Parent Tot Swim Lesson Plan: Songs, Floats, and Fun

Round 1: Getting Comfortable in the Water

Start the lesson by helping your child get comfortable at the water's edge.

1. Sit your child on the side of the pool. Splash and kick feet while singing theMotorboat song.
2. Throw a toy into the water a short distance away. After your personal cue (e.g., "1, 2, 3, jump!"), jump in together.
3. Do afront floatto reach the toy.
4. Flip over and do aback floatback to the wall while holding the toy.
5. Repeat this sequence to build confidence and breath control.

Song 1: The Wheels on the Bus

Hold your swimmer in the "saddle" position as shown below. This position supports your child securely while allowing them to feel the water.

The Wheels on the Bus go…

1. The Wipers on the bus go, swish, swish, swish. (Move child's arms side to side.)
2. The People on the bus go, Up and down, up and down, up and down. (Gently lift and lower your child in the water.)

Watch the song in action:

Round 2: Building Float Skills

1. SingTwinkle Twinkle Little Starwhile doing a back float. Try to go at least halfway across the pool.
2. Do afront floatback to the wall while singing theMotorboat song. Move in an "S" curve to add gentle movement.
3. Repeat this sequence to reinforce floating on both front and back.

Song 2: If You're Happy and You Know It

Play this song twice. You can do it with your child sitting on the side of the pool or while holding them in your arms.

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

Watch the song here:

Round 3: Jumping and Floating Fun

1. Sing theItsy Bitsy Spidersong while using a bucket on the side of the pool. Let your child help pour water or watch the spider climb.
2. Practice afront floatwhile passing your child to the wall or to you.
3. Celebrate each success and repeat the sequence.

Five Little Monkeys – Song Activity

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.Jumping, move up and down. < “hit her head” go underwater to the chin, nose, or whole head

“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!

Row Row Row your Boat – Song Activity

“Child in the water held by parent in BACK GLIDE position. Parent holding child in BACK GLIDE position.

Sing: “”Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.””

On the “”row, row”” part, take child’s hands and do a back stroke with them, emphasizing pushing the water.

Walk backwards throughout and sway back and forth in a zig,zag motion during the “”merrily, merrily”” part.”

Hokey Pokey Song