Spend time near the pool and you’ll likely hear parents comment with relief on their children’s summer swimming progress. But are these children really swimming? Understanding the difference between real swimming and beginner skills can be harder than it seems—and a dangerous misconception. Here we dispel some common water myths:
Myth: My child swims like a fish with her floaties on!
Fact: Swimming with floaties is not swimming.
inflatable arm bands "floaties"
Swimming is the ability to self-propel in the water without assistance. In fact, the American Red Cross defines independent swimming as the ability to travel 500 yards (the length of five football fields!) using any combination of strokes, and to tread water without a flotation device. New swimmers will gradually build up to these milestones, but they can’t even begin to practice the skills in floaties, some of the most commonly used swim aids. At Little Fishes, we help young children get comfortable in water without floatation, put their faces in the water without fear, float face-down on top of the water, and move their arms and legs for forward locomotion—the steps needed for swimming.
Myth: It’s not pretty, but dog-paddling gets my child where he needs to go.
Fact: Dog-paddling is not swimming.
When children swim with their head out of the water, their feet drop down, creating drag and slowing their progress. Hands and feet remain in constant motion to prevent sinking. Dog-paddlers tire easily, and can become panicked by fatigue, splashing, and accidental submersion if they stop moving. In addition, lifeguards expect parents in close proximity when children are dog-paddling. When a child demonstrates real swimming, such as freestyle or breast stroke, the stroke mechanics provide time for exertion and recovery, allowing the swimmer to move easily and with endurance.
Myth: My child loves the water—just don’t get her face wet!
Fact: Children who are not comfortable putting their faces in the water do not love water.
Reluctance to put the face in the water indicates fear or hesitation. Flotation devices perpetuate this fear by making it easier to keep their head above the surface. Not until children are comfortable becoming fully submerged will they ever be truly comfortable—and confident—in the water. Studies show that children who know how to submerge are safer in and around water. They stay calmer under water, and find more recovery strategies should they fall in. Good swim lessons teach submersion techniques to children as young as six months old. The younger a child is exposed, the faster and easier it is for going underwater to become second nature! Older children can overcome their fear and discomfort for submersion with patience and the proper coaching.
Myth: She’s safe in the pool, as long as she has her swim ring!
Fact: Most flotation devices are considered toys and not lifesaving devices.
US Coast Guard Approved Life Jacket
Just read the packaging of any swim aid, and you’ll find the words NOT A LIFESAVING DEVICE. Only Coast Guard approved flotation devices prevent drowning, as they are specifically designed to prevent submersion. Unfortunately, this positioning does not help children test their mobility and breath control, and many exploring children can remove them. Adults must be vigilant watchers of children wearing flotation devices. They should be used as a supplement to swim lessons or supervised water exploration, so children do not develop a dependence on them or the gain the false notion that they know how to swim.
Myth: Just give her a few summers and she’ll get the hang of it!
Fact: Year-round swim lessons promote water safety and lifetime swim skills.
It’s not just for summer anymore. Numerous indoor pools and water parks make swimming a year-round option for recreation, birthday parties, field trips, and more. Unstructured seasonal exposure to water can look like progress at first, but often reinforce bad habits. Regression is common among young children that swim only seasonally, so the idea that a child will pick up where they left off is not realistic. Children need regular guided practice to learn swimming, and skill milestones are achieved along with physical and cognitive growth.
