Guppies Lesson Plans
Ages: 2 through 4 years old.
Participants should be comfortable without a parent in the class, though they can watch from nearby. Lessons should be taught in SHALLOW water with a zero-depth pool preferred. Water level should be at most waist or bottom of rib cage deep with lots of room to walk, play, and do controlled underwater activities.
Quick Test Criteria:
Age. Are the swimmers between 2 and 4 years old.
Can the swimmer leave their parents without crying or clinging. Are they ready to participate in a group.
Testable Skills
- Alligator walk
- Lay flat on your back in zero-depth water with ears underwater.
- Follow instructions and play a three step game like “Treasure Hunt.”
- Be a part of a group activity like Bake a Cake
- Independent water exploration in chest deep water with supervision
Play games. Have fun playing games. Seriously.
Follow the leader, Treasure Hunt, Dumpy in the Dingas! Strike a Pose! Mushroom Man!
WOW! Games, Games, Games!
Guppies is all about laughter and fun.
This class is designed to bridge young swimmers from being in the water with their parents and in a safe, fun environment.
** Guppies is best taught in a splashpad or super shallow water with spray features and small slides. like the following pictures:
The instructor, YOU, need to be excited and energetic!
Not boring and sad.
It is vital that the swim instructor show enthusiasm. That means they need to go underwater. They need to get in the water right away.
The swim instructor leading the Guppies class should have wet hair, should get down in the water and move like an alligator, and should run around, laugh, giggle, and lead the activities with a wild exicitement that commands attention and gets 2-4 year olds involved.
Check out this video. The instructor is DOING all the activities too. So should you.
Play the games. Get your hair wet.
Keep your swimmers safe.
Beyond getting in the water and playing WITH the swimmers, you also need to make sure you’re keeping your swimmers safe.
Corral your swimmers as you play. Keep them with you by checking in often and calling each by name.
“Jon! Make sure you play with us. Its your turn!”
“Sally! Stay here. Can you put your head under this waterfall?”
“Everyone form a line and follow me! Jon, Sally, George, Alice, are you ready?”
Important things to remember:
- Know your swimmer’s names.
- Say their names often.
- Be engaging (by saying their names) and by doing fun things.
- Play the games on the lesson plans.
- When you’re comfortable, create your own games!
- Avoid playing boring games like “chase me” that don’t teach anything.