This parent-tot lesson plan is designed for instructors working with toddlers and their parents. The activities focus on building water comfort, trust, and early swimming skills through gentle, supported movements and familiar songs.
Activity 1: Slide-In Entry
Sit on the side, and slide in. The child sits on the side of the pool while the parent gets in the water. Keep a hold on the child while doing so.
Watch a demonstration of this entry technique:
Activity 2: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Child seated on the wall. Parent in the water. Sing while touching your head and shoulders in time with the lyrics.Touch the child's "head" and "shoulders" with your hands or splashes in tune to the song.
Here's a video of the song in action:
Activity 3: Supported Front Float
Hold the child with palms up and thumbs around their shoulders. Alternatively, hold the child like you're catching a football, with thumbs wrapped around the rib cage and fingers around the shoulder blades. This gives you a secure, comfortable grip while the child floats on their front.
Activity 4: Supported Back Float / Glide
Support the child on their back, cradling their head and shoulders. Let them relax and feel the water supporting them. Gently glide them through the water to build comfort and trust.
Tips for Instructors
This lesson plan is a great starting point for any parent-tot class. Adjust the pace based on the group's comfort level, and always prioritize safety and fun.
Back Float Progression
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.
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.
Throw a Toy and Get It
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.
Hokey Pokey Song
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.
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