Babies naturally move their arms splashing the water. They love to splash and really think that splashing their arms will move them in the water.

 

Encourage the baby to move his arms by moving toward a toy or another person while he moves his arms, splashing the water.

 

As the baby grows you will want to teach an effective arm stroke:

Lean back on the wall making a seat by crossing one leg on the other knee. Have the child chest deep in the water with his back to you. Reach and pull each hand under the water saying "dig, dig, dig." Don't let the child hold your hand or finger. Without holding the child's hands, encourage him to reach and pull.

 

With the face on top of the water, have the child reach and pull while going to a toy, or to another person, or to the steps.

 

When practicing with the face under the water, you extend the child's hands to really reach under water.

 

Remind the child to dig. The child can hear you under the water.

 

When the child can swim to you model the stroke so the child can see your arms as he swims to you.

 

To have an older child learn to bring the arms out of the water, have the child lift the arms while walking to the steps or to the side. As the child develops a more grown up stroke, the child may alternate with the arms reaching and pulling under the water and bringing him arms up above the water.

 

Make the child work while having fun!