How to teach toddlers to kick in water

Teaching toddlers to kick in water is an enjoyable way to introduce them to swimming and build their confidence. Here's a step-by-step guide for parents.

Tips to help your child kick

Start with water familiarisation

• Before you start teaching kicking, make sure your child is comfortable putting their face under water. Begin in the bathtub by gently splashing water over your infant's legs, associating water with fun.

Use verbal cues, songs and playful activities

• Give consistent commands: Use phrases like "kick, kick, kick" to associate words with actions.
• Incorporate music: Sing songs that involve kicking motions to make learning enjoyable. 

Describe and demonstrate correct kicking technique

• Remember these pointers for correct kicking technique and show your infant how the action is done. To help picture it, think of it as being a similar action to walking on land.

• Use a whole long leg action – kick from the hip!
• Point your toes
• Floppy ankles

• Encourage your child to kick and create splashes, making the experience fun.

Make sure your little one is comfortable and safe

• Keep it short: Only practice briefly to prevent fatigue.
• Encourage your child with positive words and celebrate their efforts and progress.

How to practise kicking technique at home

Please ensure you have a safe space when practising at home. Leave enough space around you and remove any objects which may create hazards. Remember these drills are intended for dry land practice, not in the water.

Many young swimmers bend their knees too much when kicking. This creates a lot of drag as the legs sink low in the water. This exercise will help swimmers get into the habit of keeping long straight legs as they kick in the water.

You’ll be kicking goals in the water in no time with this exercise on kicking technique - all you need to get started is a chair.

1. In a seated position, slowly move your legs up and down. Be sure not to bend your knees, keep your toes pointed, and relax your ankles.
2. As you kick, keep your legs quite close together. Your big toes should brush past each other.
3. Once you’ve started, you can gradually increase your kicking speed, ensuring your technique stays the same.
4. Parents can help by manipulating legs to keep kick under control. When manipulating legs parents should let the calves lay in the palms of their hands and have thumbs on the shins.
5. Now move to a bed or a couch, lying on your back or your stomach with your legs hanging over the edge. Practise your kicking technique as if you were swimming through the water.

Extension exercise: Ankle rotations

An additional part of aiding propulsion in kicking technique is mobility from your ankles. This simple warm-up exercise is great for promoting mobility and flexibility in your ankles.

1. In a seated position, extend your legs out just like the exercise above.
2. Instead of kicking, rotate your right ankle in clockwise circles.
3. Now repeat, this time with your left ankle.
4. Repeat steps two and three, this time rotating in an anti-clockwise circle.
5. Once you’ve got the hang of this technique, try rotating both ankles at the same time.

Why teaching your child to kick in water is essential

Teaching your young toddler to kick in water is a fundamental learn-to-swim skill that lays the foundation for water confidence, safety, and future swimming abilities. Here’s why it’s so important to actively teach this skill early.

1. Builds water confidence and comfort

• Kicking is a natural way for infants to become comfortable in water.
• Early exposure helps prevent fear of water and encourages a positive association with swimming.

2. Develops essential swimming skills

• Kicking is the primary way young children propel themselves through water before learning arm movements.
• It strengthens leg muscles and improves coordination, making it easier to transition into independent swimming later.

3. Supports water safety

• Strong, effective kicks help babies stay afloat and move toward safety if needed.
• Encouraging controlled kicking early on improves balance and buoyancy, reducing panic in the water.