Welcome Song in Little Harbor
Why: Socialization and Buoyancy and Balance.
How: Gather in a circle and have parents lengthen their arms to support their child and create the Little Harbor position. This position allows the child to learn how to support themselves in the water by exploring buoyancy and balance. Encourage parents to support as low in the water as possible so the child can learn to stabilize their position. Parents and students are also free to splash their hands while singing along. This reminds the parents, infants and toddlers that the water is everywhere and helps to acclimate them to that sensation.
Song Lyrics: _______is here today __________is here today _________ let’s all splash the water __________ is here today!
Belly Float with Mats and Noodle Fountain
Why: Conditioning, Buoyancy & Balance
How: Assist parents with positioning their child on a small mat or kick board on their tummy. Encourage parents to support them as little as possible and allow them to find balance on their belly. Once in place, encourage parents to circle around the pool and take trip under the fountain! For more advanced students, submerge them along with the prop when traveling under the noodle fountain!
Fun with Noodle Boats
Why: To practice Buoyancy, Balance and Movement with the help of equipment.
How: Have parent place the student into the noodle boats facing the ring then gently tighten the ring. Be sure the student is positioned so that the noodle is at their armpits and their back is against the curve of the noodle. This creates a batter feeling of balance and results in the student being more comfortable in the noodle boat. Note; Place a small plastic ball under an infants chin if they are not able to independently hold their head up. FOR MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS; Encourage parents to lessen or remove their support of the noodle to allow student to feel buoyancy and balance while being less supported.
Back Float with Mats
Why: To practice Buoyancy and Balance on the back.
How: Assist parents with supporting their children on their backs in the cheek-to-cheek position. Have them travel backward under the big mirror for several rounds to help students relax on their backs. Sing the song a few times to get students to relax on their backs.
Fishes in the Ocean
Why: Breath Control and Safety.
How: Students climb out at the edge of the pool, sit on the edge with their feet in the water and with or without parent’s assistance sing the song and fall in on cue. FOR MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS; Encourage parents to submerge their child completely or to allow the to fall into the water independently and / or add the turn around by having parents position themselves at the side of their children and assist them with falling in on cue, submerging and turning to the wall.
Song Lyrics: Fishes in the ocean, Fishies in the Sea, we all fall in on 1-2-3!
Wheels on the Bus
https://youtu.be/0YuhcDNaKKg
Why: To end each class on a happy note!
How: Gather students and parents into a circle and pass out a small floating bus toy to each student. Ask the parents to match their actions to the lyrics of the song.
Song Lyrics: The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round, the wheel on the bus go round and round all through the pool! Repeat with the following lyrics:
-
- Windows go up and down!
- Wipers go Swish, Swish, Swish!
- Doors go open and shut.
- Horn goes beep, beep beep.
- Babies Wave Bye Bye.
PROPS
-
- Gecko and Turtle Boards
-
- Hollow Noodle Fountain
-
- Noodles
-
- Squirt Cars
-
- Bus