Floating on the Water
The child stands on the pool floor with arms stretched out to the sides. Then, they lean slightly forward and lift their feet off the bottom, positioning themselves in a prone position on the water. The head is also placed on the water, facing straight down so that the entire face is submerged. This position is held for at least 5 seconds. This exercise primarily trains the two core elements: water acclimation and floating.
Preparation Exercises
Holding breath
Use a pool noodle or a kickboard on the water. The child holds onto it with one hand and participates in a "diving competition." At your signal, the child submerges until you remove the pool noodle. Start with two seconds and gradually increase the time. This fun exercise encourages small successes and improves the child's ability to stay underwater longer—an important skill for the core exercise "airplane," where holding their breath for at least five seconds is required.
Häufige Fehler
Feet stay on the ground
Some children hesitate to lift their legs off the ground, fearing they must immediately stretch them to float in the water. Not stretching the legs results in falling forward, which is harmless in water but often triggers a natural reflex to catch themselves with their hands and legs, thus interrupting the exercise. While many children prefer to stretch their legs slowly, this approach is not effective. Previous exercises can help reduce these reflexes and build the child’s confidence in the water.
