In addition to the preparatory exercises, some core exercises are required.
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Hold your child by the armpits (just as in the core exercise). Maintain eye contact and make a few funny faces and sounds. Occasionally, try a nose boop. You know best what makes your child happy. Through playful interaction, the goal is for the child to feel comfortable in the water and even have fun in this new environment.
This exercise can be done either at home in the bathtub or in a very shallow pool. Often, pools have a staircase, and the top step is usually just a few centimeters below the water's surface. This spot is ideal for the exercise, as long as the staircase is wide enough for others to pass by. The exercise itself is quite simple. Sit down with your toddler and splash around a little. Lightly drum on the water and sprinkle it upwards so that a few droplets land on your child's face. This playful exercise helps the child gradually get accustomed to the water.
This exercise must be performed before the actual core exercise. Hold your child by the armpits and try to create a positive atmosphere using funny faces, bubbles, playful sounds, etc. Another person can then pour water over the child’s head using a cup. If you are alone, you can simply sit the child on the pool edge. Approach the child from the front with the cup and start with a small amount of water. Observe the child’s reaction carefully. If the reaction is positive, praise them; if it’s negative, avoid reinforcing those feelings. Repeat this exercise over several bath sessions, gradually increasing the amount of water. Once the child reacts positively even to a full cup of water, you can move on to the core exercise. It can also help if you first pour water over your own head, then shake yourself off and show visible enjoyment. The toddler will observe your behavior, making it more likely for them to respond positively as well.
This exercise can be done either in the water or on land. Dip your hand into the water and gently drip it onto the toddler’s head. Observe the child’s reaction and try to encourage positive feelings through praise and reassurance. If the child reacts negatively, you can try the exercise again later. However, avoid reinforcing negative feelings by expressing pity. You can also try distracting the toddler with a toy or other object while lightly dripping water. If the child responds positively to this exercise, you can proceed with the Watering Can Readiness Test.
As mentioned earlier, you should definitely start with the "watering can readiness test" and only proceed to the core diving exercise if your child reacts positively to water on their face. This might require some patience and can sometimes feel frustrating, but we strongly encourage you to take the necessary time. Forcing children to dive often results in strong negative feelings towards water. By the age of three or four, children should ideally begin submerging themselves independently, but such negative experiences can significantly slow down this process.
