Building Up Water Confidence In Young Children (5-7 Years)
Aimed at older children, this video shows you many techniques and practises to help you build up your child's water confidence. With water confidence skills from our expert swimming teacher, this video will help them to eventually be more confident in the water.
Step 1: Practise 1
Once they are in the water, try getting your child to hold onto the step and put their face into the water whilst blowing out through their mouth, making some bubbles. Once comfortable, get your child to kick their legs and to practise taking breaths at the same time. The aim is to get them to splash as little and as quietly as possible.
Step 2: Practise 2
Next, introduce the noodle or woggle as it is also known. Put it around your child and get them to hold onto it whilst doing a few widths of strong kicking. Direct them to blow out when their face is in the water and to lift their head to breathe in. The more widths they do the more accustomed they'll get to the technique.
Step 3: Practise 3
Attach a float to your child's back and holding onto a float get your child to straighten their arms practising the kicking movement and breathing technique, remind your child to lift their head up to breathe guide them through the water from one side to the other and encouraging them to kick their legs strongly but with minimal splashing. Always, end the practice with a bit of fun, like jumping into the water, so that it does not seem like hard work all the time!
With your child try to practise these techniques regularly. It will allow them to build up their confidence in the water and help them learn essential swimming skills. Watch our film on improving their confidence for more advanced exercises and practices.