Turning to a float position is another survival strategy for your child. A beginning swimmer can’t swim very far and could panic if he falls in the pool or gets tired. Teach the child to turn to a float position to rest and breathe until help comes or until he can continue to swim to the goal.

 

To teach this movement, tell the child that when he swims to you, you will tap him on the head and help him turn to a float position by putting one hand under his back and one on the belly as he rolls over. Tell the child to relax and breathe.

 

Practice the turn to float and the back float until the child feels comfortable. For more instructions, look at back float lesson.

 

The second part of the lesson is to teach the child to flip back to the prone position, on his belly, and continue to swim.

 

While the child is floating, count to three, tap him on the head, and watch the direction he chooses to flip. Hold his arm and help him to flip, by rolling to the side. Move back a little so the child has to swim to you. Using this technique, the child will not lift his head but turn over, not getting in a standing position.

 

Move back a little so the child has to swim to you.

 

When the child can swim, turn to float and flip over he can do the flip float!

 

Next, teach the little swimmer to kick on his back while you hold his head in the back float position.

 

Hold the child’s head as you practice, and teach him also to move the hands at his sides under the water like fish fins. Let him feel that he is pushing you backwards.

 

To strengthen the kick, have him crash you to the wall.

 

Hold the child’s head less and less until the child can kick on his back by himself as you back up and call to him.

 

As the child swims a longer distance, have him turn to float, kick on him back, and flip over to swim.

 

With the Flip-Float, your child can now swim the length of the pool without help!