Across the country and especially in Southern California, many children are exposed to the water on a regular basis. In the summer, it is even more common. While this is exciting for children, it can be scary for parents. After all, we want our children to be safe at all times.
It is important to always have a capable adult actively supervising children near water, but it is also essential to give your children the skills they need to be comfortable and competent in the water.
Here is a list of skills that every child should have to be safer near the water.
Getting in and out of the pool safely.
It may seem like common sense to adults, but entering and exiting the pool safely is one of the first skills a child must learn. In order to avoid injury and build confidence, young children are taught how to sit and ease themselves into the water. Even more importantly, children are taught how to easily get themselves out of the pool.
Putting his or her face into the water and controlling breathing.
For small children, the thought of putting his or her face under the water and not being able to breathe can be quite scary. By teaching your child to control their breath and put his or her face under water without swallowing it, you are teaching your child an essential survival skill.
Floating on his or her back.
Especially for little swimmers, being in a pool can be exhausting. As children are learning to swim, it is important that they understand what to do if they have exhausted all of their energy before reaching the wall.
Swimming with forward motion.
Young children begin swimming forward with the “doggy paddle” because they have yet to learn how to be in the prone position. When a swimmer puts his or her face in the water, the legs naturally rise to the surface, creating a more efficient swimming position. With the face out of the water, the feet drop, creating significant drag. Teaching your child to swim in the prone position allows them to experience more forward movement with less energy – an important skill as they move toward being self-sufficient in the water.
Treading water.
As children become stronger in the water, treading water becomes an essential skill for independence in the water. This skill not only makes the child safer in the water, but it develops incredible amounts of confidence.
Talk With The Experts About Your Child’s Swim Lessons
Premier Aquatic Services swim instructors use an exciting approach to help swimmers of all ages develop a love of the water. Our instructors are experienced with teaching all levels, whether it be helping beginners to be more comfortable in the water or training more experienced competitors on how to improve their stroke technique. To learn more about our swim lesson programs and register your child for summer and fall classes, visit our aquatic services page.
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