Does anyone know about teaching swimming?

[Runoutofideas]

Not sure if I've asked this in the right place but anyway.....

DD1 is 5 and has been having swimming lessons since last Sept. She suddenly seems to have clicked with it and can swim a width of the pool unaided, but underwater. I don't know how to get her to be able to breathe without stopping to stand up.

Her lessons have just finished for the summer holidays and I don't want to lose the momentum. Also we are going away for 10 days to somewhere with a pool so she should get lots of practice. Any tips on how to move on to the next stage?

Just use the summer holiday to swim lots as a family. The more she swims, the easier she will find it develop stroke techniques and breathing when her swimming lessons re-start.

lots of kids swim underwater to begin with. they will swim on the surface soon

Try and get a lightweight floating toy and get her to blow it across the surface of the water, keeping it just ahead of her.

This will help her adopt the correct body position in the water and develop good breathing techniques.

Thanks - will see what we can do!