Most children naturally kick and move their arms in the water. The young child feels as if the movements actually make him move about in the water. The child believes he is swimming!

If your baby doesn't naturally kick, get low in the water and have the baby lean on your shoulder. Move the baby's legs up and down at the knees while you walk backwards. Have another adult move the baby's legs up and down.

Hold the child securely. As the baby kicks, you walk backwards towards a toy or another person. To teach a more effective kick, have the child hold your shoulders as you move the child's legs up and down at the knees.

Another way to improve the effectiveness of the kick, is to use a ring (a float.) Place the child's hands on the float. Use your arms to move the child's legs up and down, bending the knees, flopping the feet, while moving to a toy. Try to achieve a happy medium of bending and splashing. You can also place your arm just above the child's knees to prevent the child's legs from going too deep.

The child will continue to kick until he reaches the toy. This is swimming!

To have the child kick with more effort, hold the child facing you. Have the child kick really hard, while you pretend to crash the wall.

Hold the child under the arms and tell him to kick to the toy while you walk toward the toy.

 

Have the child push off the steps and kick to you getting in a horizontal position.  If he has trouble getting in a horizontal position, watch the Swim Solo lesson and learn to play the "bumper fish."

 

Have the child jump in and kick to you, making sure that he splashes with his feet.

 

To strengthen the kick, try the "rocket" in the Swim Solo lesson.

As the child masters the kicking skill, he can swim alone!