I have 20 silly sticks that sink, 15 rings and tons of sinking fish & creepy crawlers plus I have some things that float so I play a lot of matching colors with the rings, sticks and “bugs” then we swim to the side of the pool that that color is at. For the little ones that don’t or won’t put their face in I hold a fish in my palm at the steps and ask them to blow bubbles, now look down keep your eyes open and get the bug out of my hand. I’ll bring my hand down deeper to get them to accomplish this but most won’t put more than their nose and mouth in. I show them and ask them to be my copy cat. Sometimes they’ll do it but I have a few of those really stubborn ones that will not do it no matter what and try to either bring my arm up or get it with their feet. Number one rule is hands only. I play a ton of games with my older kids but the younger ones are the ones I’m always trying to get creative with and I’m running out of ideas.

With the smaller ones or more scared ones I have 7 ping pong balls I have painted different colors and will have them blow them across the pool to have them actually see the movement if the ball.