How to Help a Beginner Swimmer Blow Bubbles and Look Underwater
If your child is new to swim lessons, two of the biggest early hurdles are usually blowing bubbles and getting comfortable looking underwater.
For many young beginners, especially cautious or sensitive kids, these skills can feel much harder than parents expect. The good news is that a little gentle practice at home can make a big difference. Bath time is often one of the easiest places to start.
This guide walks through a few simple ways to help your beginner practice slow exhaling, mouth bubbles, nose bubbles, and looking underwater with goggles before or between lessons.
If you are new to private lessons and want a fuller picture of how I work with beginners, nervous swimmers, and families, start with Private Swim Lessons with Coach David: What to Expect and the Private Swim Coaching page.
Why blowing bubbles matters in beginner swim lessons
Before a child can swim comfortably, they usually need to learn how to:
exhale slowly on purpose
let air out through the mouth in the water
gradually learn how air can also come out through the nose
stay calm with the face near or in the water
feel safe looking underwater with goggles
These are not small skills. They are part of the foundation for breath control, water comfort, and confidence.
Show them what underwater bubbles actually look like
Some kids relax when they can see what is happening first.
Underwater view of bubbles from nose and mouth in bath. 15s
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cmlRAgTqjXQ
This one is extremely short, and that is part of what makes it useful. It gives a simple visual of underwater bubbles in a bath setting without turning it into a long lesson.
For many beginners, the mystery is part of the fear. A quick visual can make the whole thing feel more familiar.
Start with a slow exhale
A child usually has a much easier time blowing bubbles in the water once they understand how to let air out slowly and calmly.
How to do a slow exhale
1m
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DVLa4f4uRSM
This is a quick visual for practicing a slow exhale before trying bubbles in the water.
At home, you can practice this away from the tub first. Keep it playful and simple. Think gentle air out, not forceful blowing.
Practice bubbles in short, easy rounds
Once your child is comfortable exhaling, the next step is learning to connect that exhale to the water.
Blowing bubbles plus humming to make nose bubbles.
This one’s in a pool, but the first minute is useful for how to practice timing (bubbles for one second, two, three...) and how humming makes air come out your nose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dAH53Q3NOo
This is a useful progression because it gives parents an easy rhythm to copy at home:
bubbles for one second
then two seconds
then three seconds
The humming piece can also help some kids understand what it feels like when air comes out through the nose. That can be especially useful for children who tense up as soon as water gets close to the face.
Use goggles and toys to make underwater looking feel playful
Once a child has a little comfort with bubbles, goggles often make it much easier to begin looking underwater.
Using goggles and toys in the bath. 20s
https://youtube.com/shorts/MNm9_3UcPXE?si=trEbstCXMZNBs10Q
This is a nice reminder that learning to look underwater does not need to start as a big dramatic step. It can be playful and low-pressure.
At home, a parent can try:
placing a toy where the child can see it underwater
encouraging a quick peek rather than a long dunk
letting the child come right back up
repeating only while it still feels fun
Short, happy repetitions usually work better than pushing for too much too soon.
A few simple parent tips for bath practice
Keep home practice very light:
keep it short
stop while it is going well
praise calm effort
avoid forcing submersion
make it feel like play, not a test
The goal at home is not perfect technique. It is familiarity, comfort, and trust.
When a child comes to lessons already a little more comfortable with bubbles, goggles, and putting the face in the water, it often becomes much easier to build the next skills safely and confidently.
My favorite beginner goggle style for young kids
When parents ask what kind of goggles I usually like for beginners, my answer is pretty simple.
My pick for kid’s goggle’s are any with single piece of silicone for seal and nose piece such as:
https://a.co/d/0i3p50qP
In general, I like a beginner goggle style that has one soft silicone piece for both the eye seal and the nose bridge. That style often fits young children more comfortably and tends to feel less rigid on the face.
Comfort matters. If goggles feel soft and easy, a child is much more likely to keep them on and feel safe enough to experiment with putting the eyes in the water.
You can bring goggles like these to your lesson, and if you are not sure whether they are a good fit, I can usually help assess that during a session. If you are ready to talk through next steps, visit the Contact page or Request Lessons.
