Gliding on the Water
The child pushes off from a standing position with both feet against the pool wall. After the push-off, the child remains in a fully extended position. The hands are placed on top of each other, and the legs remain as still as possible. This position is held for at least 5 seconds. The goal of the exercise is to glide as far as possible. This exercise primarily trains the two core elements: water acclimation and gliding.
Preparation Exercises
Pretzel stick walk
The exercise begins on land. Stretch the arms forward and place the hands on top of each other. Then raise the arms upward, tuck the head between them, and fully extend the body (see image). Start the "pretzel-stick run" on tiptoes around the pool, keeping the body as stretched as possible. After practicing several times on land, the exercise can also be attempted in shallow water. Swimming requires constant alternation between stretching and relaxation. Since children rarely fully extend their bodies in daily life, this exercise helps them practice maintaining a consistent stretch over an extended period.
Häufige Fehler
Relaxing
Children often struggle to stay stretched, especially if they are not accustomed to prolonged submersion. In cases of panic or body flinching, we recommend repeating the demonstrated exercises, particularly the pulling exercise, multiple times to build comfort and confidence.
