Motorboat Song
The child sits on the side with feet in the water. The parent stands in front of them, holding their 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 leg movement and water awareness.
Supported Front Floats
Palms up, thumbs around the child's shoulders. Or hold the child like catching a football, with thumbs wrapped around the rib cage and fingers around the shoulder blades. This provides secure support while the child gets used to the front float position.
Song: 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 lyrics.This reinforces body part recognition and makes the lesson playful.
Here's a video version of the song to use as a guide:
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 builds breath control and forward movement in a fun, goal-oriented way.
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.
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.
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 – Passing
Child held 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.
Parent Tot – Song – If you’re happy and you know it
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
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.
Supported Front Floats
Palms up, thumbs around the shoulders.
Or hold child like catching a football, with thumbs wrapped around rib cage and fingers around shoulder blades.
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