Why Is My Little Swimmer "Running" in the Water? (And How to Fix It!)

A Parent's Guide to Correcting the Flutter Kick — and Building Swim Confidence from the Start

If you've ever watched your child splash around in the pool with their floaties on and thought, "Why does it look like they're riding a bicycle underwater?" — you are not alone. This is one of the most common things we see with young swimmers, and the good news is: it's completely fixable!

In this post, we're going to break down why this happens, how to correct it, and — most importantly — how to make the whole process fun for your little one.

First, Why Does This Happen?

Here's the thing about floaties and lifejackets — they're wonderful for keeping your child safe in the water. But they come with a sneaky side effect.

Because floaties and lifejackets are designed to keep your child upright and vertical in the water, they actually work against a proper swimming position. When your child tries to kick forward, the flotation device fights them — it keeps pulling them back up to vertical instead of letting them glide forward horizontally.

So what does your clever little swimmer do? They adapt! Instead of kicking up and down with straight legs (a proper flutter kick), they start reaching their legs forward and squeezing them together — almost like they're running, pedaling a bike, or doing a frog kick. It works for moving around with floaties on, but it creates a habit that's really hard to break later.

Here's why that matters: that "running" or "biking" kick forces the feet, legs, and hips to go vertical instead of staying parallel to the bottom of the pool. For a new swimmer trying to learn without floaties, this is exhausting, scary, and inefficient. It's like trying to run a race while sitting down!

The goal is to get your swimmer horizontal in the water — flat like a surfboard — with their kick powering them forward like a motorboat. 🚤

The Quick Fix You Can Do Right Now (Even With Floaties On!)

You don't have to ditch the floaties entirely to start building better habits. Here's a simple trick you can try today:

Every now and then, gently tilt your child forward while they're wearing their floaties or lifejacket so their face is closer to the water. Then encourage them to splash the water with their feet — toes pointed, legs straight, kicking up and down.

This gives them a taste of what the correct body position feels like, even with the flotation device on.

Bonus Tip: While they're doing this, ask them to blow bubbles with their face in the water! This is a double win — it reinforces the correct head position (looking down at the bottom of the pool, not up at you) AND it's a great breath control exercise. Kids love it, too!

5 Proven Drills to Fix the Flutter Kick

Ready to really dial in that kick? Here are five tried-and-true exercises to help your young swimmer build the right muscle memory:

1. The Armpit Hold (No Floaties!)

Hold your child under their armpits — no flotation device — and let their body float out in front of them. Encourage them to splash the water with their toes, keeping their legs as straight as possible. This removes the vertical pull of the floaties and lets them feel what a proper horizontal kick is like.

Make it fun: Challenge them to make the BIGGEST splash possible! Who can splash you the most? 

2. Sit on the Edge and Kick!

Make it fun: Set a timer and see how many splashes they can make in 10 seconds. Count out loud together!

3. Tiptoe Running in the Shallow End

This one sounds silly, but it WORKS. Have your swimmer run on their tiptoes with straight legs through the shallow water. The resistance of the water combined with the straight-leg movement trains the exact muscles used in a flutter kick.

Make it fun: Turn it into a race! Can they beat you from one side of the shallow end to the other? 🏁

4. The Kickboard Knee Check

When your swimmer is on their back, place a kickboard across their knees (or use your hands as a gentle barrier) and tell them: "Don't let your knees touch the board!" This instantly cues them to keep their legs straighter and kick from the hips rather than bending at the knee.

Make it fun: Give them a silly challenge — "If your knees touch the board, you have to do a funny dance!" 🕺

5. Try Swim Fins!

Fins are a fantastic tool for young swimmers learning the flutter kick. They provide instant feedback — if the kick is wrong, the fins don't work well. When the kick is right, the fins propel them forward like a little rocket! Fins also help swimmers feel the water resistance on their feet, which reinforces the correct up-and-down motion.

Pro tip: Start with shorter fins designed for kids — they're easier to manage and still very effective.

The Secret Ingredient: Head Position

Here's something that many parents don't realize, and it makes a HUGE difference:

Where your child looks while they kick matters enormously.

If your child is practicing with their head above water, looking forward at you, their body naturally tilts into a more vertical position — just like when they're wearing floaties! This actually reinforces the running kick habit because their body is in the same position it was when they learned the wrong technique.

✅ The correct head position: Looking down at the bottom of the pool. Chin tucked, ears in the water, eyes on the pool floor.

When the head goes down, the hips and legs come up — and suddenly, everything clicks into place. 

The body becomes horizontal, the kick becomes efficient, and swimming gets SO much easier for your little one.

So during every drill above, gently remind your swimmer: "Look at the fishies on the bottom!" 🐠

Fun Games to Practice the Flutter Kick

Learning should feel like playing! Here are some creative games to keep your swimmer engaged and motivated:

"Shark Tail" Kick Race

Give each swimmer a pool noodle to hold out in front of them (like a torpedo!). They must kick their way from one end of the pool to the other using only their flutter kick — no arms allowed. First one to the wall wins! This reinforces horizontal body position and straight-leg kicking.

"Blow the Ball" Bubble Kick

Place a ping pong ball on the water's surface. Have your swimmer blow bubbles while kicking — the goal is to blow the ball across the pool using only their breath while their body stays flat and their feet keep kicking. This combines breath control, head position, AND flutter kick all in one game!

"Make a Wave" Challenge

Line up two or three kids at the wall, holding on with both hands. On "Go!" they all kick as hard as they can for 30 seconds. Who can make the biggest wave? Judge by how much water splashes out of the pool! (Parents, stand back!)

"Kick to the Target"

Place a floating toy or pool noodle a short distance away. The swimmer must kick their way to the target using only their legs — no arms. This builds kick endurance and keeps them focused on the task rather than their technique, which often produces the most natural results.

"Straight Leg Freeze"

While your swimmer is kicking at the wall, randomly call out "FREEZE!" They have to stop kicking and hold their position. Check: are their legs straight? Are their hips up? Are they looking down? If yes — celebrate! If not — reset and try again. Kids love the unpredictability of this game.

Quick-Reference Tips for Parents

Here's a cheat sheet to keep in your back pocket at the pool:

A Note to Parents: Be Patient and Keep It Positive!

Learning to swim is one of the most important life skills your child will ever develop. The flutter kick might seem like a small detail, but it's actually the engine that powers everything in swimming. Getting it right early sets your child up for a lifetime of confidence, safety, and joy in the water.

The "running" kick isn't your child's fault — it's a natural adaptation to the tools we use to keep them safe. Now that you know why it happens and how to fix it, you're already ahead of the game!

Be patient. Be encouraging. Make it fun. And don't forget to celebrate the splashes! 

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