- Pass Hold: The instructor or parent's right hand is under the right armpit of the child and the left hand under the child's left armpit. The child is beside the adult and facing the same direction.
- Underwater Swim: This simply means that the face is in the water. The underwater swim is technically a swim at the surface of the water, not under water, with the face and part of the head immersed. The entire head should not be submersed.
Step 1: Face Above-the-Water Pass
Using a pass hold* with the child in a horizontal position, use the start signal: "ready, set, go" and glide the child across the surface of the water to mom or dad, keeping the mouth and nose out of the water. The child is supported the entire time. Step #2 is not implemented until the child has demonstrated he or she is happy with facial immersions, which may be attempted earlier in the lesson.
Step #2: Brief Underwater Pass
Using the pass hold with the child in a horizontal position, give the start signal: "1, 2, 3, breath" and then, providing the infant/toddler is ready, gently immerse his face in the water for about 2 seconds and glide him across the surface to mom or dad. A "pass" means the child is passed from the teacher to the parent, or vice versa, and at no time is the child ever not being supported.
Step #3: Underwater Swim
Using the pass hold with the child in a horizontal position, give the start signal: "1, 2, 3, breath" and then, providing the infant or toddler is ready, gently immerse his face in the water and give him a subtle push toward mom or dad. The instructor now has the child do a 3 or 4 second swim at the surface of the water. The face is in the water, but he is not being dunked. The movement is gentle and not deep, and he is at the surface of the water with the face in the water, with some part of the back of the head out of the water.
Step #4: Extended Underwater Swim
The technique is exactly the same as Step #3, but the duration of the underwater swim is extended a second or two. The key to success is that infant-toddler determines how long to extend the swim, not the instructor or parent. The instructor should never increase the duration significantly, in other words, one or two seconds longer than the previous lesson is plenty. The instructor or parent should be looking for signals that it's time to bring the child up. Signs include, but are not limited to, facial expressions, eyes, or an exhalation of air. If the child exhales, bring him up because an inhalation always follows an exhalation. And just as importantly, progress in baby steps so your child is sure to leave the lesson both unharmed and happy!
Jim Reiser, the author, and About.com and its assocaties, are held harmless against all injury and liability that may result from the use of this article as a teaching aid. This article does not qualify the reader as a professional swim instructor. Any person using the methods described above as a teaching aid takes sole responsibility for the safety and health of the children involved. As with any physical activity, exercise, or instructional program, the participant should seek the advice of a physician.
