Frontcrawl - Breathing

I do not have the actual techniques of how to turn the head to breathe, but this is the easiest method(for me at least). Be sure to get your child to practice the technique by sitting at the pool side first. Only teach your child to breathe on one side first until he/she master the technique before allowing to breathe on other side or both side.

1) Start by the kick and arms pull (I always tell the child to start pulling the left arm first, so that he/she is able to practice the breathing on the right without feeling off balance)
2) As soon as the right arm starts to pull to the back, start turning the head to the right, lifting the chin as high as possible(imagine looking up into the sky). Take a big breath from the mouth as in blowing bubbles, trying not to swallow the water entering the mouth. If water does enter the mouth, spit it back into the water while turning the head back into the water and moving the arm to the front, blow out bubbles through the mouth slowly.
3) While still kicking , repeat the arms pulling process on the the left arm and the breathing on the right.

Frontcrawl - Arms

The frontcrawl or better known as freestyle is almost like doggy style (underwater arms looks like doggy legs pedaling...hehe) with arms raised above the water alternately to be able to glide faster (doggies don't raised their legs of course!)

Arms pulling method for kids, may be applied to beginners too (minus the kid sitting between your legs)!
1) Sit your child by the side of the pool with their feet in the water.
2) Get your child to stretch both arms straight to the front.
3) Sitting behind your child (child in between your legs), hold your child's right hand and pull towards your body. Left arm remain stretch forward.
4) Stretch the arms all the way to the back and twisting his/her body slightly sideways to the right.
5) Lift the arm once it's all the way to the back by bending the elbows slightly (I usually teach them to lift straight up as high as possible, easier when teaching them to breathe)
6) Swing the arm back to the front parallel to the left arm.
7) Repeat the 4) to 6) with the left arm.
8) Get your child to do this on his/her own until he/she is familiar, then put your child in the water for below steps....

In the water:
1) Kick off the wall and do the flutter kick for 2 seconds (or get your child to count 1...2... in her head)
2) Start pulling the right arms as the above method when sitting down (continue flutter kick)
3) Hold your breath with face in water and continue pulling each arms alternately, very slowly until out of breath (your child should be able to pull 2 times each arm before stopping, catch your child and and let him/her rest or do the blow bubbles 10 times before repeating the process again)

Sample video from videojug:


Freestyle breathing techniques next....in the mean time, practice arms pulling together with flutter kick until the the next session : )

More strokes!

Found another swimming site here.....pictures below taken from the site showing correct techniques for all the four strokes in order to swim well.



Shall be getting to the details of each of these strokes later...have already started on the freestyle kick, so will continue with the arms pulling technique soon....

Using the kickboard

There are a number of possible ways which a kickboard could be held...as long as the position makes you feel comfortable.

For kids, they could be taught to hold the board width wise instead. The shorter length enables them to reach/stretch out their hands to hold the board. Else, they could also be taught to hold the board by the side. Best if they are able to support their body weight on the board. This is the most relaxing method for kicking with a board...for me at least :)


Sample video of freestyle kick from expertvillage on using the kickboard...this site has quite a number of good videos...

Kick-Off/Push-Off

If you are able to stand on the floor of the pool, with your back almost leaning against the wall,

• place one leg, knee bended, with foot flat on the surface of the wall (leg position should look something like and 'L' shape underwater)
• start kicking softly off the wall with the bended leg and slowly raising the other leg from the floor to the wall
• as soon as the other leg touches the wall, kick-off the wall with both legs together
• position hands straight like an arrow head - see photo below (this position allows you to glide further)

Arrow head - photo from WonderHowTo

• do the flutter kick or start swimming when the glide starts to fade out...

If your feet is unable to touch the floor of the pool,

• hold on to the wall with one hand and body twisted a little to the front (almost 45 degrees), *sigh* wish I had some pictures to show what I mean...
• place leg position as of the above steps ('L' shape)
• stretch the other hand straight in front, getting ready to kick-off
• start kicking off the wall with both legs, slowly releasing hand from wall and moving it forward in line with the other hand
  

The Flutter Kick...

The flutter kick compliments the freestyle....as it is also known as the freestyle kick. This kick can be done either with both arms stretch to the front or even with a kick board. For beginners, we can start by supporting ourselves on the wall with shoulders and elbows above the water. See kids below...

Photo courtesy of learn2swim.com.my

How to do the flutter kick?

Video from expertvillage

• Firstly, lift both legs to almost the surface of the water by kicking softly (imagine paddling the bicycle)
  
• Then, stretch both legs straight to full length
• Start kicking by moving the each leg alternately, toes pointed and at the same time bending the knees to a very small degree (imagine the karate kick but with less pressure and height)
• Do not stiffen the ankles...kick continuously and control the amount of splash by simply kicking at a faster speed with smaller degree of knee bend
  

For smaller children, they may be taught to kick by sitting them at the edge of the pool and getting them to kick as though as they are kicking a ball in the water (it will be more encouraging to place a pool ball close to their feet) Kids learn faster when they think that you are playing with them....

This method of kicking may also be applied for backstroke. See sample video....

Video from expertvillage

Blow Bubbles

For anyone to be able to feel comfortable in the water is for them to be able to breathe normally as though as they are on land....other than being able to stand in the pool, of course!

However, breathing underwater is not the same as breathing on land...it's only a little bit different. Just imagine yourselves entering into an extremely smelly toilet. Most of us would hold our breaths and some of us even opt to breathe through our mouths.

This exact concept is used for breathing underwater. We inhale air from above water, hold it in the mouth, then exhale the air back into the water through the mouth...a little air may also come out through the nose during exhalation in the water. This process is then repeated to be able to breathe while swimming....while doing this, it may seem that we are blowing bubbles into the water. Thus, it makes it easier for kids to understand when we tell them to blow bubbles....

Some sources I found for teaching kids how to blow bubbles...can be applied to adults too...

Tips courtesy of eHow

Video from expertvillage

Video from expertvillage

Don't let your kids see this guy *laughs*....they may want to have that Tattoo too!