In addition to the preparatory exercises, some core exercises are required.
The unusual supine position in water often causes many children to contract and want to sit upright. You tend to lean back slowly to stop the exercise when needed and to avoid water in your nose. However, this makes it difficult to pass the exercise, as the chin and hips remain down. Confidence in one's own hovering skills is crucial, and previous exercises help build that confidence.
Use mats and swim noodles for this exercise. Your child should lie down on the mat with their hips (or buttocks) facing up and chin facing back. When there is barely any weight on your lower back, slowly pull the mat away. Alternatively, you can use a swimming noodle. Keep them under your armpits behind your back. The child stretches out his arms sideways and tries to push his hip up. The swim noodle provides stability in water, but primarily supports the upper back and shoulders, which makes lifting the hips a bit more challenging.
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Help your child with this exercise, which aims to find balance in the supine position. Hold it with both hands on your upper and lower back. Gradually reduce support until you finally stop helping at all. At first, your child may shift a lot of weight to the helping hand on their lower back. The main goal is to reduce this pressure until it completely disappears. Teach your child to push their chin back and use your hand to help if necessary. The position of the chin and the raising of the hip are interrelated. Start by correcting the chin and then give instructions to push the hip up.
Do this exercise with your child on land or in shallow water. Stand up straight with your legs closed and arms at the side of your body. Raise your arms sideways, form a T and then push your hips forward, a little over the top. Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling or at the sky. Hold this position for at least five seconds and your child should follow you every step of the way. This exercise allows you to train the later horizontal position first in a vertical position. In particular, emphasize the pressed hips and the chin back, as these two components are crucial for the following core exercise.
This exercise involves practicing the correct posture while standing. The best way to do this is by showing. First, stand up straight and then push your legs shoulder-width apart. The last thing to do is raise your arms. The child should imitate every step. Then hold your breath visibly for five seconds. This exercise seems very banal. However, it helps your child understand the correct posture better. It is easier for children to copy an upright posture.
Rotation of the back is susceptible to errors, especially if the face briefly gets underwater when turned onto the back. The correct reaction is to stretch your body, put your chin back (look at the ceiling) and move your legs vigorously to get back to the surface of the water. A common mistake is to straighten up, which pulls your hips and chin down. This mistake is sometimes corrected by placing the hands sideways, but the core exercise requires straightened hands to prevent straightening.