Play this song while people are coming in:
Round 1:
Sit on the side. Slide in, or let child lay on the yellow mat. Parent gets in, then child.
– Motorboat song: “Motorboat, Motorboat…:
…go so slow / …go so fast/ …step on the gas!”
– Sing Itsy Bitsy Spider and pour water on the child with a bucket.
Start pouring water on shoulders, then back of the head.
– Throw a toy and get it.
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.
Have everyone come to the middle of the pool and do the songs together as a group.
Parent Tot – Song – The Wheels on the Bus
Hold the swimmer in the “saddle” as pictured below.
The Wheels on the Bus go…
Splash splash splash.
The Wipers on the bus go, swish, swish, swish.
The People on the bus go, Up and down, up and down, up and down.
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.
Separate back to their areas and do the next round individually.
Supported Back Float / Glide
Have the swimmer rest on the parent’s shoulder. Lean into their neck and arm.
If ADVANCED hold the back of the head.
Advanced babies.
Start with head on shoulder, support the head and body, and finally support the head.
Your calm will dictate the swimmer’s calm.
Round 2:
– Front floats from the wall to a floating toy; MOVE. Keep moving. Encourage child to put face in the water.
– Get the toy and do a back float back to the wall.
FOCUS on movement. Feel the water moving across the body and lifting the feet.
– BLAST OFFS: push the feet against the wall as a front or back float. Count to 3 then BLAST OFF with fun, laughter, and joy, and walk backwards away from the wall cheering for your swimmer.
– Pass to the wall.
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.
Monkey Walks:
Parent Tot – Song – If you’re happy and you know it
Play 2 x
Can do this with child sitting on the side, or with the child in the parent’s arms.
Lyrics:
If you’re happy and you know it, splash your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, splash your hands
If you’re happy and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, splash your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, splash your feet
If you’re happy and you know it, splash your feet
If you’re happy and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, splash your feet
If you’re happy and you know it, Kiss the water
If you’re happy and you know it, Kiss the water
If you’re happy and you know it
If you’re happy and you know it
If you’re happy and you know it, Kiss the water
If you’re happy and you know it, Kiss the water
Round 3:
– Scooping vs. Dunking.
Scoop in a U shape. Avoid going straight down and up. Pass water across the face. Start with your swimmer’s comfort level.
Give praise, hugs, kisses.
– Jumps from the side into your arms, into a front float, then pass to the wall and repeat.
END! Finish with the HOKEY POKEY!
I have been teaching for over 20years, and I find I still get great alternative ideas for my parent and tot classes. The program we do at are pool doesn’t have much information on parent and tot. Thank You So Much