee, then they go under at the count cue
• they can be helped to submerge with a backwards sweep with your hands under their shoulders
• try also facing you while you and student go under water

It’s important to get the student all the way under. Let them feel water pushing them up, not falling.

Students will not usually take in water if they have a full breath of air when they go under. Show them this Magic Trick or name them Mr. or Miss Fish Cheeks. Make fat cheeks.

Goggles may help. Once the student enjoys the lesson, make sure some submersion and skills are done without goggles at each lesson.

Do some Monkey Walking along the wall (we have gutters to hang onto) to help the student to feel independent and more confident around the water and lesson.

Teach inhaling through the mouth (not the nose). Hum, blow bubbles out the nose under water. Nose breathers have a difficult time and never become comfortable. Shallow breathers – if you hold their nose they feel like they are suffocating! Parents can help with this at home.

Children should learn to come up and take a breath and go back under softly and relaxed.