The freestyle kick is the engine. Most kids try to kick from the knees and bend their legs. The right kick comes from the hips, with mostly-straight legs. The kickboard isolates the kick so the kid can focus on it.
What you need: A kickboard, a pool with a shallow end.
Setup: Kid in the shallow end holding a kickboard out front.
How to run it:
- Body floats horizontally with the kickboard supporting the upper body.
- Legs straight (slight knee bend), feet relaxed.
- Flutter kick from the hips. Small, fast kicks. Toes pointed.
- Kick across the pool (or 25 feet).
- Rest. Do 4 trips.
What to watch: Knee bend. If the legs bend a lot at the knees, the kick is from the knees. The kick should be from the hips with mostly straight legs.
If they’re struggling: Use a smaller pool or shallower water. Or kick while holding the wall instead of a board.
If they’ve got it: Drop the kickboard. Kick with arms in streamline (overhead, hands stacked).