Improving Flutter Kicking Skills
I used to think the easiest skill for kids to learn was “Flutter Kicking”. I was wrong.
I was shocked at how many kids are nervous or shy or confused about the whole process of kicking. The ways kids kick wrong are too numerous to list here. Suffice to say that over the years I have continued to develop more techniques and refine techniques for teaching kids how to kick.
I see kids kick like crazy and go nowhere because their kicking is so ineffective. They just waste their energy and eventually tire out.
Kids are human.
Humans are lazy.
Kids move their legs in the pool so as to not create resistance against the water. But that’s exactly what you need to do for your kicking to be effective and move you in the water. Kids figure out all the ways to not push the water with their legs and waste their energy because creating resistance in the water with their legs is HARD! Yes. But it gets easier as their muscles get stronger.
I won’t teach your kids how to kick. I teach my students how to kick with proper kicking technique. When done properly they will expend the least amount of energy to go the furthest distance. This takes way more practice than anyone realizes.
If your child struggles with learning how to kick properly here are homework assignments that help:
Go to the playground and teach them how to swing on the swings BY THEMSELVES. The self pumping action of swinging on swings uses all the same muscles, in the same way, as flutter kicking across the pool.
To help make the connection for younger kids, put their flippers on them when they are on the swing. That helps them make the connection between swinging on the swing and kicking in a pool.
GET FLIPPERS! Absolutely the best tool ever for teaching kids how to kick properly and build up those leg muscles at the same time! I won’t teach students whose parents refuse to get flippers when their kids cannot properly kick. I’ve taught thousands of people how to swim. I know what I’m doing. Flippers work. My only regret is not incorporating them into lessons years ago.
Have your child lay face down on the bed and practice their flutter kicking. Move their legs for them if they struggle with kicking their legs opposite of each other or kicking too big. Put flippers on them if they kick their toes into the bed.
Go outside and practice kicking a soccer ball around. Another skill that is similar to how you move your legs and ankles when flutter kicking.
