Children's Swimming: 3 Points for Parents to Watch 🦋

"My child is taking swimming lessons, but what should I be looking for?" Recently, I have been receiving this question from parents more and more. As a former Olympic athlete, I have compiled three points that I really want to share in this article. I hope this serves as a helpful guide for those supporting their children.

The real reason why children fail their swimming tests

The other day, I heard that an acquaintance's child failed their swimming school advancement test. The reason was, "because they were bending their knees while doing the flutter kick."
When I heard this, I truly understood. Bending the knees while flutter kicking is a path almost every child takes at the beginning. At the same time, if you let it slide by saying "it's fine," it will cause problems later on—it is also the point we instructors watch the most.
The more correctly you learn the basics at the start, the easier your future will be.
From here, I will narrow down to three points you should know when watching your child swim.

Point 1: Move the flutter kick "from the base"

The correct way to flutter kick is to move your legs broadly from the base of the hips. As long as only the part below the knees is flapping, it provides almost no propulsion.
Think of it as the feeling of taking long strides in the water. Instead of bending your knees to "jump," the ideal is to use your entire thigh to whip your leg, using it like a single lash all the way to the tips of your toes.
💡 Tips for parents to watch
・Watch the position of the splashes. If it's only splashing around the knees, it's a sign of knee-bending kicks.
・Check from above to see if the base of the legs (around the buttocks) is moving.
・Use words to convey the image, such as "Try moving them like you're walking."

Point 2: Master "exhaling through the nose" early

Something that is surprisingly overlooked is breath control. In particular, the movement of exhaling through the nose is an essential skill for swimming continuously.
You cannot inhale through your mouth while your face is submerged. You only inhale for a split second when your face is out of the water. Take in the next breath in that instant, and then exhale little by little through your nose while underwater—once this rhythm stabilizes, your swimming will become much longer and easier.
Even in advancement tests, it is often observed whether the child can "exhale through the nose" during movements like diving, jumping, and diving again. If this is not cleared, you will inevitably get stuck in later stroke practice.
💡 Practice you can do at home
・Play a game in the bath where you submerge half your face and exhale bubbles through your nose.
・Learn "exhaling through the nose" and "inhaling through the mouth" as a set.
・Get the hang of exhaling frequently before you feel breathless.

Point 3: Don't settle for "this is good enough" with the basics

This is the point I most want to convey.
The form learned in early childhood remains in the body longer than you might imagine. It takes much longer to correct a movement learned incorrectly later than it does to learn it from scratch.
That is why, at the initial stage, I want both instructors and families to make "carefully learning the correct form" the motto, rather than "it's fine."Even if a swimming school seems strict, I believe that strictness is for the sake of your child's future.

The best support a parent can give

Your child understands why they couldn't do it better than you think. When they are depressed about failing a test, it is wonderful to encourage them by saying "you can do it next time," but I also recommend saying this afterward:
"What did the coach say about what you couldn't do?"
Have your child reflect in their own words. Just by doing that, their approach to the next practice will change significantly. It's the image of checking together, rather than the parent giving the answer.
Improvement in swimming is greatly accelerated by the teamwork of the coach, the family, and the child themselves. I have seen many times from the poolside just how significant the presence of supportive parents is to a child.
✅ Today's checklist
□ Are they moving their flutter kick from the base?
□ Have they learned the movement of exhaling through the nose?
□ Are they settling for "this is good enough" with their form at the basic stage?
□ Are you encouraging your child to reflect in their own words?

📣 A question for everyone
・Is there anything you are concerned about regarding your child's swimming?
・Please leave your questions like "What should I do about this?" in the comments section.