admin 03 Aug 2026
Children find it hard to breathe, keeping their bodies rightly positioned and kicking while swimming. Such problems are a common issue amongst the beginners because water is not something they are used to. Hence, building swimming confidence takes some time.
In this blog, let’s take a look at the most common swimming mistakes kids make. We will also explain how Starfish Swimming School instructors help beginners to overcome these problems. Here are the top swimming mistakes kids make and how we correct them.
Breathing wrongly is the most significant problem for children while swimming. The instinct makes them hold their breath instead of exhaling. They quickly run out of air and panic. In addition to that, they have difficulties swimming as they keep bobbing up and down.
We address this issue in our Melbourne swimming classes by introducing bubbles. Children learn to exhale through their noses and mouths while submerged. This approach is one of our beginner swimming tips that encourages relaxation.
There are children who swim with their heads raised up and their hips submerged in the water. This is because children want to see where they are going. Hence, the position of the lower body is low.
Our instructors use swim technique correction to improve their position. We advise the children to look straight down at the bottom of the pool and to push their chest down.
A major swimming technique error is that of bending the knees too much. Children throw their kicks like they do when they ride a bicycle that requires great energy without providing any propulsion. This occurs as a result of bending the knees rather than the hips.
In our swimming practice we use kickboards to fix the technique. We pay attention to using straight legs and relaxing the ankles. Power must always come from the hips.
Common freestyle errors include raising stiff arms high above the water. Thus, children slap on the water surface instead of slicing through. This wastes energy and disrupts learning strokes. Children do not know about the recovery phase yet.
During private swim lessons, ‘high elbows’ is something we practise. Instructors physically guide their arms to teach them how to use their arms properly. We teach them that reaching forward should be smooth, not a slap.
A lack of confidence negates all technical improvements. An insecure child gets tense and forgets everything. The fear comes from the depths of the water.
Regular swimming classes help children to feel secure. Starfish Swim School has a friendly environment. Once a child feels safe, they will learn to swim well.
Those who learn to swim have to face the water, which is totally unfamiliar to them. Children instinctively use their land habits and try to walk standing, pedal with their legs and breathe normally. These reflexes of survival are in conflict with buoyancy and gliding techniques.
It takes time and practice to break these natural, earthly habits. The brain should get used to the need to deal with gravity and resistance in water.
Professionals at Starfish Swim School know how to replace these bad habits. It is not enough to tell children what to do. What is necessary is to help them move and create necessary muscle memory.
We focus on swimming movements with the help of kickboards and pull buoys. This way of correcting swimming techniques helps to replace poor swimming with perfect gliding. Also, instructors are able to celebrate every little success of students to boost their confidence and trust.
You cannot achieve instantaneous learning when it comes to swimming. Doing inconsistent practices will result in the reintroduction of bad habits. Continuous learning makes the student forget about thinking too much but enables gaining correct techniques automatically.
Practising constantly makes skill-learning unconscious. This way the swimmer will not need to worry about losing progress.
Fixing common swimming mistakes early prevents lifelong bad habits. Every child struggles with freestyle mistakes and timing at first. However, the swimming mistakes kids make are easily fixed with professional guidance. These beginner swimming tips will turn nervous beginners into confident and competent swimmers.
Ready to enhance your kids’ swimming techniques today? The fastest way to build lasting skills is through consistent swimming lessons for kids. We take pride in providing the best swimming classes in Melbourne. Our group classes and private swim lessons are fun and can be tailored to your child’s needs to help them improve.
Sign your child up for a learn-to-swim program today. Contact Starfish Swim School today to book the slot and begin your child’s swimming journey!
10 Clapperton Street, Bentleigh 3204