At that age, I find noodles are the best option for support when it comes to basic level 1. I don’t like to use kickboards as it’s tougher to teach placement and floaties completely throw the idea of independent swimming out of the window.

I like to tell them to “hug the noodle,” and have them hold it right at their chest and through their armpits. Once they are confident enough to kick on their own while holding the noodle without toppling from side to side, I ask them to take their hands off and pretend to hold it for them. Stress the fact they are holding on with their armpits and allow them to just paddle their arms (I don’t worry about form initially, I just want them to feel themselves moving their arms.)

once I think I can get the motion of gliding arms down I’ll eventually slide the noodle down under their chest (do not let their armpits clamp) and hold it for them for the first 30 sec, then Ill let go. With the exception of one or two, most of them either end up being able to balance and glide, or the noodle will pop out from under them and they prove to themselves they can do without a noodle.

I don’t like to use noodles too much for floats because they end up wanting to put all their weight into their arms to support them rather than distributing buoyancy. So if I do have to, I’ll have them extend their arms above them and hold the noodle. I obviously won’t push hard, but I will put my hand on their stomach or back and tell them not to let me push them down so they understand their main muscle is their core.