Frenzel Manuever and BTV/VTO are advanced equalization techniques that I wouldn't recommend trying to wrap a kids head around. Toynbee is a good light one but only equalizes in very small increments. You also can't swallow in quick repetitions which means very slow descents which just doesn't happen in OW with a big class. Don't trust a kid to single himself out of the class, on the down line, just to finish equalizing properly. Heck I didn't do that in my OW either and I was 20.
Children are very good at isolating air valves unconsiously, IMO.
By chance did the instructor use the term "blow your nose"? Because I find that sets a kid up for failure.
Tell your kids to pinch their nose and lightly blow air just behind their mouth.
Telling a kid to blow their nose or blow their nose hard will often make them close up their airway and really shunt off their mouth. Usually their tongue then blocks the Eustachian tubes. Add that to the tonsil's size being biggest near the ages of puberty (10-16) and you effectively shut off any way of equalizing for the young ones.
Sometimes you will have to remind them to keep the back of their tongue off the roof of their mouth. In which case tell them to yawn with their mouth closed.
Children are very good at isolating air valves unconsiously, IMO.
By chance did the instructor use the term "blow your nose"? Because I find that sets a kid up for failure.
Tell your kids to pinch their nose and lightly blow air just behind their mouth.
Telling a kid to blow their nose or blow their nose hard will often make them close up their airway and really shunt off their mouth. Usually their tongue then blocks the Eustachian tubes. Add that to the tonsil's size being biggest near the ages of puberty (10-16) and you effectively shut off any way of equalizing for the young ones.
Sometimes you will have to remind them to keep the back of their tongue off the roof of their mouth. In which case tell them to yawn with their mouth closed.
