Round 1: Water Acclimation and Fun
Start by sitting the child on the side of the pool. Let them splash their feet or play with toys to get comfortable.
Use the floating smiley faces to make it fun:
- Press the smile underwater with one foot, then the other.
- Press the smile under with both feet together.
SingRing Around the Rosie, and at the end say, "…all jump in!" Then jump in together. See the pictures below for the proper jump-in technique.
Group Song: The Wheels on the Bus
Get together in the middle of the pool and sing this song together. Hold the swimmer in the "saddle" position 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.
Watch the video for the full song and actions:
Round 2: Supported Front and Back Floats
Review supported front and back floats. Show the pictures below and walk through the progression step by step.
Supported Back Float / Glide
Have the swimmer rest on the parent's shoulder. Lean into their neck and arm. For advanced swimmers, hold the back of the head instead.
Advanced babies.
Start with head on shoulder, support the head and body, and finally support only the head.
ROUND 2 continued:
Your calm will dictate the swimmer’s calm.
– Start seated at the wall. Throw a toy in the water. – Sing “Ring around the Rosey” on “… all jump in!” enter the water with a jump. – Do supported front float encouraging face in water to toy. – Get the toy with reaching arms. – Back float back to the wall, holding toy. – Repeat.
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: Blastoffs and Underwater
– Blastoffs are holding child in supported front or back float position, push feet against he wall, count to 3 and “BLAST OFF!” the wall quickly encouraging child to push. – MOVE! Do front and back floats at least 1/2 way down the pool. – Sing “Itsey Bitsy Spider” and “Twinkle Twinkle little star” while moving. – Prepare to scoop. See picture:
Song: Five Little Monkeys
Hold child in the saddle position (resting on hip). Move up and down in the water up to their level of comfort as the lyrics say.
“Five Little Monkeys” Lyrics
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell down and bumped his head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell down and bumped his head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell down and bumped her head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell down and bumped his head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
One little monkey jumping on the bed, She fell down and bumped her head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, Put those monkeys back to bed!
Review, wrap up, and singHOKEY POKEYtogether to end the class.
Discussion0 comments