Kicking
Caregiver holds the knees of the child
Why teach kicking at Moovswim?
At Moovswim, teaching strong and efficient kicking skills is a core component of high-quality swimming lessons for babies and young children. Kicking is one of the first propulsion techniques a child learns in the water, and it plays a crucial role in early swimming development. Effective kicking helps a child maintain balance, improve body position, and move confidently through the water—key foundations for all future learn-to-swim progressions.
Developing proper kicking technique is also essential for water safety. Children who can kick with control are better equipped to return to the pool edge independently, stabilise themselves during submersion activities, and react more confidently in unexpected aquatic situations. For this reason, Moovswim emphasises kicking not only as a swimming skill but as an important safety behaviour for babies and young swimmers.
Moovswim’s structured teaching approach introduces kicking through clear verbal cues, gentle guidance, and age-appropriate progressions. Parents are shown how to support the child’s posture and encourage continuous, rhythmic leg movements that build efficiency rather than unnecessary splashing. These methods help children develop strong motor coordination, confidence in the water, and long-term swimming competence.
By focusing on correct kicking technique from the earliest stages, Moovswim empowers children to enjoy the water safely, build foundational swimming abilities, and progress naturally towards independent swimming. This makes kicking a vital part of every child’s learn-to-swim journey.
How we teach kicking at Moovswim?
At Moovswim, kicking is taught through a structured, hands-on method that combines physical guidance, rhythmic cues, and positive reinforcement. The goal is to help babies and young children develop efficient propulsion, strong body awareness, and early water confidence—all essential components of safe and effective swimming.
To begin, the caregiver positions the child securely in the water and encourages proper support techniques. The child should place their hands on the caregiver’s shoulders for stability, allowing the body to remain streamlined and relaxed. The caregiver, in turn, gently holds the child's knees—visualizing it as if they are holding two paintbrushes, guiding strokes across an imaginary canvas. This imagery helps caregivers provide smooth, consistent movement without forcing the legs, promoting natural extension and gentle propulsion.
Moovswim integrates rhythm into motor learning to enhance coordination. To reinforce the movement, the caregiver may sing:
“This is the way I kick my legs… kick my legs… kick my legs…”
Pairing rhythmic action with song strengthens the child’s auditory–kinesthetic connection, helping them associate the verbal cue with the physical action. This multisensory approach accelerates skill acquisition and encourages the child to kick voluntarily and consistently.
Through repeated practice, clear cues, and nurturing guidance, Moovswim ensures children learn to kick with confidence, efficiency, and joy. This foundation supports not only early swimming development but also essential water-safety behaviours as they progress through their learn-to-swim journey.
