Blowing Bubbles in the Water

Blowing bubbles in the water, or exhaling, is an essential skill in swimming that helps with proper breathing. It also prevents water from getting into kid's mouth or nose when they put their head in the water. 

Most kids don't have difficulties performing this skill. But for some it could be a very unpleasant experience. It is up to you, as a teacher, to help kids through it. Here are some steps and tips on how to teach kids to blow bubbles in the water. 

The following steps are for kids who have difficulties blowing bubbles in the water:

1. Before you start, and to ensure that your method goes gradually, kids must experience the feeling of their head in the water first. Ask them to close their mouth and put their head or their mouth in the water for few seconds. Let them repeat that several times. 
2. Once they've done that, ask them to blow bubbles onto water (with their mouth out of water). Many kids would find it confusing to think about putting their mouth in the water and blowing at the same time so they end up drinking water. This would only scare them away from trying to blow bubbles. So make sure they start blowing with their mouths out of water first. 
3. Blow bubbles as you go in. So let them start blowing onto water with their mouth out and slowly put their mouth in as they blow continuously. 
4. Let them first put their mouth in the water while holding their breath and then start blowing. 
5. Repeat all of the above steps to teach them to blow through their nose. 
6. Let them blow through nose and mouth at the same time. 
7. Teach them to breathe continuously by going out to inhale and in to exhale. 
8. Let them try to go deeper as they blow bubbles. 
9. Teach them to blow bubbles as they kick their legs on their front. 
10. Finally, and the most difficult of all tasks, teach them to blow bubbles through their nose while laying on their back with their heads in the water. 

Do the previous steps over a course of several lessons. Only go for the next step when you see that the previous one has been perfected. Rushing kids into doing that unpleasant exercise could only backfire. So you may want to let them do it by their own pace. 

If they fail to learn how to blow bubbles after so many lessons and if you feel that they are not getting used to it, let them blow through straw with their mouth out. This should help them get used to the feeling. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to write to us in the comment section below.