How to Give Feedback That Improves Swim Skills

Your child can swim beautifully.

Effort is important, but accurate skills matter too. I’ve watched many well-meaning parents and swim instructors say, “Good job!” after a child attempted a skill, but the skill was performed incorrectly.

While encouragement is important, praising your child when they are doing it wrong can hinder their swimming progress.

So what do you do instead?

Change the messaging. Be specific. Be encouraging. Point out what was done well, and guide them toward improvement.

It is best to compliment the good things first, and then follow up with only ONE corrected action.

For example: Instead of “Good kicking!” say: “I see those toes splashing at the top of the water! Can you straighten your legs even more? Remember: straight legs and pointed toes!”

If they’re learning to blow bubbles through their nose, but instead blow them with their mouth, say: “Wow! You got your nose in! Let’s try humming with our mouths closed this time. Ready?”

This way, you’re still encouraging the effort and guiding them toward better technique.

One of the best compliments I’ve ever received is: “Your swimmers swim beautifully.”

Your child can swim beautifully, too.

You’re not just helping them learn, you’re helping them shine!

Pretty soon, people will be asking, “Where did your kids learn to swim like that?”

And you’ll get to say: “From me.”

-An excerpt from the Parent Manual included in The Ultimate Swim Lesson Bundle