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Avoid A Tragedy This Summer By Teaching Your Toddler To Swim Using These Three Pool Games

21 July 2016

Philip Freeman

The majority of drownings are toddlers under the age of five. This one fact only makes it even more important for parents to teach their toddlers to swim. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, especially around a pool. You can never be safe enough. When you teach your toddler to swim, you will not only be saving their life in the event of an accident, you will also be teaching them important safety rules when it comes to being around a body of water. It's not hard to teach a toddler to swim. In fact, there are several games that you can play that will get them swimming and learning so they are pool safe and summer ready.

Let's Go Fishing!

Let's Go Fishing is an excellent way to strengthen your toddler's arms and teach them how to use this strength to swim and stay afloat. If your toddler accidentally falls into a pool, they will need to use their arm muscles to keep them floating until you can reach them, so it's very important that these muscles are developed.

Place floating toys at the shallow end of the pool. Hold your toddler in the pool and have them try to catch the toys that are floating. Encourage them to move their arms through the water. While they are having a fun time splashing, they are actually developing the movements that are essential to swimming and floating.

The Floating Motorboat

One of the most important things to teach your toddler is the proper positions to be in should they fall into the pool while you are away. Have your toddler wrap their arms around you, so they are belly down in the water. Walk backwards. Walk slowly at first, then slowly speed up. This is getting your toddler used to being in the water. Once your child is comfortable in the water, help them kick their feet. One of the best ways to help them kick on their own is to tell them to splash the water with their feet. This not only teaches them proper swimming position, but you are also developing their leg strength.

Making Fish Bubbles

The next thing that you need to teach your toddler is how to control their breathing while in the water. This will not only teach them how to hold their breath if they become submerged in a pool of water, but it will also teach them to regulate their breathing. If they know how to regulate their breathing, they will be more likely to remain calm if they fall into a pool of water.

This game is simple and fun. All you have to do is place your face under water and gently blow bubbles. Show your child how to do it until they begin to do it by themselves. Take turns doing this until your child gets the hang of it.

Summertime should be full of fun memories, not tragic ones. With toddlers being high risk for drowning, it is imperative that you teach your child to swim at a very young age. By playing these simple water games with your child, you will teach them how to regulate their breathing and use their arms and legs should they fall into a pool when you are not around.

For more information, contact professionals like Jersey Wahoos Swim Club.

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