Throw a Toy and Get it

Have the child or a parent throw a toy into the water.

The parent does their cueing, “1, 2, 3, Go!” and then pulls the child into their arms in the water, and into a front float.

Do a front float to the toy and get it

Return to the wall, and repeat.

Ask to put lips in the water before getting toy.
Ask to put whole face in the water before getting toy.

Supported Front Floats

Palms up, thumbs around the shoulders.

Or hold child like catching a football, with thumbs wrapped around rib cage and fingers around shoulder blades.

Help reach for the wall.

Child stands on the parent’s / instructor’s knee. Help push them for the wall.

Start close, so that they can reach wall by leaning.
Move farther away so they have to jump as they get more comfortable.
Eventually have swimmer put face in first.

Buckethead / Bucket-shoulder

Rules: – You must say “Bucket-head,” or “bucket-shoulder.”

Start with the swimmer pouring the water on the parent or instructor’s head. “I want a “bucket-shoulder.”

Ask, “Do you want a bucket-head” or a “bucket-shoulder?”

Whatever they say, follow through.

Shoulder= pour water over their shoulders from the bucket shouting “BUCKET-SHOULDER” while laughing.

Head= pour water over your head by yelling “BUCKETHEAD!” and laughing a lot!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Song

“Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky,
Twinkle Twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.

When this blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, through the night.

Then the traveller in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Treasure Hunt

Pile as many floating toys as you can on a kickboard.

Sail it out to sea together. Have a storm strike. Waves, splashing. Spread the toys around the pool.

Do supported front glides to collect toys and return to the kick board (boat).

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Child seated on the wall. Parent in the water.

Sing while touching your head and shoulders while you match lyrics.

Touch child’s “head,” and “shoulders” with hands or splashes in tune to the lyrics.

ADVANCED: Do this in the water. Hold the child in a supported back hug, or in the saddle. Splash the water with the body part that is sung.

Floating and play on the mat

Use the large yellow floating mats to play with toys or lay on your belly.

Kick the water while laying on belly with support.

Lay on your back and relax while singing Twinkle Twinkle.

Sing Itsy Bitsy Spider.