An important part of any new swimmer’s journey is learning how to hold their breath underwater.
We recommend practising breath control with your littlie when they turn two. By this age they should be able to follow basic instructions, making it the perfect time to teach them how to put their face in the water.
The earlier you start, the easier it will be for them to feel comfortable in water and overcome any nerves about putting their face underwater.
Breath control can be a challenging task for any child to master during lessons. So, what can you do ensure your child is on track?
Our Swim ARCademy team has put together some tips on how you can help your child conquer breath control outside of lessons:
- Take it slow: Like learning any new skill, it can be overwhelming to do something you’re not used to. Begin with simple exercises first, so your child can get used to the feeling of holding their breath. For example, you can have them blow bubbles in the water, or put their face in the water for a few seconds while holding their breath.
- Use fun games: Make breath control practise fun by incorporating games into the lessons. You can play games like "red light, green light" or "Simon says" where the child has to hold their breath for a specific period.
- Gradually increase the duration: Once your child is comfortable holding their breath for short periods of time, gradually increase the duration. You can do this by asking them to hold their breath for a little longer each time they practise.
- Practise on land: Before practising in the water, have your child practise holding their breath on land. You can do this by having them hold their breath while blowing up balloons or blowing bubbles in a glass of water.
- Encourage relaxation: Encourage your child to relax their body and breathe calmly and deeply. When they feel relaxed, it will be easier for them to hold their breath for longer periods.
You can help them relax by teaching them simple breathing exercises or asking them to visualise something calming while they hold their breath.
When you join Swim ARCademy, your membership gives you access to one 30 minute lesson with an instructor per week, as well as unlimited use of our recreational pools outside your lesson times. So, you have plenty of time to work on helping your child hold their breath!
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