Do all things as a group. Announce the activity, give an example and have them do it on their own or with you for support. Be confident. They should know most of these things.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
London Bridges Falling Down
Push the YELLOW floating mats against the wall so that it creates a bridge.
With every verse lower it slowly.
Instructor sings the song.
Parents and swimmers go through either doing a front glide or a back glide. Their choice, or instructors.
London Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
My fair ladyBuild it up with iron bars
Iron bars, iron bars
Build it up with iron bars
My fair ladyIron bars will bend and break
Bend and break, bend and break
Iron bars will bend and break
My fair ladyBuild it up with gold and silver
Gold and silver, gold and silver
Build it up with gold and silver
My fair ladyLondon Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
M-y f-a-i-r l-a-d-y
Hokey Pokey
Stand in a circle. Everyone sings. Instructor leads. Last thing of the day
“You put your [right leg] in,
You put your [right leg] out;
You put your [right leg] in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the hokey pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!”
Right hand
Left hand
Feet
Face