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Buoyancy here refers to a swimmer being able to float unassisted on both their back and front. Buoyancy is a much different skill than swimming, and comes first before any kicking or arm movements. This is because it is easier to swim (or thrash about in some cases) than to float comfortably. Look at dogs. Throw them in the water and even they can do it too. Thrashing is an instinct in the water, but not necessarily a good one.

To feel buoyant, you must have awareness of what your body is doing in the water. When aware and in control of your body in the water, you can feel buoyant. It’s like a physics equation:

Feel buoyant = Awareness of body OR
Awareness of body = Feel buoyant

Buoyancy is an actual physics theory. Below is a fun, no-mess experiment you can do at home to explain to your fearful (or experienced) swimmer how floating works.

LESSON IN BUOYANCY
Are you ready to teach Little Egg how to swim? He’s about to have his first swim lesson and you are his instructor!

What you will need: One egg ~ Tall glass ~ 1/2 cup sugar ~ 1/2 cup salt ~ spoon

1. Fill the glass with tap water almost to the top.

2. Drop Little Egg into the glass gently. Now instruct Little Egg in a mean voice to float. (The egg will remain on the bottom of the glass, no matter what you say to him).

3. Now add a spoonful of sugar into the glass and stir. Say something encouraging or “sweet” to Little Egg (“You can do it! You can float! Just try!”)

4. Continue to add spoonfuls of sugar, explaining to Little Egg in a sweet voice he can float. Try telling Little Egg the following things:

• Pretend you are a jellyfish!
• Act like you are lying down on your bed at home
• Are you a cloud? How does a cloud float?

5. Little Egg is trying, but he should pay attention a bit more. Add a spoonful of salt and speak to Little Egg in a firm voice telling him the following things:

• Please pay attention
• Please try this 5 more times
• Please try to do your best

6. Continue to add salt and sugar until Little Egg floats. Adding enough of either will eventually cause the egg to rise to the top.

What happens scientifically is the sugar and salt squishes the water molecules creating a sense of density or thickness. This makes Little Egg really believe he is laying on top of something solid. Little Egg feels buoyant. Our equation now becomes:

A spoonful of sugar = Makes the molecules go down (in the most delightful way!)

Ok, I stole that from Mary Poppins, but no matter. Obviously, the salt and sugar is a metaphor for verbal psychology. If you think you have a student who needs more firmness, add more salt and stern statements as you coax Little Egg to the top. Even having you child taste-test the two to understand what discipline and kindness might taste like is helpful.

You are setting your child up to expect what will happen when the swim instructor asks them to float, and by what the teacher tells them, they will understand their statements are the “salt” and “sugar” to get them feel buoyancy like Little Egg.

Did you try this at home? What were the results? Tell us here!