Editorial supervision: Yokohama Swimming Association

People who have children tend to think that teaching children how to swim is extremely difficult, but it is not all that difficult.
The most important thing is to get the child to get used to the water. When taking a cue, your child will lose his/her backoff toward swimming. Then you can start giving your child swimming advice. The following is a summary of the advice you can give to your child when you go to the pool together. Please enjoy your time at the pool with your family!!

STEP1 Getting used to the water

Walking back and forth in the water, jumping sideways, underwater rock-paper-scissors (opening one’s eyes underwater).
Breath holding (holding one’s breath underwater. Count up for about 10 seconds).
Bubbling (exhaling underwater, letting the air bubble out from one’s mouth)
Bobbing (exhale underwater from one’s nose, then when your face breaks out of the water, inhale rapidly. Practice this with your child while jumping up and down together in the water.)

STEP2 Kenobi

Begin by holding your child’s hands, then practice using a kick board, and once he/she gets used to that, advise your child to kick off the pool wall without holding a kick board and while stretching out his/her body.

STEP3 Kick

Advise your child to kick by moving the legs straight from the trunk.
Seated kick (while sitting by the pool)
Wall kick (while holding the pool wall)
Kick board kick (while holding a kick board)
Face submerged kick (without holding a kick board)

STEP4 Tachipuru

Before starting in the water, first roll the arms alternately while standing outside the water.

　

STEP5 Face submerged crawl

Let’s roll the arms alternately while kicking with the face submerged.

STEP6 Standing breathing

Let’s stand in the pool, submerge our face and practice breathing.

STEP7 Crawl

Let’s swim while kicking and breathing.

Let’s practice each step repeatedly, gradually increasing the distance. When the child gets good at a given step or increases the distance, give praise. Let’s practice without overdoing it and while having fun.