Parent Tot Swim Lesson Plan: Motorboat Song, Humpty Dumpty & More

Motorboat Song

The child sits on the side of the pool with their feet in the water. The parent stands in front of them, holding the child's feet. Move the 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. This activity builds comfort with water movement and introduces the kicking motion in a fun, rhythmic way.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,Humpty Dumpty had a great fallAll the king's horses and all the king's menCouldn't put Humpty together again.

They tried to push him upThey tried to pull him upThey tried to patch him upCouldn't put him back together again.

This classic nursery rhyme can be adapted for the pool: have the child sit on the edge (the wall) and then gently slide or fall into the parent's arms on the final line. It builds trust and introduces water entry in a playful way.

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, into a front float. Do a front float to the toy and get it. Return to the wall, and repeat.

This activity encourages the child to reach and move toward a goal while practicing the front float. It also reinforces the parent's cueing and the child's trust in the water.

Supported Front Floats

Hold the child by the chest or hips. Encourage the swimmer to reach for the parent's shoulders or the instructor. Keep the body in the water as much as possible, allowing their weight to be supported by motion and the water. This builds comfort with the front float position and helps the child learn to relax and trust the water.

The wheels on the bus go round and round Round and round, round and round The wheels on the bus go round and round All through the town The people on the bus go up and down, Rup and down, up and down, The people on the bus go up and down, All through the town The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, swish swish swish, swish swish swish The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, All through the town

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.

Parent Tot – Passing

Child help by parent or instructor. Parent holding child, or ready to receive child.

Progression based on comfort:

Hold child in front of body with child horizontal in the water. Have child facing the parent who is ready to receive child with a smile, arms outstretched. Count “1, 2, 3, GO!” gently scoop child forward and let go once parent accepts child with palms up on child’s chest, or catching like a football (thumbs on chest, fingers on back).

Beginner: Pass with up to the lips under the water

Intermediate: Pass with up to the NOSE in the water

Advanced: Pass child fully submerged.

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.

Parent Tot – Itsy Bitsy Spider

“Child in the water, sitting or being held. Parent in the water, next to, or holding child.

Sing: “”The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the waterspout. / Down came the rain, and washed the spider out. / Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain / And then Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the spout again.””

Walk your hands up the child stomach, chest, shoulder and head during the “”Climbed up the waterspout””

Dip hand in water and sprinkle water over child, or pour water from bucket on child when when singing: “”Down came the rain…””

Look at the “”sun”” on “”out came the sun…””

Use hand to “”climb”” back up the child on last line.