If you don't know how to swim, or have children that need to learn, read this. I was a swim instructor and lifeguard for 3 1/2 years, and I can tell you right now that unless you are certified to teach swimming, you probably don't know half of what you need to know!
First off, if you go swimming with someone (especially children) who don't know how to swim, please properly equip them with flotation devices, preferably a life jacket. I know, I know, everyone loves the little arm floats. They're cheap, convenient, and easily fit into any beach bag. Unfortunately, these things are not safe. The minute a child raises their arms above their head and jumps in the water, those little floats pop right off! I cannot tell you the number of times I had to save children simply because of this. Please, if at all possible, put your child in a life jacket. Make sure it is properly fitted and will not slide above their head. (Most children's jackets come with one of those crotch straps. They are there for a reason!) Also, for infants, if you are putting them in a little baby tube with a seat in the middle, make sure that they can hold themselves up, and that you watch them constantly! Waves come along and those topple over extremely fast!
Now, onto swimming! First and foremost... BLOW BUBBLES! Seriously.. This is how you put your face under water without plugging your nose! Simply close your mouth and blow air out your nose! (If you are nervous about this, try it in the shower, then the sink, and finally with your entire head submerged! Taking small steps makes a big difference!)
Now, I know a big problem with swimming is that people don't know what they are supposed to do when they get tired. What if you aren't where you can reach or near the edge of a pool or a boat? Turn onto your back! This position uses less muscles than does the 'freestyle' form, and also keeps your face above the water, giving you a chance to catch your breath. You can either continue swimming on your back, or simply float for a few minutes while you obtain some more energy to continue! Don't know how to float? No problem!
Floating is much easier than most believe. A common misconception with floating is that it takes a lot of work.. Wrong! tensing yourself up is going to make you sink like a rock. The trick is to completely relax your muscles. It seems that would be counter-productive, considering you're trying to keep yourself afloat, but that's the thing about floating.. You don't have to try! When I taught the younger children (ages 3 to 6), the easiest way to explain this was to tell them to arch their back and poke their belly like Santa Claus. This relaxed their abdominal muscles and they began to float on their own! Just make sure they don't tuck their chin to look at their belly, make sure they are looking at the sky! (Sometimes I told them to look up and see if they could see Santa's reindeer floating over.. Keeping things related helped them to remember what to do a little easier!)
Swimming freestyle can be tricky, depending on how well you swim from the start. However, once you start, it's almost impossible to go back to doggy-paddle, considering how much more exhausting it is. The biggest thing I can say is to keep your legs straight! If you bend your knees while kicking, you will get nowhere. Lock your legs (not so tightly that you will pass out!) and kick from your hips! This is much like walking on tip-toe. Toes stretched, knees straight, and movement coming from your hips. Make sure to keep your back straight, and look straight down at the bottom of the pool for the best posture, which makes the 'drag' a little easier.
There is so much more to swimming and swimming safety than I could ever fit into one blog! If you struggle with swimming or would like tips/advice on other aspects of swimming, leave your questions in the comments section on this blog or on Facebook, and I would be happy to address them! Remember, safety first, wear your sunscreen, and keep watch over your children!
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