Breath control is an essential and fundamental component of learning to swim. If we don’t perfect breath control, any other swimming component that is added will never look or feel quite right.
Although when we think about breath control in swimming lessons, most people will conjure up images of children practising freestyle breathing patterns on the wall, breath control is much more and starts much earlier.
Breath control centres on teaching children to know when water is going to be placed over their head or over their face. We want them to understand that when we say ‘Ready 1, 2, 3’ or ‘Ready, Go’ in the bath, pool or ocean that they're going to have water go over their head or face.
Breath control needs to be taught. Placing children under the water before they display signs of readiness and prior to basic breath control has been mastered can result in uncomfortable and negative experiences for your child and hinder their progress in swimming.
Learning their cues is one of the most important aspects of the beginning stages of breath control and is an ongoing process and requires both your patience and persistence.
Below is a basic activity that you should aim to do with your child at every bath time. You'll need a plastic cup.
Start slowly and get them comfortable with you pouring water over their toes, knees, bellies and shoulders.
When you're ready, you're going to do their head. This needs to follow 5 basic steps:
- Fill the cup
- Stop and make eye contact with your child
- Say in an assertive tone “Ready, 1, 2, 3” or “Ready, Go”
- Making your movements slowly and smoothly pour the water from the back of child’s head to the front on their face
- Smile and praise them
Correctly practising these activities with your child during their bath/shower times and any time you're around water, will ensure ongoing progress for your child in their lessons and assist in creating positive associations to water and their swimming lessons.
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