• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • About Us
  • Explore Jobs
  • Our Team | Contact Us
North Penn YMCA

North Penn YMCA

For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, For Social Responsibility

  • Home
  • Locations
    • Lansdale Area Family YMCA
    • Indian Valley Family YMCA
    • Harleysville Early Childhood Center
    • Virtual Y
  • Summer Camp
  • Schedules
  • Child Care, Preschool and Pre-K
    • Harleysville Early Childhood Center
    • HUGS Day Care
    • Lansdale Preschool
    • Lansdale Day Care
    • Before & After School Care Programs
      • North Penn School District
      • Perkiomen Valley School District
      • Souderton Area School District
    • Stay and Play Rooms (Babysitting)
  • Program Registration
  • Membership
    • Join Today!
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types and Fees
    • Insurance Reimbursement
    • Financial Assistance
    • Camp and Child Care Assistance Information
    • Forms
    • COVID-19 Guidelines
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Annual Campaign
    • Volunteer
  • Events
North Penn YMCA
Home > Our Programs > Youth Swimming > Teaching Kids to Swim at Home Without a Swimming Pool

Teaching Kids to Swim at Home Without a Swimming Pool

Demonstrate what it means to flex and to point their feet, then move their feet for them from flexed to pointed and back again, so that they really feel the ankle and can isolate that feeling.

If your child is enrolled in class levels 1-3 have your child sit on the floor and lean back on their elbows. If they are in levels 4, 5, or 6 have your child sit on the edge of the chair and brace themselves with their hands. Leaning their torso back slightly for balance have them kick from the hip, keeping their legs straight, their ankles loose, and the kick small and narrow with toes pointed. Try timing them. Start with short amounts of time like 15 seconds, rest, and repeat as many times as they are willing and able to do it well. Then slowly build the duration each day.

While doing a round of kicking touch your child’s upper thigh to show them what muscles are used to produce the kick. This exercise doesn’t give them a feel for how important the ankles are, because air resistance is so much less than water resistance, but they will get a good feel for keeping their legs straight and for the range of motion from the hip. Have your child start kicking slowly and then without compromising quality have them pick up the pace. You can count out loud: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6” then repeat, and have your child keep your rhythm. Keep checking…How straight are their legs? Are their ankles flexible? Are they flipping their feet like they are trying to flick off their shoes? The level 4, 5, and 6 kids will also start to build core strength because they have to balance on the chair while kicking. (Core strength is also essential to swimming properly.) Kicking is a critical swimming skill yet many new swimmers kick freestyle as if they are riding a bike. It can take a long time to break that habit. If you can spend even just 10 minutes a day doing kicking drills with your child it will help build that muscle memory and translate to progress in the pool.

Quick Links

  • NEW Program Brochure – SUMMER 2022 (6/20-8/28)
  • JOIN TODAY
    • RE-ACTIVATE my Y Membership
  • Child Care, Preschool and Kindergarten Programs
  • Branch Hours
  • Contact Us

Events

  • Group dance lessons on June 28th 7:30pm
  • AOA Bowling Club on July 1st 9:30am
  • History Lectures on July 1st 11:45am
  • Group dance lessons on July 5th 7:30pm
  • History Lectures on July 8th 11:45am
View Full Calendar

The North Penn YMCA provides programs and services for children, teens, seniors, families and those with special needs in the North Penn, Indian Valley and Perkiomen Valley communities. Our programs, available for all ages and abilities, include childcare, swimming, sports, group and individual exercise, character building, social activities and volunteer opportunities.

Donate NowGet Our E-NewsletterFree One Week Membership

Footer

HARLEYSVILLE YMCA EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

311 Alumni Avenue
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone: 215-256-0767
View Facility Page

INDIAN VALLEY FAMILY YMCA

890 Maple Avenue
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone: 215-723-3569
View Facility Page

LANSDALE AREA FAMILY YMCA

608 E. Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
Phone: 215-368-1601
View Facility Page

Corporate Office

2506 N. Broad St., Ste 208
Colmar, PA 18915

TAX ID: 23-1489848

Phone: 215-368-YMCA
Fax: 215-716-5206
  • Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2022 North Penn YMCA · Privacy Policy · Site Design by Delos Incorporated