Name
Animal Hunt
Core Skill
Listening, playing, and following directions. The instructor leads the game by demonstrating animal actions, and the swimmers mimic them. The goal is to build trust and encourage the swimmers to join in the fun.
Who
2–4 year olds (Guppies / Level 1) in a splash pad or zero-depth pool. Works best with a small group.
What
A pretend play game where the class goes on an “Animal Hunt” to rescue creatures that have escaped from the zoo. Swimmers visit different water features and “talk to the animals in their language” — using body language and movement to interact with the water like each animal would.
How
The instructor declares the class is going on an Animal Hunt. Lead the group to each water feature and demonstrate the animal’s actions. Make the motions goofy, funny, and interesting. Swimmers imitate you to “rescue” the animal.
Here are some animal examples with specific water features:
Elephant
Wash yourself and your long trunk (arms dangling and moving like they’re connected to your face). Wash your body and head under a mushroom rain like a waterfall. Try to “spray” the red pole with cupped hands filled with water, like an elephant using its trunk to spray others.
Giraffe
Using the red pole and water, stretch your neck to reach the water at the top (avoid climbing the pole). Rub your neck or shoulders on the red pole to scratch yourself and clean off your neck fur, like a giraffe.
Lion
Using the green arch with spray aiming inward like a hoop of fire, run or walk through it while roaring like a lion jumping through fire.
Monkey
Using the squiggly green pole with spray spouts on the ends like flowers, pretend to be screeching monkeys dancing and howling. Go from one spray side to the other, howling like a monkey and jumping on hands and feet. Stoop low with hands on the ground and wave your arms like a monkey dancing.
Snake
Slither on the ground where water is, moving like a snake around each standing pole. This works best in a zero-depth pool but can also be done on a cement splash pad with upright poles and spray features.
Alligator
Walk like an alligator on your belly, moving through the shallow water. Chomp the water with your massive jaws and splash by biting it. Encourage putting your face in the water and snapping your jaws shut. Have fun!
Difficulties Instructors Might Face
Young swimmers may be shy or hesitant to join in. Start with simple, low-pressure actions and let them watch first. Some children may not understand the pretend aspect — keep demonstrating and use lots of enthusiasm. If a child is afraid of a specific water feature, skip it or approach it slowly. The game relies on creativity, so adapt animals to the features available in your splash pad.
Game Description
This game should be full of laughter, fun, and pretend play. The goal is to get the swimmers to react and listen to the instructor by joining in this hillarious and exciting pretend play. It will build trust with the instructor. It will encourage the swimmers to start following directions. The instructor sets the tone of the game by demonstrating all of the animal actrions, and the swimmers mimic them. The instructor should encourage the children to make the motions goofy, funny, and interesting.
The absolute KEY to this is that the instructor DOES THE PRETEND PLAY TOO. They must be involved, active, and lead the play.
Who:
Guppies; ages 2 – 4.
Summary
This document talks about: