In addition to the preparatory exercises, some core exercises are required.
The child pushes away from the edge of the pool and swims vertically in the water. It then begins to make a sternum stroke-like movement with both legs, with the leg stroke similar to a reduced sternum stroke in which the knees are never fully tightened. This preparatory exercise involves applying a familiar element (the sternum stroke) in a new form (vertical). Since the sternum stroke comes closest to treading water of all leg strokes learned so far, it is particularly suitable for rapid introduction to treading water.
When doing this exercise, the child must bring his feet to his hands, which lie on their side. This is how it learns to move its legs correctly. Some children do not stroke their legs correctly and only stir in the water with their legs half bent. Other children stretch their legs completely and open and close them like jumping jacks. That is not good. With this exercise, you can avoid these mistakes.
Another backstroke exercise is for the child to grip a swim board and let himself float on his back. It should then slowly and controllably stretch and tighten the legs again without spreading your knees. It should take a short break between every leg stroke. In this way, it learns to move its legs efficiently and not to tire too quickly. After a few attempts, the child can try to complete a specific distance with as few leg strokes as possible. For example, it should be ten meters with a maximum of seven leg strokes. With this exercise, the child can improve the backstroke and have fun.
The sternum stroke is learned with a land exercise called the mountain and the moon. The mountain is the bent knees and the moon is the synchronous semicircular movement, which is carried out with both legs. The exercise works as follows: Sit opposite your child on the floor and show each step, then have your child imitate them for you: Step 1: The legs are completely extended, the feet are also extended and point forward. With your hands, you can rest on the ground at the back. Step 2: The legs are tightened, the feet are still next to each other and are stretched. The knees touch. It's the mountain. Step 3: The feet are turned outwards. The knees should only move slightly apart. The heels continue to touch. Step 4. The feet are slowly moved synchronously forward in a circular motion. Imagine a large circle (moon) on the ground, which you drive along with your feet. Halfway through, you start turning your outwards feet inwards again. As soon as the legs are stretched and closed again, the feet are also stretched again. This exercise is repeated dozens of times. Very slowly at first, then at more speed. More speed means that the circular movement is carried out faster and the feet are folded together. As soon as the legs are stretched after the circular movement, you wait at least two seconds before you start the next leg stroke. The focus of the exercise is on circular movement and the correct foot position. If the exercise has been done several times on land and is mastered, you can sit on a swimming board at the edge of the pool and try the same exercise with your legs in the water. When exercising in water, try to displace as much water as possible through circular movement and correct foot position
As already written, twisting the feet outwards is a crucial component of the sternum stroke. Many children do not understand this and forget this important detail as soon as it gets into the water. For this reason, the mountain and moon exercise should also be practiced with your feet in water. As a result, they learn the difference in water displacement.
With scissors, the hip is tilted on its side and the leg stroke is not synchronous, but offset sideways. The structure described above with the moon and mountain exercise and the exercise on the back can correct this mistake.
