We have some simple drills that allow you to practice at home and improve your swimming skills, even if you don’t have a pool…

Breath control is the KEY to the learn-to-swim process. Blowing bubbles in the bath tub will help! If the lips don’t quite get into the water you can start with a full size straw. Trim it down before each practice session. Before they know it lips are in the water blowing bubbles. To improve kick technique and to get rid of “bicycle kicks” we recommend a kickers on the bed. Lay on the bed belly down. Place a piece of paper under the feet for sound effect. Begin quick and little kickers with toes pointed (flexed). The sound we are looking for is a fast “tap, tap, tap, tap, tap”. We want to avoid the slow “thunk, thunk thunk” sound. Improve back floats by practicing in shallow water in the tub. Lay back with ears above or below the water line, but not in between. Focus on relaxing the core and enjoying the float. Use toys and songs to ease discomfort. If ears start above water work towards getting the ears below the water line. Practice these drills 2-3 times per week to rapidly improve. ALWAYS supervise children when practicing in the tub or any other body of water. PRAISE is the best tool to encourage little ones to participate in the drills and to overcome their fears.