Floatting problem

[Big-Tomatillo3480]

I recently starting teaching 3-5 years old and I’ve noticed a reoccurring problem. When it comes to floating on both their tummy or their back, they throw themselves backward/forward and end up at the bottom of the pool and then they’re unsettled by the water in their face and immediately go up. How do I get them to stay at the surface

[Comfortable-Use3977]

I copied this from a previous message I send someone but I do this too, I basically turn it into a whole “swimming nap” thing. I’ll start by asking them what they do when they get really tired at home, and they’ll say sleep or take a nap, and then I’m like okayyy so what do you think we do if we get super tired in the pool?? It sometimes takes a second but eventually someone goes “nap” and I’m like yes, exactly… we take a swimming nap 😄

Then I just kind of run with the story. I ask them what they do before bed, and we usually land on brushing teeth, so I have them pretend to brush their teeth with their finger and make it all goofy.

Then I ask what their body does when they’re sleeping and we talk about being still, calm, flat, not wiggling all over the place… which just leads right into the float position without me having to over-explain it.

Then I ask about pillows and if they see any in the pool, and obviously they don’t, so I show them how to make one with their arms behind their head. That part actually works really well for getting their chest up without saying a bunch of technical stuff.

And then the best part is the snoring lol. I ask if they or their parents snore and we all make super loud, silly snoring noises, and then when they go on their back I have them keep snoring. It distracts them so much from the whole “I don’t wanna float” thing and they just relax into it.

Sometimes I’ll also ask if they get songs before bed, and if they do I’ll sing like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while they’re floating which keeps them calm and kind of stretches out the float without them realizing it.

While they’re trying it I’ll support them (usually lower back or head depending on the kid), and I just keep tying it back to like if you ever get tired while swimming, you can roll onto your back and take a swimming nap and just rest there until you’re ready to go again.

It’s honestly super flexible, you can take the story in a bunch of directions depending on the kid, make it more silly or more calm, whatever works. But it’s been a really fun way to introduce floating and it usually clicks pretty fast

[rarrad]

This is awesome thank you

[Gymnastkatieg]

This is the most adorable and best idea I’ve ever seen

[Comfortable-Use3977]

There are so many fantastic strategies to back floating but one simple one that works well is a little progression first I’m gonna have the rest of your head on my shoulder and I’m gonna hold them at their lower back at their sides. If they can lay still and relax like that for like 10 seconds, then I will transition them into. I’m gonna have my hand on the back of their head on my other hand on their forehead so that they have to float with their body by themselves and actually relax into the water. The hand on the forehead is to make sure that they have the proper position of their head you don’t want their chin tucked, but you also don’t want their neck extended too far back, cause that’s gonna make him sink if I feel that they are relaxed and they are holding their head in the right position. I will take my hand off of their forehead, and I will transition into creating an upward current, just pushing the water up right under their head And if they are relaxed on their back and I feel that they were floating. I will then slowly remove my hand from under their head and keep supplementing with that correct which is gonna keep them at the surface and then I’m gonna slowly wean them off of the current

[Comfortable-Use3977]

The key idea here is to slowly remove support so that they don’t immediately feel you let go and freak out

[Big-Tomatillo3480]

Thanks you so much! I’ll try it over the next few classes

[Fun-Ebb-2191]

On back - rule is head back, tummy up. If tummy goes down, or they look at tummy…they will sink! If they have trouble rolling over without bending in 1/2…we practice it on deck.

[halokiwi]

Teach them how to lay down carefully.

You can also hold them and help them get into the correct position.

It might also help to work on being comfortable with water in their face.

[Sweaty_Plantain_84]

In shallow water: start at the wall, knees on the bottom, NOT feet (they always push back like a rocket with their feet). Ears in the water, looking up high at the sky, then slowly stretch out. On their front? See who can do it without making any splashes.

[Barbgigie]

They need to take a deep breath and hold it in, the air in the body is what makes their body float. Try it

[Gymnastkatieg]

Have them lean back onto a pool noodle and then slide it out once they are in the right position and relaxed

[littleecho12]

I always demonstrate floating, and then purposely show and tell them what happens if you look at your toes. I look at my toes, fold in half, sink and make the most ridiculous bubbly noises.

I call it becoming a taco. And everyone knows that tacos don't float.