The act of floating in a pool can be a scary experience for children, as it requires them to have faith in their ability to remain afloat without submerging under water. Nevertheless, mastering the skill of floating is essential for any children learning to swim, as it lays a foundation on their water safety/survival technique. The American Red Cross recognizes front and back floats as a Level 1 competence in all three of its Swimming and Water Safety Skills Charts, emphasizing the significance of this skill in promoting water safety.

START WITH A BACK FLOAT: 

Teaching a child to float on their back is a crucial skill that should be prioritized over teaching them to float on their stomach first. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, it allows them to breathe more easily, and secondly, it enables them to call for help if needed. The Sharky Back Float works across all four swim strokes and makes this process quicker and easier to learn. 

The primary objective is to have the child lying flat on the water's surface, facing upwards with their eyes looking towards the sky. Wearing a back float during this exercise can make the child more comfortable. Please note that supervision is ALWAYS required when training a new learner how to swim. The following four steps can be recommended to start the learning process: 

1. Place the back of your child's head on your shoulder, using your hands to support their back and hold their stomach up to the water's surface. 
2. Help the child to relax by spreading their legs slightly and extending their arms out to form a "T" shape. 
3. As the child becomes more comfortable, move their head off your shoulder so that it rests on the water's surface, but continue to support their back with your hand. 
4. Gradually reduce the number of fingers you use to support the child's back until they can float independently.

It's recommended to practice this skill consistently, spending a few minutes each time in the pool before starting any more complex exercises. These exercises can be done with or without a back float, depending on the child’s comfortability and skills. If the child has water related trauma, Sharky’s fin shaped black float can serve as a helpful toy to encourage swimming like a dolphin or shark! Why not build confidence and learn while having fun!