As a swim instructor or an aquatic professional, you know how important parent tot swimming lessons are. They are not only a way to introduce young children to the water and teach them essential skills, but also a way to educate and empower parents to be their child’s first and best teacher.

However, you also know how challenging parent tot lessons can be. You have to deal with different levels of ability, confidence, and interest among both parents and children. You have to balance teaching and entertaining, instructing and interacting, leading and following. You have to create a positive and productive learning environment for everyone involved.

That’s why you need a reliable and effective method for creating engaging, effective, and enjoyable parent tot lessons that will make your job easier and your clients happier. That’s why you need the Swimming Ideas lesson plans.

Our lesson plans are based on three pillars of parent engagement: clear commands and direction, consistency and predictability, and getting involved. These are the secrets to creating successful parent tot lessons that will make you and your clients love swimming.

Clear Commands and Direction

The first pillar of parent engagement is to give clear commands and direction to the parents. You want them to know what to do, how to do it, and why they are doing it. This will make them more confident, motivated, and engaged in the lesson.

To do this, you need to use simple, direct, and positive language to instruct the parents. You need to tell them what activity they are going to do, what skill they are going to practice, and what benefit they are going to get from it. You also need to explain the purpose of each activity, song, or game you use in your lesson plans. You need to show them how they are related to the core skills of swimming, such as breath control, body position, movement, and safety.

For example, “We are going to do the back float. This will help your child relax in the water and learn how to breathe. Hold your child under their arms and gently lean them back until their ears are in the water. Smile and sing to them to make them feel comfortable. This is important because the back float is the foundation of all swimming strokes.”

By giving clear commands and direction, you will help the parents understand what they are doing and why they are doing it. This will make them more likely to follow your instructions, trust your expertise, and appreciate your service.

Consistency and Predictability

The second pillar of parent engagement is to provide consistency and predictability in your lessons. You want the parents and children to know what to expect from each lesson, and what progress they are making. This will make them more comfortable, focused, and satisfied with the lesson.

To do this, you need to follow a consistent structure and sequence in your lesson plans. You need to start with a warm-up, then move on to the main activities, then finish with a cool-down. You need to use the same songs, games, and cues for each skill, but you need to vary the difficulty and intensity based on the individual needs and abilities of each parent and child.

You also need to give each parent specific feedback, remember their progress, and follow up with them each week. You need to praise them for what they are doing well, and give them tips on how to improve. You need to acknowledge their challenges, and offer them solutions. You need to celebrate their achievements, and set them new goals. You need to create a personal connection with them, and show them that you care about them and their child.

For example, “Great job, Sarah, you did a fantastic back float today. You really relaxed your body and kept your ears in the water. Next time, let’s try to do it for longer. How did you feel about it? I’m so proud of you and your child. You are doing amazing.”

By providing consistency and predictability, you will help the parents and children feel more secure, attentive, and happy with the lesson. This will make them more likely to stick with your program, recommend your service, and come back for more.

Getting Involved

The third and most fun pillar of parent engagement is to get involved with the parents and children. You want them to have fun, play, and bond with each other. You want them to have an experience that they will remember and cherish. You want them to love swimming.

To do this, you need to join them in the water and participate in the activities, songs, and games. You need to dance, sing, and speak directly to them. You need to make eye contact, use facial expressions, and use body language. You need to make jokes, tell stories, and ask questions. You need to play with them, challenge them, and support them. You need to be their team mate and mentor. You need to be their friend.

For example, “Let’s do the Itsy Bitsy Spider song. This will help your child move their arms and hands in the water. I’ll sing with you and show you how to do it. Put your child on your lap and hold their hands. Then move them up and down as you sing ‘The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout, down came the rain and washed the spider out, out came the sun and dried up all the rain, and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.’ Look at your child and smile as you sing. Can you make a spider with your fingers?”

By getting involved, you will make the parent tot lessons more fun, interactive, and memorable. You will create a positive and lasting impression on the parents and children, and make them want to come back for more.

Strive to improve

Parent tot swimming lessons are more than just teaching children how to swim. They are also a way to teach parents how to teach their children, have fun with their children, and bond with their children. They are a way to create a special and meaningful relationship with your clients that will last a lifetime.

At Swimming Ideas, we know how to make parent tot lessons engaging, effective, and enjoyable for both you and your clients. Our lesson plans are based on three pillars of parent engagement: clear commands and direction, consistency and predictability, and getting involved. These are the secrets to creating successful parent tot lessons that will make you and your clients love swimming.