Parent Tot – Safe Entry
Sit on the side, and slide in.
The child sits on the side of the pool and the parent gets in the water.
Keep a hold on the child while doing so.
Parent Tot – Seated Entry
Parent Tot – Itsy Bitsy Spider
“Child in the water, sitting or being held. Parent in the water, next to, or holding child.
Sing: “”The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the waterspout. / Down came the rain, and washed the spider out. / Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain / And then Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the spout again.””
Walk your hands up the child stomach, chest, shoulder and head during the “”Climbed up the waterspout””
Dip hand in water and sprinkle water over child, or pour water from bucket on child when when singing: “”Down came the rain…””
Look at the “”sun”” on “”out came the sun…””
Use hand to “”climb”” back up the child on last line.
How to hold video: Focus on the “saddle” and keeping three points of contact on the ladder when you enter slowly.
Motorboat Song
The child sits on the sides with feet in the water.
The parent stands in front of them. Holding their feet. Move feet like kicking while singing the song:
“Motorboat, motorboat, go so slow,
Motorboat, motorboat, go so fast,
Motorboat, motorboat, step on the gas!!!!”
At each line, move the feet kicking faster.
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.
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.
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.
Encourage child to reach for the toy.
Support the chest, remain low in the water.
Goal is to lay flat and stretch out with kicking to “help” move.
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.
Row Row Row your Boat
“Child in the water held by parent in BACK GLIDE position. Parent holding child in BACK GLIDE position.
Sing: “”Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.””
On the “”row, row”” part, take child’s hands and do a back stroke with them, emphasizing pushing the water.
Walk backwards throughout and sway back and forth in a zig,zag motion during the “”merrily, merrily”” part.”
Passing to the wall
Child held by parent.
Parent holding child in front of body facing away.
Parent should hold child horizontal facing towards the wall.
Count “1, 2, 3, GO!” and pass the child forward by extending arm.
Child should reach out and grab the wall.
Beginner: Parent holds onto child entire time.
Intermediate: Parent lets go of child just before they reach the wall.
Advanced: Parent pushes child underwater to the wall about 1 body length away, and child grasps wall independently.
Parent Tot – Passing
Child help by parent or instructor.
Parent holding child, or ready to receive child.
Progression based on comfort:
Hold child in front of body with child horizontal in the water.
Have child facing the parent who is ready to receive child with a smile, arms outstretched.
Count “1, 2, 3, GO!” gently scoop child forward and let go once parent accepts child with palms up on child’s chest, or catching like a football (thumbs on chest, fingers on back).
Beginner: Pass with up to the lips under the water
Intermediate: Pass with up to the NOSE in the water
Advanced: Pass child fully submerged.
Watch at about the third or fourth pass where the parent does NOT submerge their child. Begin there. Start with catching and passing.
Game – Buckethead:
Get a bucket. Pour it on parent and say “Buckethead!” or “Bucket-shoulder.” Do it to your swimmer. Start on the belly, the body, or the feet, then move up to the shoulder and back of the head. If super into the game, then do it over the face.
Take turns; parent gets wet, then child gets wet.
Your enthusiasm will make or break this activity.
End of the lesson: Hokey Pokey all together.
Hokey Pokey Song
