4 Tricks for Teaching Kids How to Swim

WRITTEN BY LIZ REGALIA | PHOTOS BY BRIAN PRINCIPE

As soon as children can walk, they should start swim lessons, according to experts at Step into Swim, a water safety initiative that provides grants for learn-to-swim programs in communities across the country. Why? Because if a child can walk, that means they can also run toward water, and knowing how to swim could save their life. That’s why every Early School class visits Madren Pool at least once a week for a swim lesson led by Aquatics Director Missee Fox ’73 and swim teacher Cassidy Rindge.

Here are just a few of the fun phrases Fox and Rindge use to teach the youngest students at Ashley Hall how to swim:

Poof… Be… Gone!

When an instructor says this phrase, swimmers dunk some part of their head under the water and “make it disappear.” It could be their whole head, an ear, or their lips – all of which help them get more comfortable being underwater.

Sandwich Hands

This hand placement prepares swimmers for a glide position when kicking their feet under or above water. “What kind of sandwich will you make today?”

Ice Cream Scoops

“What kind of ice cream would you like to have today?” an instructor may ask to have swimmers practice curving their hands into scoop-like shapes. This position helps them pull themselves through the water in a freestyle fashion.

Dive Position

“Hands up to the sky, and squeeze your head with your arms!” This instruction prepares swimmers for diving by putting their arms in a streamline position.