Learning to swim for children

learning to swim, a guarantee of lifelong water fun.

Why is it important that you learn to swim? In the first place because it can save your life if you fall into the water. But especially because it is pleasant to move in the water and because it is a particularly healthy sport, for body and mind with Lifeguard Recertification Near Me.

Learning to swim contributes to the motor development, safety and self-reliance of every child. 

Swimming is best learned by taking enough time and working in several steps.

1. Water habituation

In the first place, the child has to get used to the water . Water habituation  is the basis for a lifetime of fun in, on and around the water. In most clubs, water habituation is started from the age of 3.5 to 4 years.

2. Learning to survive and water safety

Once the child has become accustomed to water, it is taught the necessary skills for 'learning to survive' and being 'water-safe'. These terms can also be found on our swimming certificates . At the end of the trajectory, the child masters all so-called 'aquatic' basic skills: it can enter the water independently (and also come out), float (on the stomach and on the back), breathe rhythmically, come to balance, streamline, thrust with the legs and thrust with the arms. The child is now much less at risk of a drowning accident, but supervision remains necessary.

3. Learn to swim

From his 5th birthday, the water-resistant child is ready to learn to swim in an official swimming stroke. Unlike before, but based on scientific research, we start with backstroke as a basis. This is followed by crawl (5 to 6 years) and breaststroke (6 to 7 years).

Does your child want to continue swimming afterwards? Then sign up for a follow-up course in one of our clubs, where recreational and competitive swimming sports are practiced in a playful way. In this way, your child can continue to enjoy one of the healthiest sports that exist for a lifetime with American Lifeguard USA Miami.

DO YOU WANT TO LEARN TO SWIM AS AN ADULT?

You are in the best hands at our clubs

Our clubs guarantee quality swimming instruction . As a member of our large swimming family - we are more than 50,000 - you will end up in the capable and experienced hands of the more than 2,000 teachers and trainers who are active in our 150 clubs. By the way, did you know that our teachers are among the most highly trained in Flanders? And that the majority of our clubs have achieved a quality label in recent years ? This is the best guarantee of a didactically and pedagogically strong approach that results in an educational and fun experience for your child. A good basis for lifelong swimming pleasure.

Start lying on your back

bend the knees while keeping the knees together. The feet then sink to the bottom

then let the legs (toes out) go shoulder-width apart and turn them back until they are straight again.

 Emphasize the 'Pepo position' of the feet

The most difficult and time-consuming thing is to teach a child to correct the position of the feet. The feet must always be turned outwards. Call it 'Pipo feet', or 'turn on your turn signals'. Or ask your own swimming teacher what he (or she) calls it.

In any case, let the child pull the toes up well. Then the feet are already slightly in the correct position. Then turn the toes out. This position of the feet is important to get good propulsion in the water. You can also practice this very well at home. On the couch. Or let the child walk with the feet turned out and the toes up. Another trick is to let the child swim with water shoes.